Clerc-Gallaudet Week is December 3- 9, 2006
A Tribute to Irene Helen Hodock by Alice L. Hagemeyer
This week, formerly named Deaf Awareness Week, Deaf Action Week and Deaf Heritage Week, originated at the District of Columbia Public Library 32 years ago in the first week of December 1974.
Today the purpose of the week is to celebrate birth anniversaries of the two pioneers in deaf education who were born in the month of December – Laurent Clerc on December 26, 1785 and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet on December 10, 1787 – and to recognize their impact on American Society since the 19th century.
During this week, librarians, library workers and friends are invited to join in paying a tribute to Irene Helen Hodock, who died a few days ago on November 27, 2006. Like Clerc and Gallaudet, she deserves the recognition of the public for her impact on American Society through her many contributions to the nation’s libraries over the years.
In 1972, Irene Hodock is the first librarian of deaf culture to become an active member of the American Library Association (ALA) soon after she earned her master’s degree in library science from Butler University in Indianapolis. In June 1976, she joined with librarians from the D.C. Public Library and Free Library of Philadelphia, to lobby for a separate unit within the ALA structure to focus on deaf needs and it was a huge success.
http://www.ala.org/ala/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclasections/lssps/lspdhhf/lspdhhf.htm
Irene was the school librarian at the Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) from 1950 to1988. Before that she was a teacher at the West Pennsylvania School for the Deaf for two years. Ten years after her retirement from ISD, the school administration dedicated the library in her name, The Irene Hodock Library.
As my mentor and friend since 1976, Irene will be missed terribly but I know I will not honor her by dying before my time. I am still connected with her in memory and spirit.
As the public observes Clerc and Gallaudet Week, the deaf community will continue its connection with Clerc and Gallaudet and their followers, like Irene, who inspire and strengthen many people – hearing and deaf – for living.
Alice is the founder and president of the Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action (FOLDA). http://www.folda.net
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