-->

• Helen Keller was an American author and activist for the rights of the disabled as well as minorities. She is perhaps the most famous for becoming the first deaf and blind person to graduate from college. Contrary to popular belief, she was not born deaf and blind, but developed these attributes following a bout with a disease at 19 months that is believed to have been meningitis. Following a meeting with Alexander Graham Bell in 1886, she was put in touch with Anne Sullivan, who would become her tutor and friend for life.

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: June 27, 1880
  2. Graduated from Radcliffe College in 1904
  3. Political affiliation: Socialist Party
  4. Personal friends with Mark Twain
  5. Authored 12 books
  6. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom by Lyndon B. Johnson
  7. Died: June 1, 1968

• Timeline

  1. 1886: Helen Keller's mother began to seek help for her daughter and ended up speaking to Alexander Graham Bell, who advised the couple to contact the Perkins Institute for the Blind. The school appointed teacher and former student Anne Sullivan, (who was also visually impaired) to become Keller's instructor
  2. 1904: Helen Keller graduated from Radcliffe magna cum laude, becoming the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree
  3. September 14, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded Helen Keller the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  4. 1965: Helen Keller was elected to the Women's Hall of Fame at the New York World's Fair
  5. June 1, 1968: Helen Keller died at her home in Arcan Ridge near Westport, Connecticut. Her ashes were placed next to her closest friends; Anne Sullivan and Polly Thompson

• Significance

  The story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan has been interpreted many times and is known worldwide. The story is famous because it was the first time that a deaf and blind child was brought out of an inevitable isolation and taught how to communicate.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Lyndon B. Johnson | Mark Twain | Alexander Graham Bell | Anne Sullivan | Meningitis

Categories

• View History
• Discuss on the Message Board
• Embed this Page
• Share this page