Story of Thomas Gallaudet Meeting Laurent Clerc

The Story of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc:

The Birth of American Sign Language and America’s First Deaf School

In the early 1800s, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was a young American minister from Connecticut who became deeply interested in Deaf education. His curiosity was sparked by a little Deaf girl named Alice Cogswell, the daughter of a neighbor. Gallaudet saw how intelligent Alice was but realized she had no formal way to communicate with others. Determined to help her, he set out to find the best way to teach Deaf individuals.

At that time, America had no schools for Deaf children. So, in 1815, Gallaudet traveled to Europe — where Deaf education was more advanced — hoping to learn effective teaching methods.

While in England, Gallaudet visited schools that used a system of teaching called oralism (teaching Deaf students to speak and lip-read without using sign language). He wasn’t impressed — he found their methods slow and ineffective. He then heard about a successful Deaf school in Paris, France, where sign language was used as the main form of communication.

Gallaudet traveled to Paris and visited the Institut National des Jeunes Sourds de Paris (The National Institute for Deaf Children). There, he met Laurent Clerc, a brilliant Deaf teacher who was a former student of the school himself. Clerc had been taught by the famous Deaf educator Abbé Sicard, who believed strongly in using sign language to teach.

Gallaudet spent several months at the Paris school, learning French Sign Language (LSF: Langue des Signes Française) and Deaf education techniques. He was deeply impressed by Clerc’s teaching skills and command of language. Realizing he needed a partner to bring Deaf education to America, Gallaudet convinced Clerc to return to the United States with him.

In 1816, Laurent Clerc and Thomas Gallaudet set sail for America. During the long voyage across the Atlantic (which lasted nearly two months), Gallaudet continued learning sign language from Clerc — and Clerc improved his English by practicing with Gallaudet. It was a beautiful cultural and linguistic exchange.

Once in America, they began raising money and support for their dream: to open the first permanent school for Deaf children in the United States.

Their efforts were successful, and on April 15, 1817, they opened the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. Alice Cogswell, the little girl who inspired Gallaudet’s journey, became one of the first students.

American Sign Language (ASL) grew from this important moment. It developed as a blend of:

• French Sign Language (LSF)
• Signs already being used by Deaf Americans
• Home signs (unique gestures used within individual families)

Thus, ASL has strong roots in French Sign Language, but over time it evolved into its own distinct, rich, and fully developed language.

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Quick Summary:

• Thomas Gallaudet wanted to help Deaf children like Alice Cogswell.
• He met Laurent Clerc at a Deaf school in Paris.
• Clerc agreed to come to America with Gallaudet.
• They founded the first Deaf school in Hartford, Connecticut in 1817.
• American Sign Language (ASL) was born from a mix of French Sign Language and American signs.

Timeline: The Story of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, Laurent Clerc, and the Birth of ASL

Early 1800s:

• Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet meets Alice Cogswell, a young Deaf girl in Connecticut, and becomes inspired to help Deaf children learn.

1815:

• Gallaudet travels to Europe to study methods of Deaf education.
• In England, he finds oralism methods unsatisfactory.

1816:

• Gallaudet visits the Institut National des Jeunes Sourds de Paris in France.
• He meets Laurent Clerc, a Deaf teacher and former student of the school.
• Gallaudet convinces Clerc to return to America with him.
• During their voyage across the Atlantic, Gallaudet learns French Sign Language (LSF) from Clerc, while Clerc learns English from Gallaudet.

April 15, 1817:

• Gallaudet and Clerc open the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.
• Alice Cogswell becomes one of the first students.

Impact:

• American Sign Language (ASL) is born, heavily influenced by French Sign Language but blended with signs already used by Deaf Americans and home signs.
• ASL evolves into a distinct, rich, and fully developed language over time.

Summary: Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc worked together to bring formal Deaf education to America. Their efforts not only opened the first Deaf school but also laid the foundation for the creation of American Sign Language, which has its roots in French Sign Language.