Dr. Gallaudet, son of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was general manager of an organization called The Church Mission To Deaf-Mutes. It was located in the late 1870's at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church on 18th St, Manhattan, New York. The Reverend interpreted services using ASL signs as the sermon was read by the presiding preacher. Its congregation was composed of deaf-mutes and their hearing and speaking friends. Here is Reverend Gallaudet in his prime:
Information in the Missions 2nd Annual Report, dated October 28, 1874, outlined the progress of the mission made along the East Coast of the United States, for services provided to Deaf communities.
Insterestingly, this is where this organizaton intersects with Laurent Clerc. While Laurent had been dead for five (5) years by this time, the report mentions that the Reverend F.J. Clerc was involved as an early founder of this mission. Here is Francis around the time of his death many years later.
The report mentions that the Rev. Clerc was engaged with Deaf church services for deaf-mutes, in Philadelphia, PA, at St. Stephen’s Church, where they started as early as February of 1839.
Also, the Reverend Clerc was rector of the Calvary Episcopal Church in Philadelphia from 1866 to 1888. This church was originally erected as a memorial to the first Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Bishop William White on April 4, 1851.
The Church Mission To Deaf-Mutes had transferred their mission from St. Stephen’s Church to
St. Chrysostom’s Church and then onto Calvary. Clerc held a Deaf service every Sunday afternoon for deaf-mutes. In the process of time Clerc was re-assigned and accepted a call to be the warden for the Burd Orphan Asylum for Girls,
and the deaf-mutes were received back to St. Stephen’s Church, where their services had been held at least up to this report in 1874. It is also noted that the Deaf-mute Literary Association held its meetings there on Thursday evenings in the Sunday School building.
The Reverend Clerc continued to hold these services until he accepted the rectorship of Burlington College, New Jersey. Reverend Clerc, from 1872-74, was a visiting pastor during the college’s vacation periods. By 1874, at St. Ann’s Church, the Reverend Clerc and Dr. Gallaudet would hold monthly services for the Deaf community.
One of the other projects of the mission was to create a National Home for Aged and Infirm Deaf-Mutes in 1876. It would later move out of the city and be called the Gallaudet Home for Aged and Infirm Deaf-Mutes.
And none other than our favorite Laurent Clerc Deaf artist, John Carlin, as chairman of a building committee, held a meeting at his house on May 9, 1874.
And another interesting connection with the mission is found in their 1877 Annual Report. We see an devout Episcopal woman with a long connection to the Deaf community making a $5 contribution to the church mission. Yes, it is none other than Mrs. Eliza Clerc of Hartford, CT.
Fascinating and much more to research!
-Laurent-
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