Harvard University awarded Percival Hall an undergraduate degree in mathematics in 1892, a period during which he also performed architectural survey work for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. This early career path preceded his shift toward academic leadership, where he eventually managed the operations of Gallaudet College for thirty-five years, beginning in 1910.
Professional Beginnings
Before his transition into education, Hall spent significant time in remote areas conducting surveys for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. These duties required him to create detailed technical drawings for bridge improvements and structural expansion plans. The demands of this fieldwork, which involved camping and self-sufficiency, eventually led him to reconsider his career trajectory after receiving advice from a Harvard classmate, Allen Bradshaw Fay.
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Hall entered the Normal School at Gallaudet in 1893, earning a Master of Arts degree in deaf education. After serving two years on the faculty at the New York School for the Deaf, he returned to Gallaudet to teach Latin and mathematics. Upon the retirement of Edward Miner Gallaudet in 1910, Hall ascended to the presidency of the institution. Throughout his tenure, he advocated for the rights of deaf individuals to vote, operate motor vehicles, marry, and participate in competitive sports. His service to the institution was recognized in 1935 when the college awarded him an Honorary Doctorate.
Domestic Life
Hall married Carolyn L. Clarke in June 1895, though she died in January 1896. He later married Ethel Zoe Taylor, a Gallaudet graduate, in June 1900. Together, they raised three children who all maintained academic ties to the institution. Their son, Percival Hall, Jr., became a professor of mathematics and astronomy, while their son, Jonathan Hall, served as a professor of natural science. Their daughter, Marion Hall Fisher, pursued a career as a writer.
Fast facts
- Born: 1872, Washington, D.C.
- Died: 1953
- Education: Harvard University
- Presidency: Gallaudet College, 1910–1945
- First Marriage: Carolyn L. Clarke, 1895
- Second Marriage: Ethel Zoe Taylor, 1900
- Academic Focus: Mathematics, Deaf Education
Questions readers ask
What was Percival Hall's relationship to Gallaudet University?
He served as the second president of the institution, then known as Gallaudet College, from 1910 until his retirement in 1945.
Did Hall have a background in mathematics?
Yes, he earned a degree in mathematics from Harvard University in 1892 and taught the subject at Gallaudet.
