Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Her mother was a well-educated woman from Memphis, Tennessee, and her father was a retired confederate army captain and editor of the local newspaper. Helen lost her vision and hearing, and her ability to communicate, due to an unknown illness when she was 19 months old. On March 3, 1887, a date Helen later called her “soul’s birthday,” Anne Sullivan came to Tuscumbia and became Helen’s teacher.
The first weeks of the relationship were difficult, but Anne finally connected with Helen by fingerspelling the name of common objects into Helen’s hand. Helen’s world opened up as she learned to express herself and receive information from Anne and her family members. In 1888, Anne brought Helen to the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston where she remained for four years. She subsequently spent a year at the Cambridge School for Young Ladies to prepare for college, and in 1904, graduated cum laude from Radcliffe. She was the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Helen Keller in later years.
Throughout her life, Helen was dedicated to helping others. She published several books and essays about her life and her views. She lectured and lobbied for assistance for people who were blind, deaf, or both and for programs for the prevention of blindness. She, also, advocated for laws for the education and protection of the blind and deaf-blind as well as for programs to help the disabled with job training and placement. Helen was a suffragette, an opponent of child labor and a voice for the rights of workers.
Helen collaborated on two movies that were made about her life. In 1919, “Deliverance”, the story of Helen and teacher Anne Sullivan, debuted. It featured both Helen and Anne Sullivan, but unfortunately was not a success. She did much better in 1954, when “The Unconquered” was produced. It was later renamed “Helen Keller, Her Story”. It was a 55 minute documentary narrated by Helen’s friend, Katharine Cornell, the famous stage actress. Helen starred in the movie which, in 1955, won an academy award for the best documentary.
Helen passed away on June 1, 1968 just a few weeks short of her 88th birthday. She is remembered for her remarkable courage and for her lifelong advocacy for economic justice and the rights of women and people with disabilities.
Here is a wonderful 3-part documentary starring Helen:
Each year, on June 27, the Lighthouse recognizes Helen Keller’s birthday. Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was also blind and deaf, and a source of great inspiration because she refused to be restricted by her disability or negative stereotypes. Her activism positively impacted the lives of people who are visually impaired and blind, and that impact is still being experienced today.
Heather is an articulate individual, who you might not believe is blind. She has led a very independent life until she experienced a severe loss of vision. That’s why she came to the Lighthouse.
Read more about Heather