Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Kathy Jankowski describes in ASL her new biography of Agatha Tiegel Hanson, now available from Gallaudet University Press at https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/A/Agatha-Tiegel-Hanson
Kathy is a white woman with shoulder length blond hair, and is wearing a light brown, short sleeve shirt and a necklace. She is standing in front of a white, neutral background. In the top right corner is a navy rectangle with "Gallaudet University Press" in white text. After she introduces herself, a navy blue slide appears with the book's cover image: A black and white medium close-up photograph of a young white woman in glasses with her hair in a bun, wearing antiqued clothing. Main title in large white text next to the woman’s face reads “Agatha Tiegel Hanson.” Underneath in large blue text reads “Our Places in the Sun.” At the bottom in small yellow text reads “Kathy Jankowski.” At the bottom of the slide in yellow text reads "Now available from Gallaudet University Press." At the end of the video is another navy blue slide with the book cover on the left side, and on the right side in a yellow box, in blue text, reads "This richly contextualized portrayal makes a significant contribution as a social history and a history of Deaf people." - Karen (KC) Christie, Rochester Institute of Technology. The final slide is navy blue with the Gallaudet University Press logo in white, the Gallaudet University logo beneath in white text with a buff swoop on top, and the last line is buff and reads gupress.gallaudet.edu.
Transcript:
Greetings! I am Kathy Jankowski, the author of "Agatha Tiegel Hanson: Our Places in the Sun." The book is about Agatha’s life and experiences. She was the first woman to graduate from Gallaudet with a Bachelors’ degree in 1893. At the time, it was called the National Deaf Mute College. Prior to Agatha's time, from the time the college was founded, Gallaudet accepted a few women, however they remained only for a year or two, and none of them graduated. Then, the college banned women from attending for many years after that. This ban of women created controversies in the Deaf community. Some felt that women should not attend college, while others felt that they should be allowed to. Do you want to know the real reason women were banned from the college? Read the book to find out!
Then, just before 1887, there were some developments that induced Gallaudet to open their doors to welcome women to enroll. However, it would be a two-year trial, and would continue only if it succeeded. The trial began in 1887, and one year later, Agatha enrolled with the second group of women. These inaugural women faced much resistance and skepticism about their abilities from the men, who scrutinized their every move. These women had to put in much effort to prove that they were as capable or better than their male peers. Agatha worked diligently as a student.
After two years, the College decided that the probationary period was over, and they would continue to allow women to enroll. Agatha graduated and she was immensely successful. She proved once and for all that women could succeed. After Agatha graduated, she moved to Minnesota to teach Deaf children at the school for the Deaf. This book follows her life’s journey throughout time, and her many challenges and successes. This book also reflects on historical happenings and world events, and offers a glimpse into the experiences of the Deaf community of that time - even the National Association of the Deaf and their challenges in the fight for equality. Also reflected is the spread of oralism and the concerns of the Deaf community as they fought for the right to use ASL in schools. Then there was an abundance of Deaf gatherings and activities during an era with no technology, iPhones, videophones, or even televisions! Their way of life back then was so different, and this book gives us insight into the history of Deaf life at the time, as well as into Agatha’s life experiences. Enjoy reading!
Kathy Jankowski describes in ASL her new biography of Agatha Tiegel Hanson, now available from Gallaudet University Press at https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/A/Agatha-Tiegel-Hanson
Kathy is a white woman with shoulder length blond hair, and is wearing a light brown, short sleeve shirt and a necklace. She is standing in front of a white, neutral background. In the top right corner is a navy rectangle with "Gallaudet University Press" in white text. After she introduces herself, a navy blue slide appears with the book's cover image: A black and white medium close-up photograph of a young white woman in glasses with her hair in a bun, wearing antiqued clothing. Main title in large white text next to the woman’s face reads “Agatha Tiegel Hanson.” Underneath in large blue text reads “Our Places in the Sun.” At the bottom in small yellow text reads “Kathy Jankowski.” At the bottom of the slide in yellow text reads "Now available from Gallaudet University Press." At the end of the video is another navy blue slide with the book cover on the left side, and on the right side in a yellow box, in blue text, reads "This richly contextualized portrayal makes a significant contribution as a social history and a history of Deaf people." - Karen (KC) Christie, Rochester Institute of Technology. The final slide is navy blue with the Gallaudet University Press logo in white, the Gallaudet University logo beneath in white text with a buff swoop on top, and the last line is buff and reads gupress.gallaudet.edu.
Transcript:
Greetings! I am Kathy Jankowski, the author of "Agatha Tiegel Hanson: Our Places in the Sun." The book is about Agatha’s life and experiences. She was the first woman to graduate from Gallaudet with a Bachelors’ degree in 1893. At the time, it was called the National Deaf Mute College. Prior to Agatha's time, from the time the college was founded, Gallaudet accepted a few women, however they remained only for a year or two, and none of them graduated. Then, the college banned women from attending for many years after that. This ban of women created controversies in the Deaf community. Some felt that women should not attend college, while others felt that they should be allowed to. Do you want to know the real reason women were banned from the college? Read the book to find out!
Then, just before 1887, there were some developments that induced Gallaudet to open their doors to welcome women to enroll. However, it would be a two-year trial, and would continue only if it succeeded. The trial began in 1887, and one year later, Agatha enrolled with the second group of women. These inaugural women faced much resistance and skepticism about their abilities from the men, who scrutinized their every move. These women had to put in much effort to prove that they were as capable or better than their male peers. Agatha worked diligently as a student.
After two years, the College decided that the probationary period was over, and they would continue to allow women to enroll. Agatha graduated and she was immensely successful. She proved once and for all that women could succeed. After Agatha graduated, she moved to Minnesota to teach Deaf children at the school for the Deaf. This book follows her life’s journey throughout time, and her many challenges and successes. This book also reflects on historical happenings and world events, and offers a glimpse into the experiences of the Deaf community of that time - even the National Association of the Deaf and their challenges in the fight for equality. Also reflected is the spread of oralism and the concerns of the Deaf community as they fought for the right to use ASL in schools. Then there was an abundance of Deaf gatherings and activities during an era with no technology, iPhones, videophones, or even televisions! Their way of life back then was so different, and this book gives us insight into the history of Deaf life at the time, as well as into Agatha’s life experiences. Enjoy reading!
