Thomas Gallaudet

June 3, 1822 (age 80)

Hartford, Connecticut, United States

In 1850, Gallaudet established a Bible class for deaf people in St. Stephen’s Church. In the same year, he was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church, and was made assistant rector of St. Stephen’s in New York. In 1851, he was ordained to the priesthood and was then made assistant rector of St. Ann’s, Morrisania. While ministering to a deaf girl who was slowly dying of tuberculosis he conceived the idea of founding in New York a church which should be the spiritual home of deaf people. When the plan developed, St. Ann’s Church for Deaf-Mutes was established and regular services were begun in 1852 in a chapel of the University of the City of New York. Money was gradually collected, funds for a minister pledged, and on October 1, 1858, Gallaudet gave up his teaching and devoted his time thereafter particularly to church and missionary work among the deaf. In 1859, a church building was purchased on West Eighteenth Street, near Fifth Avenue, which became headquarters for missionary work elsewhere, and permanent missions were soon established in other cities. On November 30, 1862, Gallaudet became rector of St. Ann’s Church, where he continued services for both hearing and deaf people until in 1898, a new church and parish house, for the exclusive use of deaf people, was erected on 148th Street. Gallaudet was a member of the board of directors of the New York Institution for the Deaf where he had formerly taught, and always took the deepest interest in its welfare. He attended many national and international conferences on the education of the deaf, and constantly gave his testimony as to the value of the sign language.

Thomas Gallaudet

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Background

Thomas Gallaudet was born on June 3, 1822, in Hartford, Connecticut. He was the oldest child of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Sophia Fowler.

Education

Thomas was brought up near the school for the deaf at Hartford which his father had founded. Since his mother was deaf and many of his playmates were pupils of the school, he was soon familiar with the language of gestures and became interested as a child in all things pertaining to the education and life of deaf people.

He prepared to enter Yale University, but because of reduced family means he was sent to Washington (now Trinity) College, where he was graduated in 1842. Though he intended to begin at once to study for the Episcopal ministry, his father persuaded him first to teach in the public schools and then to accept a position in the New York Institution for the Deaf.

In spite of family objection, he became a communicant of the Episcopal Church and continued to study for the ministry as he had time.

Career

In 1850, Gallaudet established a Bible class for deaf people in St. Stephen’s Church. In the same year, he was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church, and was made assistant rector of St. Stephen’s in New York.

In 1851, he was ordained to the priesthood and was then made assistant rector of St. Ann’s, Morrisania. While ministering to a deaf girl who was slowly dying of tuberculosis he conceived the idea of founding in New York a church which should be the spiritual home of deaf people.

When the plan developed, St. Ann’s Church for Deaf-Mutes was established and regular services were begun in 1852 in a chapel of the University of the City of New York.

Money was gradually collected, funds for a minister pledged, and on October 1, 1858, Gallaudet gave up his teaching and devoted his time thereafter particularly to church and missionary work among the deaf.

In 1859, a church building was purchased on West Eighteenth Street, near Fifth Avenue, which became headquarters for missionary work elsewhere, and permanent missions were soon established in other cities.

On November 30, 1862, Gallaudet became rector of St. Ann’s Church, where he continued services for both hearing and deaf people until in 1898, a new church and parish house, for the exclusive use of deaf people, was erected on 148th Street.

Gallaudet was a member of the board of directors of the New York Institution for the Deaf where he had formerly taught, and always took the deepest interest in its welfare. He attended many national and international conferences on the education of the deaf, and constantly gave his testimony as to the value of the sign language.

Achievements

Gallaudet established St. Ann's Church for Deaf-Mutes in New York City. In 1872, Gallaudet, Jane Middleton, and the Church Mission to Deaf-Mutes established the Home for Aged and Infirm Deaf-Mutes in a brownstone located at 220 East 13th Street in New York City. Gallaudet was also instrumental in the work of the Sisterhood of the Good Shepherd, a group of women engaged in urban ministry in and around New York City.

Views

Gallaudet was widely interested in various charitable institutions, and founded the home for aged and infirm deaf-mutes, later established near Poughkeepsie, which came to be known as the Gallaudet Home.

Personality

From his mother, Thomas inherited a fine physical constitution and a well-formed body, and from his father a deep and kindly interest in people.

Gallaudet's home in New York became a haven for deaf people, and there, as servant and friend, he ministered to those who came to him for financial aid, for work, or for spiritual comfort.

Connections

On July 15, 1845, Thomas was married to Elizabeth R. Budd, a charming young deaf woman whom he had met in the New York school. They resided with the Budd family in New York for a number of years.

Father:: Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
Mother:: Sophia Fowler Gallaudet
Brother:: Edward Miner Gallaudet
Sister:: Jane Hall Gallaudet
Sister:: Alice Cogswell Gallaudet Trumbull
Wife:: Elizabeth R. Budd

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