University of Washington’s ASL Professor Lance Forshay will share his findings on the historical influence of the legendary Deaf couple Olof and Agtha Hanson on the early development of the Deaf community in Seattle and the Puget Sound area.
This event will be both in person AND virtual.
When: Friday, November 20
Event Start Time: 3:30 PM
Event End Time: 5:00 PM
Where in person: Bagley Hall, Room 260.
Address: 1410 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA
Virtual Zoom Link: 391 872 8035 (no passcode)
ID: The background is deep navy or purple. A large white block-letter “W”, the University of Washington logo, sits in the top right corner. Text on the flyer: Lance Forshay | University of Washington. “Hanson’s Influence on the Early Development of the Deaf Community in Puget Sound in the 1900s”
Linguistics Colloquium Series: Autumn 2026
November 20th | 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
In Person: Bagley 260
Zoom: 391 872 8035
Lance Forshay will share his findings on the historical influence of the legendary Deaf couple Olof and Agatha Hanson on the early development of the Deaf community in Seattle and the Puget Sound Area. With the partnership of the Puget Sound Association of the Deaf, founded in 1901, Lance was able to borrow their historical documents including meeting minutes since 1901, old movie reels from 1945 and some pictures of their activities. Through the rapid population growth in the Seattle and Tacoma areas, we will investigate the early formation of the Deaf community, leadership, and activism for better quality of life through this Deaf association. Lance will discuss information collection through the meeting minutes to give us a lens to our past and how the Deaf people lived and impacted our history.
Logo: Department of Linguistics | University of Washington
In small print on the bottom of flyer: The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, and activities. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made at least three days in advance to the Disability Services Office at: (206) 543-6450/V, (206) 543-6452/TTY, (206) 685-7264 (FAX), or dso@u.washington.edu