SOCIÉTÉ LAURENT CLERC
On The Shoulders Of Giants
There have been many teachers of the Deaf. Each one must be lauded for their contributions to their students and to the Deaf Community.
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However, each one had to stand on the shoulders of the teachers that became before them. Each one a disciple of the educators that proceeded them up to this very day.
Laurent Clerc could only have made his significant contribution as the "The Apostle of the Deaf in America" after his life as a student of the Abbé Sicard, him self a disciple of the Abbé de l'Epée, the "Father of the Deaf".
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In this section we will explore individually perhaps the three early greatest innovators in Deaf History.
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Roch-Ambroise Cucurron Sicard, copper engraving by Charles-Etienne Gaucher, after the drawing of Joseph Jauffret (Musée de la Révolution française).
Louis Laurent Marie Clerc, from a painting by
John Carlin, a noted deaf artist and Clerc's friend.
Sue Hull Galloway
Our three pioneers above are not the only heroes of Deaf Education. While they inspired many educator in their days, they also influenced many others to devote their lives to the cause of helping the Deaf.
We wish to acknowledge these persons by highlighting one that had a special connection Laurent Clerc. Here name was Susan Hull Galloway, great great great granddaughter of Laurent.
Sue Galloway worked as a school librarian at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf for 31 years. Sue's commitment to the school resulted in their library named in her honor. Sue was a avid Laurent Clerc fan and historian. Sue was the keeper of many historical documents and Laurent Clerc memorabilia. Sue always loved presenting lectures about Laurent and his place in history.