Scope and Contents In this book, Dr. Lane explored the life of deaf portraitist John Brewster Jr. (1766-1854), whose portraits of the New England mercantile elite are famed for their unique style and their depiction of the role of class and wealth in 18th- and 19th-century America. Dr. Lane’s book examines how Brewster interacted with both hearing and deaf societies at the time.This series consists mostly of Dr. Lane’s correspondence about the book, some notes and genealogical material on Brewster...

Scope and Contents

A small collection of material not specifically related to Dr. Lane’s writing projects, including a collection of clippings on deaf education in France and some correspondence with libraries about obtaining research copies.

Scope and Contents The bulk of this series consists of copies of letters sent to Mason Fitch Cogswell (1761-1830), the Connecticut physician whose backing and leadership helped fund Thomas H. Gallaudet’s American Asylum. This general correspondence is arranged by the surname of the sender.There is also a collection of letters between Mason Cogswell and his various family members, including his father, Rev. James Cogswell (1720-1807); Mason’s daughter, Mary A. Cogswell (1801-1868), later Mary...