This page last reviewed May 15, 2009.
Travel through our timeline! Meet some amazing men and women who helped shape our Deaf Community in Georgia. Some of them are/were deaf, hard of hearing and hearing.
Let’s give praise to those who go beyond the call of duty and make this state a better place.
If you know a person who deserved to be under this History, email to epeachy_blue@yahoogroups.com . Thanks!
Deaf History's Links
Sound & Fury |Deaf History (1400-1900) | milan 1880 |Deafpeople |
Through Deaf Eyes |Deafness in Disguise | Five Deaf Astronomers (i711)
World Around You | ASD's History |Deaf People and WWII
Georgia School for the Deaf's Brief History (Updated: Nov 10, 2007)
Gallaudet Univ Video Library (Updated: 10/22/08)
Georgia Deaf History
| Timeline | ||
| 1841-1920 |
Wesley O. Connor, “Father of Deaf Education” in Georgia
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| 1846 |
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O. P. Fannin, the first Headmaster of Georgia School for the Deaf.
Georgia School for the Deaf was founded in 1846 with 4 deaf students. In October 2006, the Alumni celebrated 160 years Anniversary at GSD's campus. Over 700 attended the event. Georgia School for the Deaf Alumni Association was established in 1989, but was organized in 1972. |
| 1902 |
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Crusselle Freeman Church of the Deaf
is the oldest
church for the Deaf in Georgia!
Crusselle Freeman was established by a hearing man, William Crusselle in
1902. 1861-1910 Ella Groom became deaf at age 2 and attended Georgia School for the Deaf. She taught Mr. Crusselle sign language and he hired more deaf workers. |
| 1910 |
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The Georgia Association of the Deaf, Inc. (GAD), established in 1910, is the largest self-help consumer organization of persons with a hearing loss in Georgia. Around 1940-45, GAD took part in getting the Deaf employed. William Scott , President; Joseph Taylor, VP, Esteben Ward, Secy, James Ponder, Treasurer Bill Peace, a GAD member with Dick Dirst started GaRID Helen Herron was the first woman president of GAD. Ed Steele and Walter Brown founded the first Jr. National Association of the Deaf chapter at Georgia School for the Deaf. |
| 1912 |
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The founder of the Girl Scouts, Julietta Gordan Low was deaf .She organized the first Girl Scout Troop on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. |
| 1972 |
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Atlanta Area School for the Deaf was established in 1972. Dick Dirst was the first head of the school. Walter Brown as GAD president, he worked with the parents of deaf children to established the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. |
| 1940-2003 |
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Ed Steele |
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Walter Brown was a former GAD President, one of the founders of the AASD, Co-founder of JrNAD at Cave Spring, GA | |
| 1950-Present |
Mike Glen's Basketball
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They Taught Me Sign Language -
Mike Glenn, Former NBA Player and Broadcaster Students of Georgia School for the Deaf - Mildred Nelson & Lois Smiley, Storyteller and Deaf advocate, Black Deaf Advocates |
| 1972- 2005 |
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Becky West was born and raised on farm in south Georgia. She lost her hearing when she was five weeks old due to illness. She attended and graduated from Cairo High School. She attended Governor’s Honor Program in her junior year for her artwork. She went to Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia for two years and transferred to Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her BS and MA in deaf education there. She taught at Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Spring, Georgia for 1 year. She transferred to Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Clarkston, Georgia for 33 years. She was AASD first deaf teacher. She has taught different subjects from preschool to high school. She sponsored Junior National Association of the Deaf at AASD for several years. She taught sign language classes at AASD and Dekalb College (now called Georgia Perimeter College). She is a member of Georgia Association of the Deaf. She was an assistant at Camp Juliena. She retired in 2005 for 34 years and 3 months. |
| 1972 |
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Loisteen Mann was the first Deaf Librarian at Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. She retired from AASD. |
| 1973-1974 |
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First Miss Deaf Georgia, Mary Ann White 1973. |
| 1978 |
Dekalb College/Georgia Perimeter Sign Language Program
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Sign Language program was established in 1978 by
Dick Dirst
and Anna Rinaldi, a Deaf lady. Christine Smith started out as a part
time teacher in 1985 and is a program coordinator. Jean Plant
work as a instructor at GPC since 1989. Both of
the ladies gave many workshops for the students and interpreters
in Georgia. The past 10 years GPC has required students to do 200 hours of community service. About 100 hours each year -- and if we have 30 students in our first year that is 3,000 hours and if we have 10 in the second year, another 1,000 so on average our students (and faculty) give back 4, 000 to the Deaf and Interpreting communities. |
| 1980-2005 |
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Donna Leff , a former Deaf Georgian Go and click at Donna's affiliations/community experiences and awards. She did an outstanding volunteer job in Georgia for 25 years. |
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Al Leff | |
| 1992 to Present |
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Eleanor Foshee and Pat Ford established Camp Juliena in 1992. When it was founded, Camp Juliena became the first summer program in Georgia for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. |
| When? |
StageHands |
Who started it? Please contact me at epeachy_blue@yahoogroups.com |
| 1999 to Present |
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In May 1999, Epeachy News was created. |
| March 2009 |
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Deaf Woman of the Month News - WAY honors Nancy Kelly-Jones as the Deaf Woman of the Month for her dedication to helping deaf and hard of hearing youth succeed |
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