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Deaf History That: Who Was Melville Ballard

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      There are many interesting deaf people, and among them, I'd like to tell you about one person in particular-- Melville Ballard. He was born in Maine, and since he was deaf, there were no known educational institutions for deaf children nearby. When he was eleven years old, he was informed that there was a deaf school in Hartford. He enrolled, and after nine years, Ballard completed his education. The school asked him to become a teacher there. The Columbia Institute for the Deaf and Dumb in Washington, D.C. asked him to teach there. Ballard accepted the offer, and soon afterwards, the college for the deaf was established. He decided to enroll there, and after two years, he graduated. Afterwards he went back to teaching and did so for over fifty years! While he was teaching, Ballard, along with a few others, founded a newspaper for deaf people. The paper was called "The Silent World." Ballard was actually one of the participants at that conference in Milan, Italy in 1880. Oh, here's another interesting fact about Ballard-- Congressman James Garfield, who later became the President of the U.S., corresponded with the French Emperor, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte III, who communicated in French. The Congressman needed somebody to help him with translation, so he used Ballard, who was fluent in English, French, and Latin, to help with the translations. With Ballard's help, Garfield was able maintain his communications with the French Emperor. So that is what I wanted to share with you today. Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

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      Now Playing As: English with English captions

      Melville Ballard became the first undergraduate student to receive a degree from Gallaudet College. He was born in Maine and attended the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. Ballard completed his education and became a teacher. He also founded a newspaper called “The Silent World” with a group of his friends. Another interesting fact about Ballard is his role as a translator for Congressman James Garfield, who later became the President of the United States. Garfield corresponded with the French Emperor Louis Napoleon Bonaparte III, who communicated in French. Ballard, who was fluent in English, French, and Latin, helped with the translations. Part of the “Deaf History That” series.

      Media Details

      Runtime: 2 minutes 57 seconds

      ASL
      Man wearing a vintage costume suit sits behind a desk next to a typewriter and American flag. He faces camera and uses sign language, pointing his index finger towards an open palm. Caption. These papers shared opinions, discussions, and stories.
      Deaf History That
      Episode 1
      1 minutes 54 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
      ASL
      Man wearing a vintage costume suit stands next to a model of a wooden ship. He faces camera and uses sign language, pointing 1 finger up and the other across his body to the side. Caption. Of the National Association of the Deaf, the N, A, D.
      Deaf History That
      Episode 2
      2 minutes 32 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
      ASL
      Man wearing a vintage costume vest and white shirt sits in a chair in a home setting. He faces camera and uses sign language, pointing 1 finger up. Caption. The paper was called, "The Silent World."
      Deaf History That
      Episode 3
      2 minutes 57 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
      ASL
      Man wearing a vintage costume suit and brimmed hat stands outside with a white church behind him and snow on the ground. He faces camera and uses sign language, touching palms together in front of him. Caption. And asked him to teach his children.
      Deaf History That
      Episode 4
      2 minutes 43 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
      ASL
      Man wearing a vintage costume suit and hat stands in front of a white church and snow on the ground. He faces camera and uses sign language, gesturing with both hands out slightly to 1 side. Caption. Church services were done in sign language.
      Deaf History That
      Episode 5
      2 minutes 11 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
      ASL
      Man wearing a vintage costume suit stands inside next to a window trimmed with lace curtains. He faces camera and uses sign language, gesturing with both hands up, palms down. Caption. Deaf people all over recognize him as a venerated leader.
      Deaf History That
      Episode 6
      2 minutes 56 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
      ASL
      Man wearing trousers with suspenders and a white captain's hat faces camera and uses sign language, touching his index finger to open palm. Caption. Of independence to earn the fruits of their labor.
      Deaf History That
      Episode 7
      1 minutes 52 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
      ASL
      Man wearing a vintage costume suit and hat stands in front of a building. He faces camera and uses sign language, touching his fingertips together to form a peak. Caption. By circling the house and waving through the windows.
      Deaf History That
      Episode 8
      2 minutes 38 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
      ASL
      Man wearing a western vest, bandana, and hat stands outside of a wood building. He faces camera and gestures in sign language, both hands reaching out in front of him, palms facing in. Caption. Here at a small, humble town in Henniker, New Hampshire.
      Deaf History That
      Episode 9
      2 minutes 55 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
      ASL
      Man wearing a western vest and bandana sits outside of a wood building. He faces camera and gestures in sign language, touching hands together with fingers fanned out. Caption. Storytelling, and the sharing of news from other areas.
      Deaf History That
      Episode 10
      1 minutes 38 seconds
      Grade Level: 7 - 12
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