Agatha Tiegel Hanson

Agatha Tiegel Hanson
8 x 10 inches
Oil on canvas
May 2012
SOLD

Description:
This painting honors Agatha Tiegel Hanson (1873–1959), a pioneering Deaf woman who made history through education, leadership, and advocacy.

Hanson was the first Deaf woman to graduate from Gallaudet University with a four-year degree. She graduated at the top of her class and was selected as the Valedictorian for the 1893 commencement ceremony.

During her graduation, she delivered a powerful address titled “The Intellect of Women,” a speech that challenged ideas about women’s intellectual abilities and equality. Her words were especially significant because she delivered this address twenty-seven years before women gained the right to vote in the United States.

This painting honors Agatha Tiegel Hanson’s courage, intelligence, and contribution to both Deaf history and women’s history. Her legacy reminds us of the importance of education, representation, and the voices of Deaf women.