Sophia Fowler Gallaudet
Encyclopedia
Sophia Fowler Gallaudet was the wife of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
. As the founding matron of the school that became Gallaudet University
, she played an important role in Deaf history, even playing a key role in lobbying Congressmen in the effort to establish Gallaudet (then the "National Deaf-Mute College"). She was appointed to be the first matron of the Columbia Institution on May 30, 1857 and held the position for nine years, until August 1, 1866.
Her parents' names were Miner Fowler and Rachel Hall. She was born deaf, near the town of Guilford, Connecticut
and first attended school at age 19, starting (along with her sister Parnel) at the new school for the Deaf in Hartford
in 1817 and continuing her studies until the Spring of 1821.
She married Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet on August 29, 1821 and had eight children: Thomas H.
(1822–1902) , Sophia (1824–1865), Peter Wallace (1827–1903), Jane Hall (1827–1853), William Lewis (1829–1887), Alice Cogswell (1833–1891), Catherine "Kate" Fowler (1831–1917), Edward Miner
(1837–1917).
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...
. As the founding matron of the school that became 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...
, she played an important role in Deaf history, even playing a key role in lobbying Congressmen in the effort to establish Gallaudet (then the "National Deaf-Mute College"). She was appointed to be the first matron of the Columbia Institution on May 30, 1857 and held the position for nine years, until August 1, 1866.
Her parents' names were Miner Fowler and Rachel Hall. She was born deaf, near the town of Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Branford, North Branford and Durham, and is situated on I-95 and the coast. The population was 21,398 at the 2000 census...
and first attended school at age 19, starting (along with her sister Parnel) at the new school for the Deaf in Hartford
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 1817 and continuing her studies until the Spring of 1821.
She married Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet on August 29, 1821 and had eight children: Thomas H.
Thomas Gallaudet (1822-1902)
Thomas Gallaudet , an American Episcopal priest, was born in Hartford, Connecticut. His father, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, was the renowned pioneer of deaf education in the United States...
(1822–1902) , Sophia (1824–1865), Peter Wallace (1827–1903), Jane Hall (1827–1853), William Lewis (1829–1887), Alice Cogswell (1833–1891), Catherine "Kate" Fowler (1831–1917), Edward Miner
Edward Miner Gallaudet
Edward Miner Gallaudet , son of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Sophia Fowler Gallaudet, was a famous early educator of the deaf in Washington, DC...
(1837–1917).