First Campus 1820-1821
Second Campus 1821 - 1824
Third Campus 1824 - 1892
Fourth Campus 1892 - 1984

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Fifth Campus 1984 - Present

PSDAA Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame Inductees

Class of 2020

Class of 2022

Lillian MacCain Hoshauer - 1951

  • Co-Founder and Board Member of Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc./Interpreter/Deaf Advocate/American Sign Language Instructor
  • Message Relay Services (MRS)
  • Advisory Committee and Board Member work, National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
  • Received many Honors and Awards

Dr.Elizabeth Moore - 1977

  • Educator / Founder/Former President of Philadelphia Chapter of Black Deaf Advocates, Inc./ Deaf Black Advocate / 3rd Deaf who received Ph.D. degree from PSD / One of PSD Board of Trustees
  • Ph.D. in Special Education Administration, Gallaudet University
  • Chair, Department of Social Work, Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C. Teacher, Director, MSW Program, Department of Social Work, Gallaudet
  • Member/Board member/Chair and President of various Deaf organizations as well as a Presenter and wrote/published several articles
  • Received many Honors and Awards

April Nelson

  • Co-Founder of Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc.,
  • Librarian/PSAD Advocate / Deaf Advocate / ASL Teacher / ASL Master of Philadelphia Drama Guild Faculty member and Cataloguer at Rosemont College
  • Certified Sign Language Instructor. Master’s Degrees in Library Science, Villanova University and at Western Maryland College Board Member for several organizations and SSSD
  • Received many Honors and Awards

Joette Paulone - 1969

  • DHCC ASL Instructors/Actress/Deaf Advocate for Families/Storyteller Language and Literacy Instructor, Teacher’s Aide/Drama Teacher Director and Translation Coach for many shows
  • Filmed ASL Films, “Black Sand” “Once in a Lifetime” and “Life Lessons” National Theater of the Deaf
  • Licensed Hairstylist/Cosmetologist, Sports Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Alumni Association
  • Received many Honors and Awards

Frank J Nemshick, Jr. - 1947

  • King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, 1950-56; B.A. in Economics
  • Statistician and Statistical Manager, PA Department of Labor and Industry
  • Board member, Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter editor and President of several organizations Member of PSD Board of Trustees, 2002-2010
  • Wrote/published in October 2019 an 80-page book, Deaf in Pennsylvania, partly an autobiography but with focus on related laws, services and customs
  • Helped write legislation establishing the PA Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH), and legislation for a registry of interpreters within ODHH
  • Received many Honors and Awards

Dr. Harvey J. Corson - 1959

  • Ed. D. Degree in Special Education with several additional degrees
  • Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf and PSDAA
  • Executive Director/Superintendent, American School for the Deaf, Kentucky School for the Deaf, Louisiana School for the Deaf
  • Several top level Administrative and teaching positions
  • Served as President, Board Chair, Member of several organizations Wrote/published several articles
  • Received many Honors and Awards

Dr. Jay Basch - 1948

  • Scientist / Ph.D. in Chemistry
  • First Deaf from PSD who received a Ph.D. degree
  • Research Chemist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Deaf Advocate
  • PSD Emeritus Board Member
  • Served on committees in various roles with several community organizations
  • Presided over PSD’S Board of Trustees for 8 years
  • Served on PSDAA since 1972, President for 4 years
  • Received many Honors and Awards

Steven A. Florio - 1983

  • Public Policy Developer/Community Advocate/PSAD Advocate/Community Outreach Leader/Innovative Leader
  • Board of Trustees of Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
  • President of Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, Inc. (PSAD), and Vice President
  • Greater Philadelphia PSAD Chapter President
  • Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (RICDHH)
  • Commissioner for Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)

John Carlin - 1925

  • Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 15, 1813
  • Is one of the FIRST students to be admitted to Pennsylvania Institute for the Deaf and Dumb (PIDD) in 1820; graduated when he was 12 years old
  • Is known as the FIRST deaf American artist to study abroad in England and France as well as within the United States
  • Was the FIRST published deaf poet in states that inspired others to write
  • Encouraged Edward M. Gallaudet to found an academy for deaf-mutes, which became Gallaudet College in 1864
  • Was awarded Gallaudet College’s FIRST degree, a Master of Arts in 1865
  • Is known for work as a poet and painter of miniatures on ivory
  • The Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington DC) has four items of his artwork. Also, New York Historical Society, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Maryland Historical Society, and Cincinnati Art Museum
  • Died in New York City, NY on April 23, 1891

(Louis) Laurent (Marie) Clerc

  • Was born in La-Balme-les-Grottes, (near Lyons) France on December 26, 1785
  • Was a deaf French teacher who played a significant part in the history of American Sign Language (ASL) and was the FIRST deaf teacher of the deaf in America
  • Became the FIRST deaf Principal at the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb (PIDD) on loan from American School for the Deaf (ASD) in 1821
  • Became a friend of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and together they founded America’s FIRST permanent school for the deaf (American School for the Deaf in Hartford, CT) in 1817 after sailing the Atlantic Ocean together learning sign language and educational philosophies and practices
  • Lost his hearing and sense of smell as a very young child. Burned his face hence his name sign with two fingers brushing one cheek
  • “The Apostle of the Deaf in America” as he is regarded as the most renowned deaf person in American Deaf History
  • Died in Hartford, Connecticut on July 18, 1869

Abigail Dillingham

  • Was born in Lee, Massachusetts on February 25, 1786
  • Was the FIRST known Deaf-American born teacher in history; an inaugural student. She practiced democratic leadership and was remarkably intelligent
  • Started receiving formal education at the age of 31. Was in the FIRST group of students along with Alice Cogswell when American School for the Deaf (ASD) opened in 1817
  • Was the FIRST deaf teacher at PIDD. Had to leave her job at PIDD very early due to health reasons
  • Traveled with her brother to Philadelphia, PA to teach at PIDD for three years
  • Is well-known for excellent writing, drawing and drafting skills
  • Laurent Clerc’s recommendation for Abigail Dillingham:“She has a vigor of constitution and a decision of character which admirably qualify her to charge of the uncultivated scholars on their entrance into the Asylum (at PIDD)”
  • Died in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on September 17, 1824

Dr. Frederick Henry Hughes - 1908

  • Was born in Clearfield, PA on July 15, 1892
  • Was the FIRST deaf person to teach Mathematics, Economics, and Drama at Gallaudet College (1915-1956)
  • Was the FIRST deaf person to coach sports teams at Gallaudet College (1915-1956)
  • Established the FIRST dramatic courses at Gallaudet and the program grew there
  • Directed many plays, one of which was “Arsenic and Old Lace” that went on to be performed on Broadway
  • Was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by Gallaudet College in 1955
  • Was considered one of the most exceptional sign actors. Was a beautiful signer. Shared this gift of sign acting and excellence in the classroom as well
  • Died in Washington DC on May 6, 1956

Rev. Jacob M. Koehler - 1877

  • Was born in July 1860 in York, PA
  • Left Gallaudet College to help his family
  • A pioneer advocate
  • Ordained Episcopal priest
  • Founded the Scranton State School for the Deaf in 1882
  • Controversial for his support of oral communication in the battle with sign language, Koehler played an instrumental role in advancing the awareness and understanding of deaf culture
  • Established a growing network of specialized facilities established to help young people with disabilities obtain the education and skills necessary to live useful lives
  • Became one of the most successful translators of deaf culture to a broader hearing audience after working closely with Revs. Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Syle, whom he replaced as the vicar of All Souls’ Church in Philadelphia
  • Died in East Benton on December 26, 1932

Dr. James H. Logan - 1863

  • Was born in Allegheny City, PA on February 27, 1843
  • Was one of the FIRST three deaf students at Gallaudet College. He obtained a patent for an improvement of a microscope
  • Was a graduate of the “National Deaf-Mute College” or Gallaudet College
  • Was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by Gallaudet College in 1914
  • A. Woodside and Logan co-founded the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD). Logan was the FIRST Superintendent of WPSD near Pittsburgh, Pa
  • Is known for his skills as a chemist, teacher, then superintendent 1875-1880; after various other jobs, associated with the Western University of Pennsylvania as a teacher and researcher
  • Was one of the founders of the Iron City Microscopical Society
  • Communicated by writing most of his life
  • Died on December 9, 1917

Albert Newsam - 1826

  • Was born in Steubenville, Ohio on May 20, 1809
  • Was one of the FIRST students to be admitted to PIDD in 1820 under Bishop White’s guardianship
  • Studied under artist George Carlin and graduated from PIDD as a model student
  • Was well-known as one of the premier Philadelphia lithographic artist of portraiture during the mid-19th century
  • Presented the State House of Representatives with specimens of his lithographs, 1833
View of PIDD (Broad and Pine) in 1853 – Albert Newsam
  • His works can be found at the Smithsonian Institute and other international museums
  • Designed the structure for the monument erected to Deaf educator Thomas H. Gallaudet in Hartford, CT in 1854
  • Died near Wilmington, Delaware on November 20, 1864

Robert M. Ziegler - 1876

  • Was born near Middlesex, PA on August 22, 1857
  • When Ziegler was a Gallaudet student, he worked hard for two years to plan a successful convention in Harrisburg to form PSD alumni association but instead he founded the FIRST state organization for the deaf in PA; the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf (PSAD)
  • Served in office for 43 years; 41 of those years as the board of managers. He held all elected positions except for Treasurer
  • Held many important positions with the national, state and civic organizations.  He served as President, National Association of the Deaf, 1896-1900. Twice President of Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, and U.S. representative to the World Congress of the Deaf (Paris), 1889
  • Ziegler’s networking with officers, teachers, and students from many years of employment gave him the opportunity to advance the interest of PSAD
  • PSAD is the third oldest society for deaf people in the nation and was considered to be one of the largest and wealthiest state organizations
  • Ziegler is known as the “Father of PSAD” and that organization still exists today!
  • Died in Philadelphia, PA on January 20, 1929

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