Agatha Tiegel Hanson became the first deaf woman to graduate from National Deaf Mute College (now Gallaudet University).  She is an important figure to both the deaf community and women's rights.

•  Agatha Tiegel Hanson first woman to woman to graduate in 1893 from Gallaudet in 1893 with a four- year degree.  Agatha was also the first woman to be class valedictorian.  

• At that time all female students were required to live in House One.

• Since women did not have as many rights as men do during that time period this includes participating in extracurricular activities.  The only time a woman can participate is by an invitation by a man and accompanied by a man.  Women were also could not walk to class alone unless accompanied by a male chaperone.  

• Women were not allowed to participate in debates with men.  To solve this problem Agatha established a debate group for women.  The members met up late at night in secret at House One to discuss about poetry and literature.  Agatha's efforts were noticed and in 1889, after seeing how well the women were doing Gallaudet permanently put an end the social ban on female students.

• Work Citied:  Agatha Tiegel Hanson:  American Deaf Woman: https://www.handspeak.com/study/index.php?id=134

• https://usdeafhistory.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/agatha-tiegel-hansonbio.pdf

• https://www.gallaudet.edu/about/history-and-traditions/agatha-tiegel-hanson