It was Mr. Peterson's dream to have a technical college for the deaf that would be a compliment to Gallaudet College (in Washington, DC). He immigrated in 1887 from Sweden to the United States as a teenager, and shortly after arriving he became deaf as a result of an illness. He fought hard for his own education, not knowing any English when he arrived here. He received a bachelor's degree from Gallaudet College and it was this experience that helped shape his views on education for the deaf.

He wrote about his vision in the 1930's but he was virtually unheard. Many years passed before his dream became reality and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf was finally established.