Background
Andrew Foster was born in Ensley, Alabama, the son of a coal miner.
Andrew Foster was born in Ensley, Alabama, the son of a coal miner.
Seattle Pacific University.
In 1954, he became the first Deaf African American to earn a bachelor"s degree from Gallaudet College and the first to earn a master"s degree from Eastern Michigan University. He soon earned a second master"s degree from Seattle Pacific Christian College (now called Seattle Pacific University). He founded Christian Mission for the Deaf African in 1956 and eventually set out for Accra, Ghana, where he established the first school for the deaf on the entire continent of Africa.
He completed high school through a correspondence course with an American School in Chicago, Illinois in 1951.
In 1961 Andrew was married to Berta, a deaf German, and together they had 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl). Foster began his work in 1956 by convincing school officials to let him use their classrooms after hours to teach the deaf.
As the deaf began to become literate, Foster would supplement their education with trade skills, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Foster also convinced existing churches and missions to expand their ministry to include the deaf.
Andrew Foster died on December 3, 1987 from a plane crash in Rwanda.
Deaf Mosaic segment - Episode #404 of the Gallaudet University-produced Deaf Mosaic had a tribute to Andrew Foster. Described and Captioned Program registration required, physical loan for classroom setting. Gallaudet University Video Library Catalog, online viewing available.