Alice Cogswell
Encyclopedia
Alice Cogswell was the inspiration to Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
for the creation of the now American School for the Deaf
in Hartford, Connecticut
.
At the age of two years, she become ill with "spotted fever
" (cerebra-spinal meningitis
). This illness took her hearing and later she lost her speech as well. She was met, at age 9, by Gallaudet, who seized the opportunity to teach the deaf girl. He and Alice's father, Dr. Mason Cogswell
, decided that a formal school would be best for her, but no such school existed in the United States.
Alice Cogswell and six other deaf students entered the school that would become the American School for the Deaf in April 1817.
She died at the age of twenty-five on December 30, 1830, just thirteen days after the death of her father.
On the campus of the present American School for the Deaf at Hartford stands a beautiful statue of Gallaudet and Cogswell. Another statue of Gallaudet and Cogswell stands in front of Gallaudet University
campus as Gallaudet sit on chair and Alice stood next to him to share their communication of "A" in fingerspelling. The Alice Cogswell statue (American School for the Deaf Founders Memorial), by Frances Laughlin Wadsworth
, also represents her as a young girl.
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, LL.D., was a renowned American pioneer in the education of the Deaf. Along with Laurent Clerc and Mason Cogswell, he co-founded the first institution for the education of the Deaf in North America, and he became its first principal...
for the creation of the now American School for the Deaf
American School for the Deaf
The American School for the Deaf is the oldest permanent school for the deaf in the United States. It was founded April 15, 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc and became a state-supported school in 1817.-History:...
in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
.
At the age of two years, she become ill with "spotted fever
Spotted fever
A spotted fever is a type of tick-borne disease which presents on the skin.Types include:* Mediterranean spotted fever* Rocky Mountain spotted fever* Queensland tick typhus...
" (cerebra-spinal meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
). This illness took her hearing and later she lost her speech as well. She was met, at age 9, by Gallaudet, who seized the opportunity to teach the deaf girl. He and Alice's father, Dr. Mason Cogswell
Mason Fitch Cogswell
Mason Fitch Cogswell was a United States physician.-Biography:...
, decided that a formal school would be best for her, but no such school existed in the United States.
Alice Cogswell and six other deaf students entered the school that would become the American School for the Deaf in April 1817.
She died at the age of twenty-five on December 30, 1830, just thirteen days after the death of her father.
On the campus of the present American School for the Deaf at Hartford stands a beautiful statue of Gallaudet and Cogswell. Another statue of Gallaudet and Cogswell stands in front of Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
campus as Gallaudet sit on chair and Alice stood next to him to share their communication of "A" in fingerspelling. The Alice Cogswell statue (American School for the Deaf Founders Memorial), by Frances Laughlin Wadsworth
Frances Laughlin Wadsworth
Frances Laughlin Wadsworth was an American sculptor active in Hartford, Connecticut.Wadsworth graduated from St. Catherine's School in 1927, from which she received the Distinguished Alumna Award in 1970...
, also represents her as a young girl.