Louis Laurent Marie Clerc (French:[lɔʁɑ̃klɛʁ]; 26 December 1785 – 18 July 1869) was a French teacher called "The Apostle of the Deaf in America" and was regarded as the most renowned deaf person in American Deaf History. He was taught by Abbé Sicard and deaf educator Jean Massieu, at the Institution Nationale des Sourds-Muets in Paris. With Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, he co-founded the first school for the deaf in North America, the Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, on April 15, 1817, in the old Bennet's City Hotel, Hartford, Connecticut. The school was subsequently renamed the American School for the Deaf and in 1821 moved to 139 Main Street, West Hartford. The school remains the oldest existing school for the deaf in North America.
Laurent Clerc
Teacher, co-founder of the first permanent school for the Deaf in North America.
Laurent Clerc was born December 26, 1785, in La Balme-les-Grottes, Isère, a village on the northeastern edge of Lyon to Joseph-François Clerc and Marie-Élisabeth Candy in the small village of La Balme, where his father was the mayor. Clerc's home was a typical bourgeois household. When he was one year old, Clerc fell from a chair into a fire, suffering a severe burn and obtained a permanent scar on the right side of his cheek. Clerc's family believed his deafness and inability to smell were caused by this accident, but Clerc later wrote that he was not certain of this and might have been born deaf and without the ability to smell. The facial scar later provided the basis for his name sign, performed with the manual alphabet for "U", stroked twice downward on the right cheek.
Clerc attended Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris when he was just 12 years old and soon became a teacher there. While there, he was taught by Abbe Sicard and Jean Massieu who was deaf. In 1815 he traveled with Sicard and Massieu to England to give a lecture and happened upon Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet who was traveling in search of means for instructing deaf children. Gallaudet was invited to visit the school in Paris. Then in 1816, after a few months with Clerc at the school, Gaulladet invited Clerc to accompany him to the United States. During the trip across the ocean, Clerc learned English from Gallaudet, and Gallaudet learned sign language from Clerc.[1] After arriving in America they worked together to establish the first permanent school for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, which is now known as the American School for the Deaf.
Laurent Clerc died at the age of 83 at his home in Hartford. The 1869 obituary in the New York Times says, Clerc came to Hartford in 1816 and became a teacher in 1817, then served more than 50 years "in the cause of deaf-mute instruction" and "his abilities, zeal, and graces of character made him always respected and loved."[2] Clerc married one of the first pupils – Eliza Crocker Boardman.
Legacyedit
Generally, prior to the onset of organized education of the deaf, deaf people were regarded as unintelligent and incapable of education. Laurent Clerc became one of the most recognizable figures in Deaf history of the United States thanks to his significant role in shaping deaf education. As a person who could not hear, nor speak from a young age and, despite this, acquired excellent command of spoken languages at an age far past the prime years for language acquisition he is also an exemplary personification of educability and high intellect.
Largely due to Clerc's contribution to the education of the Deaf in America several awards, buildings, funds, and other honors were named after him. Most notably at Gallaudet University[3][4]
Filmedit
Laurent Clerc is portrayed in the fictional film Sign Gene, the superhero film about deaf mutants who have superhuman powers through the use of sign language, as the fourth great-grandfather of the leading character Tom Clerc (played by Emilio Insolera). The film was released in September 2017.[5][6][7][8]
Worksedit
"Autobiography of Laurent Clerc," Chapter III, in: Tribute to Gallaudet – A Discourse in Commemoration of the Life, Character and Services, of the Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet, LL.D. – Delivered Before the Citizens of Hartford, Jan. 7th, 1852. With an Appendix, Containing History of Deaf-Mute Instruction and Institutions, and other Documents. By Henry Barnard, 1852. page 102.)
The Diary of Laurent Clerc's Voyage from France to America in 1816 (West Hartford, CT: American School for the Deaf, 1952). 22 pages.
An Address Written by Mr. Clerc and Read By His Request at a Public Examination of the Pupils in the Connecticut Asylum Before the Governour and Both Houses of the Legislature, 28 May 1818.
Address at the Inauguration of Gallaudet University, 1864.
"Reminiscences of Laurent Clerc," by L.C.T. Silent World, July 1871, pages 5–6. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2007-12-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Visits to Some of the Schools for the Deaf and Dumb in France and England," American Annals of the Deaf:
Volume 1, Number 1, October 1847 pages 62–66. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2007-12-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Volume 1, Number 2, January 1848, pages 113–120. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2007-12-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Volume 1, Number 3, April 1848, pages 170–176. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2007-12-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Obituary; Laurent Clerc, the Instructor of Deaf Mutes". New York Times. July 19, 1869.
^(PDF). www.gallaudet.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Alice Cogswell Award - Gallaudet University". Gallaudet.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
^"A Settembre nelle sale "Sign Gene" un film diretto e ideato da Emilio Insolera" (in Italian). 21 July 2017.
^TJ (24 October 2015). "Father of Sign Gene". Tokyo Journal. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
^. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
^The Games Machine (27 March 2017). "Sign Gene è il nuovo film di supereroi sordi" (in Italian). The Games Machine. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
Further readingedit
Denison, James. , American Annals of the Deaf, Volume 19, Number 4, October 1874, pp. 238–244.
Gallaudet, Edward Miner. "Life of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet – Founder of Deaf-Mute Instruction in America" by Edward Miner Gallaudet, 1888. For information about Laurent Clerc, see pp. 92 and following.
Irving, Washington (editor). "The Deaf and Dumb" in: Analectic magazine. May 1820 issue. Philadelphia, Pa.: Moses Thomas, pp. 419–431. via Google books.
Lane, Harlan. When The Mind Hears: A History of the Deaf, by Harlan Lane. ISBN0-679-72023-5 Chapter 1, "My New Family".
Massieu, Jean; Laurent Clerc; and Roch Ambroise Cucurron Sicard. 1815. Receuil des définitions et réponses les plus remarquables de Massieu et Clerc, Sourds-Muets, aux diverses questions qui leur ont étés faites dans les séances publiques de M. l'Abbé Sicard, à Londres. (A collection of the most notable definitions and responses of Massieu and Clerc, deaf and dumb, to the various questions put to them, at the public lectures of the Abbé Sicard, in London). Cox and Baylis, London, 1815.
Porter, Samuel. , American Annals of the Deaf, Volume 10, Number 3, July 1858, pp. 181–183.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laurent Clerc.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Laurent Clerc.
. Archived from the original on November 4, 1999. Retrieved April 8, 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Laurent Clerc Association
Diary of Laurent Clerc's Voyage From France to America in 1816
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
Laurent Clerc's grave site
Laurent Clerc obituary in the New York Times, July 19, 1869
Children's book: "Laurent Clerc – The Story of His Early Years" by Cathryn Carroll
Laurent Clerc papers (MS 140). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.[1]
December 16, 2023
laurent, clerc, swiss, sprinter, athlete, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresp. For the Swiss sprinter see Laurent Clerc athlete This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message This biography may need cleanup Please review the Manual of Style for biographies and help improve the article July 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Louis Laurent Marie Clerc French lɔʁɑ klɛʁ 26 December 1785 18 July 1869 was a French teacher called The Apostle of the Deaf in America and was regarded as the most renowned deaf person in American Deaf History He was taught by Abbe Sicard and deaf educator Jean Massieu at the Institution Nationale des Sourds Muets in Paris With Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet he co founded the first school for the deaf in North America the Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb on April 15 1817 in the old Bennet s City Hotel Hartford Connecticut The school was subsequently renamed the American School for the Deaf and in 1821 moved to 139 Main Street West Hartford The school remains the oldest existing school for the deaf in North America Laurent ClercTeacher co founder of the first permanent school for the Deaf in North America Born 1785 12 26 December 26 1785La Balme FranceDiedJuly 18 1869 1869 07 18 aged 83 Hartford Connecticut United StatesSpouseEliza Crocker Boardman 1792 1880 Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Film 4 Works 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksBiography editLaurent Clerc was born December 26 1785 in La Balme les Grottes Isere a village on the northeastern edge of Lyon to Joseph Francois Clerc and Marie Elisabeth Candy in the small village of La Balme where his father was the mayor Clerc s home was a typical bourgeois household When he was one year old Clerc fell from a chair into a fire suffering a severe burn and obtained a permanent scar on the right side of his cheek Clerc s family believed his deafness and inability to smell were caused by this accident but Clerc later wrote that he was not certain of this and might have been born deaf and without the ability to smell The facial scar later provided the basis for his name sign performed with the manual alphabet for U stroked twice downward on the right cheek Clerc attended Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris when he was just 12 years old and soon became a teacher there While there he was taught by Abbe Sicard and Jean Massieu who was deaf In 1815 he traveled with Sicard and Massieu to England to give a lecture and happened upon Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet who was traveling in search of means for instructing deaf children Gallaudet was invited to visit the school in Paris Then in 1816 after a few months with Clerc at the school Gaulladet invited Clerc to accompany him to the United States During the trip across the ocean Clerc learned English from Gallaudet and Gallaudet learned sign language from Clerc 1 After arriving in America they worked together to establish the first permanent school for the Deaf in Hartford Connecticut which is now known as the American School for the Deaf Laurent Clerc died at the age of 83 at his home in Hartford The 1869 obituary in the New York Times says Clerc came to Hartford in 1816 and became a teacher in 1817 then served more than 50 years in the cause of deaf mute instruction and his abilities zeal and graces of character made him always respected and loved 2 Clerc married one of the first pupils Eliza Crocker Boardman Legacy editGenerally prior to the onset of organized education of the deaf deaf people were regarded as unintelligent and incapable of education Laurent Clerc became one of the most recognizable figures in Deaf history of the United States thanks to his significant role in shaping deaf education As a person who could not hear nor speak from a young age and despite this acquired excellent command of spoken languages at an age far past the prime years for language acquisition he is also an exemplary personification of educability and high intellect Largely due to Clerc s contribution to the education of the Deaf in America several awards buildings funds and other honors were named after him Most notably at Gallaudet University 3 4 Film editLaurent Clerc is portrayed in the fictional film Sign Gene the superhero film about deaf mutants who have superhuman powers through the use of sign language as the fourth great grandfather of the leading character Tom Clerc played by Emilio Insolera The film was released in September 2017 5 6 7 8 Works edit Autobiography of Laurent Clerc Chapter III in Tribute to Gallaudet A Discourse in Commemoration of the Life Character and Services of the Rev Thomas H Gallaudet LL D Delivered Before the Citizens of Hartford Jan 7th 1852 With an Appendix Containing History of Deaf Mute Instruction and Institutions and other Documents By Henry Barnard 1852 page 102 The Diary of Laurent Clerc s Voyage from France to America in 1816 West Hartford CT American School for the Deaf 1952 22 pages An Address Written by Mr Clerc and Read By His Request at a Public Examination of the Pupils in the Connecticut Asylum Before the Governour and Both Houses of the Legislature 28 May 1818 Address at the Inauguration of Gallaudet University 1864 Reminiscences of Laurent Clerc by L C T Silent World July 1871 pages 5 6 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2008 05 28 Retrieved 2007 12 26 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Visits to Some of the Schools for the Deaf and Dumb in France and England American Annals of the Deaf Volume 1 Number 1 October 1847 pages 62 66 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2008 05 28 Retrieved 2007 12 25 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Volume 1 Number 2 January 1848 pages 113 120 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2008 05 28 Retrieved 2007 12 25 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Volume 1 Number 3 April 1848 pages 170 176 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2008 05 28 Retrieved 2007 12 25 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link See also editAmerican Sign Language Bilingual bicultural education Deaf culture Deafness medical vs disability and cultural models French Sign Language Roch Ambroise Auguste Bebian Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf William StokoeReferences edit Pioneers in Special Education Laurent Clerc 17 1 Journal of Special Education Spring 1983 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Obituary Laurent Clerc the Instructor of Deaf Mutes New York Times July 19 1869 Archived copy PDF www gallaudet edu Archived from the original PDF on 6 December 2021 Retrieved 30 June 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Alice Cogswell Award Gallaudet University Gallaudet edu Archived from the original on 2015 11 10 Retrieved 2015 10 24 A Settembre nelle sale Sign Gene un film diretto e ideato da Emilio Insolera in Italian 21 July 2017 TJ 24 October 2015 Father of Sign Gene Tokyo Journal Retrieved 21 March 2017 制作進むろう者の国際共同制作映画 Sign Gene ろうを生きる難聴を生きる Archived from the original on 2015 11 17 Retrieved 2017 08 27 The Games Machine 27 March 2017 Sign Gene e il nuovo film di supereroi sordi in Italian The Games Machine Retrieved 20 August 2017 Further reading editDenison James The Memory of Laurent Clerc Dedication Address for Clerc Memorial American Annals of the Deaf Volume 19 Number 4 October 1874 pp 238 244 Gallaudet Edward Miner Life of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet Founder of Deaf Mute Instruction in America by Edward Miner Gallaudet 1888 For information about Laurent Clerc see pp 92 and following Irving Washington editor The Deaf and Dumb in Analectic magazine May 1820 issue Philadelphia Pa Moses Thomas pp 419 431 via Google books Lane Harlan When The Mind Hears A History of the Deaf by Harlan Lane ISBN 0 679 72023 5 Chapter 1 My New Family Massieu Jean Laurent Clerc and Roch Ambroise Cucurron Sicard 1815 Receuil des definitions et reponses les plus remarquables de Massieu et Clerc Sourds Muets aux diverses questions qui leur ont etes faites dans les seances publiques de M l Abbe Sicard a Londres A collection of the most notable definitions and responses of Massieu and Clerc deaf and dumb to the various questions put to them at the public lectures of the Abbe Sicard in London Cox and Baylis London 1815 Porter Samuel Retirement of Mr Clerc American Annals of the Deaf Volume 10 Number 3 July 1858 pp 181 183 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laurent Clerc nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Laurent Clerc Clerc Memorial bust at the American School for the Deaf Who was Laurent Clerc Clerc National Deaf Education Center web page Writings by and about Laurent Clerc Gallaudet University Library web page Laurent Clerc Info Quest Laurent Clerc Stamp Project Archived from the original on November 4 1999 Retrieved April 8 2005 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Laurent Clerc Association Diary of Laurent Clerc s Voyage From France to America in 1816 Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund Gallaudet Univ Alumni Assoc Laurent Clerc Educational Fund d b a Rocky Mountain Deaf School RMDS About com on Laurent Clerc Laurent Clerc s grave site Laurent Clerc obituary in the New York Times July 19 1869 Children s book Laurent Clerc The Story of His Early Years by Cathryn Carroll Laurent Clerc papers MS 140 Manuscripts and Archives Yale University Library 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laurent Clerc amp oldid 1181728358, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
