In 1814, Thomas Gallaudet, an important ASL pioneer, attempted teaching his neighbor’s deaf daughter, Alice Cogswell, and traveled to Europe to learn how. Britain had the first school for the deaf, while France had the National Institute for Deaf-Mutes (NAD).

"Engraved portrait of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet" 

(Buttre, 1880)

Gallaudet studied the teaching methods of deaf educators at NAD, including Laurent Clerc. Together they opened the first deaf school, American School for the Deaf (ASD) in 1817 in Connecticut. Initially, students used a mix of familiar gestures, like MVSL, and signs based on French Sign Language. From these variations, ASL was born. By 1863, twenty-two American deaf schools opened, using similar educational methods to ASD. 
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​After Gallaudet’s death, his son convinced Congress in 1864 to allow Columbia Institute, today Gallaudet University (GU), to open its college division, The National Deaf-Mute College, as the first deaf school to issue college degrees.​​​​​​