Lathrop, Cornelia Amanda

Born deaf at Rochester, NY; entered the New York Institution for the Deaf in 1847, but failing health caused her to withdraw from the school in 1852. Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, son of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, made many pastoral visits to Cornelia. In the course of these visits, Cornelia inspired Rev. Gallaudet to see the need of a church specifically for a deaf congregation, and after her death, he established St. Ann's Church for the Deaf in New York City, the world's first church especially for deaf people.