The first major undertaking in this field was in 1925 by Robert Yerkes, founder of the Yerkes Institute for Primate studies,  with a chimpanzee by the name of  Prince Chim.  After working with Chim for several years, Yerkes was surprised at the complexity of communication that the Chimp was able to convey without the use of verbal language.  He noted also that Chim used body language and motioned with his hands to communicate his wants.  Yerkes concluded that "the great apes have plenty to talk about but no gift for the use of sounds.  Perhaps they can be taught to use their fingers to acquire a simple non-vocal sign language." (1)
We now know that Chim was a bonobo or pygmy chimpanzee, but at the time of the study, the species had not yet been identified. (2) 
 
 

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