April 15

Events - Society & Lifestyle

1817day.year

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc find the American School for the Deaf (then called the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons), the first American school for deaf students, in Hartford, Connecticut.

Thomas H. Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc establish the first American school for deaf students in Hartford.
On April 15, 1817, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc founded the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. Originally named the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons, it was the nation's first school for deaf students. Laurent Clerc, a deaf educator from France, introduced French Sign Language to America. The institution laid the groundwork for modern deaf education in the United States. It later evolved into Gallaudet University, a leading center for Deaf culture and instruction.
1817 Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet Laurent Clerc American School for the Deaf Hartford, Connecticut
1947day.year

Jackie Robinson debuts for the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking baseball's color line.

Jackie Robinson makes his historic debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier.
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American in modern Major League Baseball. He broke the sport's enforced color barrier, challenging segregation both on and off the field. Despite facing intense racism and hostility from fans and opposing players, Robinson displayed remarkable skill and composure. His debut marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement and in the history of American sports. Robinson's courage paved the way for future generations of athletes.
1947 Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers baseball's color line
1960day.year

At Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, Ella Baker leads a conference that results in the creation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, one of the principal organizations of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Civil rights leader Ella Baker convenes a conference at Shaw University, setting the stage for the creation of the SNCC and a new era of student activism.
On April 15, 1960, civil rights activist Ella Baker led a conference at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. The meeting brought together young activists to strategize nonviolent protests against segregation. Delegates formed the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), emphasizing grassroots leadership. SNCC played a crucial role in sit-ins, freedom rides, and voter registration drives. The organization became a driving force in the 1960s civil rights movement.
1960 Shaw University Ella Baker Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee civil rights movement