The Percival Hall Presidential Correspondence
Scope and Contents
These papers cover Dr. Hall's business correspondence from assuming the presidency through his retirement. Most of the collection is correspondence with individuals, including representatives from deaf schools and organizations around the country, as well as faculty members and students. There are also some files on applications received from students and job-seekers, and correspondence with authorities in the D.C. and federal governments.
Dates
- Creation: 1910 - 1946
Biographical / Historical
Percival Hall was the youngest son of famous astronomer Asaph Hall III and Angeline Hall. He graduated from Harvard at age 19 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, intending to become an engineer. After visiting Gallaudet College with his college roommate Allen B. Fay, however, he became interested in deaf education.
Hall entered Gallaudet's normal (teacher training) program and graduated in 1893. He taught for two years at the New York School for the Deaf before returning to Gallaudet, where he served as President Edward Miner Gallaudet's secretary and taught mathematics and Latin. When Edward Miner Gallaudet retired as president, Hall was selected as the college's second president.
Percival Hall remained president of Gallaudet through two world wars and the Depression until he retired in 1945. Hall and his family continued to live on campus after his retirement, and two of his children, Percival Hall Jr. and Jonathan Hall, became members of the Gallaudet faculty. Hall passed away in 1953.
Extent
54 Linear Feet (108 document cases)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Correspondence files of Percival Hall, Sr., during the period he served as president of Gallaudet College.
- Title
- The Percival Hall Presidential Correspondence
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Shea, Christopher
- Date
- May 6, 2024
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Gallaudet University Archives Repository