Illinois School for the Deaf

This letter was written by Thomas H. Gallaudet. It was sent to Dr. Julian Sturtevant who wrote Gallaudet asking him how the Board of Directors in Illinois should proceed to build a school for the deaf in Illinois.

[The letter was found in the ISD Media Center Library by Mickey Jones, Ph.D.]

Hartford, May 28th, 1839
My dear Sir,

Your letter of the 8th did not reach me till the 25th. — A Sabbath has intervened, and I have been conferring with Mr. Lewis Weld, the Principal of the Asylum here for the deaf and dumb, and the Rev. Wm. W. Turner, one of the oldest and most experienced teachers, so that I have not been able to write you sooner. — They and myself are decidedly of opinion that your only efficient course is to send an intelligent person to visit the Institutions for the deaf and dumb at Columbus, Ohio, — Philad. & — New York, and this city — to get the information that you need, and to aid you in forming the best plans of operation. — No correspondence, however elaborate, can accomplish the object in any thing like so effectual a manner. As to buildings you need some one on the spot, to compare their respective advantages, and form from all the best plan for your Institution. Let him come here first, and get all the information he can. He will have a host of questions to propose & observations to make which will arise only in this way. Ours is the oldest establishment. There ought to be, and doubtless are improvements upon it, especially in regard to the buildings which he can afterwards see at the other institutions. — You need, too, to see if at any of these Institutions you can procure a good teacher to start with. — If you can find such an individual, take him into your employment at once — Let him be one of your prominent business-men in the affair. He will give an impulse to the whole enterprise that you can give it in no other way. By procuring such a teacher you will, at once, inspire your community with confidence in your movement. There will be work enough for him to do. He might have, even before your buildings are completed, a small class in training, occupying some temporary accomodations (sic) for the purpose. But you will need very soon some two or three teachers. Get a first rate one soon, and he will help you to find the rest. —

Your Institution ought to be the one for a large extent of territory — much more than your own State — as ours is for New - England. You undoubtedly have 200 deaf and dumb in Illinois. But after getting through with the education of such of these as are of the suitable age, and whose parents will spare them — you will have only the annual increase to provide for. To furnish, therefore, a permanent supply, say of 80 or 100 pupils for an institution, each remaining at it some 4 or 5 years — you will readily see you must look beyond your own State. It was this view of the subject that satisfied the Legislatures of the New - England States that one was enough for them. — We have already got through the pressure & are settling down upon the permanent, annual increase. — I will proceed to answer your inquiries, but very succinctly, for I cannot recommend any other course than for you to send on the individual to whom I have referred. He should indeed be an intelligent man. The subject is a great one. You are acting for several large States, and for posterity. Act worthy of Illinois. —

1. On buildings I say nothing. 2. You must soon have 2 or 3 instructors — Give them liberal salaries compared with your other salaried men. This you will find your true policy. 3. The income of our Asylum comes from the int. of a fund that has been drawn from the sales of a township of land granted to it in Alabama, a long time ago by Congress. It charges each pupil 100 dollars a year for all but clothes & medical attendance. Each pupil costs the Asylum say 140 dollars — so that it disburses to the pupils each year some 5 or 6000 dollars. The 100 dollars, with regard to the indigent pupils, is furnished them by the States from which they come. 4. 3/5 or 4/5 here are those who need legislative aid. 5. You will thus see how far tuition will go to pay salaries. 6. Nearly all the deaf-mutes in New - England between 12 & 25 — have been taught more in a course of instruction. 7. Much effort has been needed to collect pupils — half a dozen letters must be written to tell you all you need to know on this point — I say much effort especially when the concentration of the support of several states is absolutely necessary to sustain one permanent flourishing Institution. 8. Five acres will do pretty well — 8 or 10 would be much better. — 9. — Manual labor should by all means be encouraged — It is an essential feature of a good institution — but if you can make it pay for your shops — your superintendent — the loss of stock — & the wear of tools, you will do well. 10. — It is impossible for me to answer it. — 11. Twelve is young enough to admit pupils, except in a few very peculiar cases — and from 25 to 30 the other boundary. —

You will have to move on a large scale in this matter if you succeed. Schools for the deaf and dumb must be few in number & sustained by a large population. They cannot be multiplied like other schools, & if for no other reason you cannot procure teachers — Each teacher has to be trained by another living teacher. The art cannot be had from books —

Still I do not mean by what I have said that you are to rush all at once into the midst of things. — You will have to begin slowly and deliberately. But your plans should be wisely — prospectively — liberally — & largely laid. — Excuse the freedom with which I have written. I am confident that by sending on here such a person as will be suited to the object, you will save much time, labor, & money. — My very kind regards to all friends. Please to tell Professor Turner that I wrote him last, and that I will deem it a peculiar favor to hear from him soon. 

Yours truly,

Rev. J. M. Sturtevant T. H. Gallaudet

Notes

Lewis Weld, Succeeded Gallaudet as Principal at ASD. Weld married Alice Cogswell’s sister (Gallaudet, E., 1888).

Professor Turner is Jonathon B. Turner, Professor at Illinois College

Rev. J.M. Sturtevant - One of the founders of Illinois College, Professor, and later Pres. of I.C.