1925

Andrew Foster is born in Ensley, Alabama.

 1936

Andrew and his brother Edward become deaf due to an outbreak of meningitis.

 1942

Foster moves to Detroit for better opportunities, completes high school, and earns a business school diploma.

1954 

Completing his degree in only three years, Foster is the first African-American to graduate from Gallaudet.

Photo from the Tower Clock, courtesy of Gallaudet University Archives.

1956

Newly ordained as a minister, Foster founds the Christian Mission to Deaf Africans in Detroit.

Logo courtesy of cmdeaf.org.

1957

The Ghana Mission School for the Deaf opens in Mampong-Akwapim, Foster’s first school in Africa.

Andrew Foster with the first students enrolled in the Ghana Mission School for the Deaf, in Accra, Ghana.
Courtesy of the Andrew Foster Family Collection, c. 1957.

1960

Foster relocates his African headquarters to Ibadan, Nigeria, opening the Ibadan Mission School for the Deaf.

Andrew Foster with the first set of students at the Ibadan Mission School for the Deaf in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Courtesy of the Andrew Foster Family Collection, c. 1960.

1970

Gallaudet confers Foster with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Dr. Andrew J. Foster receiving his honorary degree during the 1970 Commencement.
Photo courtesy of Gallaudet University Archives.

1987

Andrew Foster is killed in a plane crash in Rwanda.

2004

The Andrew J. Foster Auditorium is dedicated at Gallaudet University with a bust of Foster, commissioned by alumni.

The Andrew J. Foster Auditorium today.
Photo courtesy of Gallaudet University Office of University Communications.

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