Contents:
- HELEN {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}AMERIN TOR HELEN KELLER OVERME THE ADVERSY OF BEG BLD AND AF TO BEE ONE OF THE 20TH CENTURY'S LEADG HUMANARIANS AS WELL AS -FOUNR OF THE {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 6, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: NEW YORK TIM CO./GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1880-1968){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS HELEN KELLER?HELEN KELLER WAS AN AMERIN TOR, ADVOTE FOR THE BLD AND AF AND -FOUNR OF THE ACLU. STRICKEN BY AN ILLNS AT THE AGE OF 2, KELLER WAS LEFT BLD AND AF. BEGNG 1887, KELLER'S TEACHER, ANNE SULLIVAN, HELPED HER MAKE TREMENDO PROGRS WH HER ABILY TO MUNITE, AND KELLER WENT ON TO LLEGE, GRADUATG 1904. DURG HER LIFETIME, SHE RECEIVED MANY HONORS REGNN OF HER ACPLISHMENTS.EARLY LIFE AND FAYKELLER WAS BORN ON JUNE 27, 1880, TCUMBIA, ALABAMA. KELLER WAS THE FIRST OF TWO DGHTERS BORN TO ARTHUR H. KELLER AND KATHERE ADAMS KELLER. KELLER'S FATHER HAD SERVED AS AN OFFICER THE CONFERATE ARMY DURG THE {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}CIVIL WAR. SHE ALSO HAD TWO OLR STEPBROTHERS.THE FAY WAS NOT PARTICULARLY WEALTHY AND EARNED E OM THEIR TTON PLANTATN. LATER, ARTHUR BEME THE EDOR OF A WEEKLY LOL NEWSPAPER, THE NORTH ALABAMIAN. KELLER WAS BORN WH HER SENS OF SIGHT AND HEARG, AND STARTED SPEAKG WHEN SHE WAS JT 6 MONTHS OLD. SHE STARTED WALKG AT THE AGE OF 1.LOSS OF SIGHT AND HEARGKELLER LOST BOTH HER SIGHT AND HEARG AT JT 19 MONTHS OLD. IN 1882, SHE NTRACTED AN ILLNS — LLED "BRA FEVER" BY THE FAY DOCTOR — THAT PRODUCED A HIGH BODY TEMPERATURE. THE TE NATURE OF THE ILLNS REMAS A MYSTERY TODAY, THOUGH SOME EXPERTS BELIEVE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SRLET FEVER OR MENGIS. WH A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FEVER BROKE, KELLER'S MOTHER NOTICED THAT HER DGHTER DIDN'T SHOW ANY REACTN WHEN THE DNER BELL WAS NG, OR WHEN A HAND WAS WAVED ONT OF HER FACE. AS KELLER GREW TO CHILDHOOD, SHE VELOPED A LIMED METHOD OF MUNITN WH HER PANN, MARTHA WASHGTON, THE YOUNG DGHTER OF THE FAY OK. THE TWO HAD CREATED A TYPE OF SIGN LANGUAGE. BY THE TIME KELLER WAS 7, THEY HAD VENTED MORE THAN 60 SIGNS TO MUNITE WH EACH OTHER. DURG THIS TIME, KELLER HAD ALSO BEE VERY WILD AND UNLY. SHE WOULD KICK AND SCREAM WHEN ANGRY, AND GIGGLE UNNTROLLABLY WHEN HAPPY. SHE TORMENTED MARTHA AND FLICTED RAGG TANTMS ON HER PARENTS. MANY FAY RELATIV FELT SHE SHOULD BE STUTNALIZED.KELLER'S TEACHER, ANNE SULLIVANKELLER WORKED WH HER TEACHER ANNE SULLIVAN FOR 49 YEARS, OM 1887 UNTIL SULLIVAN'S ATH 1936. IN 1932, SULLIVAN EXPERIENCED HEALTH PROBLEMS AND LOST HER EYIGHT PLETELY. A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED POLLY THOMSON, WHO HAD BEGUN WORKG AS A SECRETARY FOR KELLER AND SULLIVAN 1914, BEME KELLER'S NSTANT PANN UPON SULLIVAN'S ATH.LOOKG FOR ANSWERS AND SPIRATN, KELLER'S MOTHER ME ACROSS A TRAVELOGUE BY CHARL DICKENS, AMERIN NOT, 1886. SHE READ OF THE SUCCSFUL TN OF ANOTHER AF AND BLD CHILD, LRA BRIDGMAN, AND SOON DISPATCHED KELLER AND HER FATHER TO BALTIMORE, MARYLAND TO SEE SPECIALIST DR. J. JULIAN CHISOLM. AFTER EXAMG KELLER, CHISOLM REMEND THAT SHE SEE ALEXANR GRAHAM BELL, THE VENTOR OF THE TELEPHONE, WHO WAS WORKG WH AF CHILDREN AT THE TIME. BELL MET WH KELLER AND HER PARENTS, AND SUGGTED THAT THEY TRAVEL TO THE PERKS INSTUTE FOR THE BLD BOSTON, MASSACHETTS. {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}HELEN KELLER AND ANNE SULLIVAN {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}PHOTO: THAXTER P. SPENCER FAY, NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGIL SOCIETY [PUBLIC DOMA], VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONSTHERE, THE FAY MET WH THE SCHOOL'S DIRECTOR, MICHAEL ANAGANOS. HE SUGGTED KELLER WORK WH ONE OF THE STUTE'S MOST RECENT GRADUAT, SULLIVAN. ON MARCH 3, 1887, SULLIVAN WENT TO KELLER'S HOME ALABAMA AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WORK. SHE BEGAN BY TEACHG SIX-YEAR-OLD KELLER FGER SPELLG, STARTG WH THE WORD "DOLL," TO HELP KELLER UNRSTAND THE GIFT OF A DOLL SHE HAD BROUGHT ALONG. OTHER WORDS WOULD FOLLOW. AT FIRST, KELLER WAS CUR, THEN FIANT, REFG TO OPERATE WH SULLIVAN'S STCTN. WHEN KELLER DID OPERATE, SULLIVAN ULD TELL THAT SHE WASN'T MAKG THE NNECTN BETWEEN THE OBJECTS AND THE LETTERS SPELLED OUT HER HAND. SULLIVAN KEPT WORKG AT , FORCG KELLER TO GO THROUGH THE REGIMEN. AS KELLER'S TRATN GREW, THE TANTMS CREASED. FALLY, SULLIVAN MAND THAT SHE AND KELLER BE ISOLATED OM THE RT OF THE FAY FOR A TIME, SO THAT KELLER ULD NCENTRATE ONLY ON SULLIVAN'S STCTN. THEY MOVED TO A TTAGE ON THE PLANTATN. IN A DRAMATIC STGGLE, SULLIVAN TGHT KELLER THE WORD "WATER"; SHE HELPED HER MAKE THE NNECTN BETWEEN THE OBJECT AND THE LETTERS BY TAKG KELLER OUT TO THE WATER PUMP, AND PLACG KELLER'S HAND UNR THE SPOUT. WHILE SULLIVAN MOVED THE LEVER TO FLH OL WATER OVER KELLER'S HAND, SHE SPELLED OUT THE WORD W-A-T-E-R ON KELLER'S OTHER HAND. KELLER UNRSTOOD AND REPEATED THE WORD SULLIVAN'S HAND. SHE THEN POUND THE GROUND, MANDG TO KNOW S "LETTER NAME." SULLIVAN FOLLOWED HER, SPELLG OUT THE WORD TO HER HAND. KELLER MOVED TO OTHER OBJECTS WH SULLIVAN TOW. BY NIGHTFALL, SHE HAD LEARNED 30 WORDS.IN 1905, SULLIVAN MARRIED JOHN MACY, AN STCTOR AT HARVARD UNIVERSY, A SOCIAL CRIC AND A PROMENT SOCIALIST. AFTER THE MARRIAGE, SULLIVAN NTUED TO BE KELLER'S GUI AND MENTOR. WHEN KELLER WENT TO LIVE WH THE MACYS, THEY BOTH IALLY GAVE KELLER THEIR UNDIVID ATTENTN. GRADUALLY, HOWEVER, ANNE AND JOHN BEME DISTANT TO EACH OTHER, AS ANNE'S VOTN TO KELLER NTUED UNABATED. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, THE UPLE SEPARATED, THOUGH WERE NEVER DIVORCED.EDUTNIN 1890, KELLER BEGAN SPEECH CLASS AT THE HORACE MANN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF BOSTON. SHE WOULD TOIL FOR 25 YEARS TO LEARN TO SPEAK SO THAT OTHERS ULD UNRSTAND HER.FROM 1894 TO 1896, KELLER ATTEND THE WRIGHT-HUMASON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF NEW YORK CY. THERE, SHE WORKED ON IMPROVG HER MUNITN SKILLS AND STUDIED REGULAR AMIC SUBJECTS. AROUND THIS TIME, KELLER BEME TERMED TO ATTEND LLEGE. IN 1896, SHE ATTEND THE CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LADI, A PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR WOMEN. AS HER STORY BEME KNOWN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, KELLER BEGAN TO MEET FAMO AND FLUENTIAL PEOPLE. ONE OF THEM WAS THE WRER MARK TWA, WHO WAS VERY IMPRSED WH HER. THEY BEME IENDS. TWA TRODUCED HER TO HIS IEND HENRY H. ROGERS, A STANDARD OIL EXECUTIVE. ROGERS WAS SO IMPRSED WH KELLER'S TALENT, DRIVE AND TERMATN THAT HE AGREED TO PAY FOR HER TO ATTEND RADCLIFFE COLLEGE. THERE, SHE WAS ACPANIED BY SULLIVAN, WHO SAT BY HER SI TO TERPRET LECTUR AND TEXTS. BY THIS TIME, KELLER HAD MASTERED SEVERAL METHODS OF MUNITN, CLUDG TOUCH-LIP READG, BRAILLE, SPEECH, TYPG AND FGER-SPELLG.KELLER GRADUATED, CUM L, OM RADCLIFFE COLLEGE 1904, AT THE AGE OF 24. {BORR-LEFT:MEDIUM SOLID BLACK;BORR-LEFT-LOR:#A00000;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG:0.625REM 0 0;PADDG-LEFT:1.25REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY'S HELEN KELLER FACT CARD'THE STORY OF MY LIFE' WH THE HELP OF SULLIVAN AND MACY, SULLIVAN'S FUTURE HBAND, KELLER WROTE HER FIRST BOOK, THE STORY OF MY LIFE. PUBLISHED 1905, THE MEMOIRS VERED KELLER'S TRANSFORMATN OM CHILDHOOD TO 21-YEAR-OLD LLEGE STUNT. SOCIAL ACTIVISMTHROUGHOUT THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY, KELLER TACKLED SOCIAL AND POLIL ISSU, CLUDG WOMEN'S SUFAGE, PACIFISM, BIRTH NTROL AND SOCIALISM.AFTER LLEGE, KELLER SET OUT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORLD AND HOW SHE ULD HELP IMPROVE THE LIV OF OTHERS. NEWS OF HER STORY SPREAD BEYOND MASSACHETTS AND NEW ENGLAND. KELLER BEME A WELL-KNOWN CELEBRY AND LECTURER BY SHARG HER EXPERIENC WH DIENC, AND WORKG ON BEHALF OF OTHERS LIVG WH DISABILI. SHE TTIFIED BEFORE CONGRS, STRONGLY ADVOTG TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF BLD PEOPLE. IN 1915, ALONG WH RENOWNED CY PLANNER GEE KSLER, SHE -FOUND HELEN KELLER INTERNATNAL TO BAT THE AND NSEQUENC OF BLDNS AND MALNUTRN. IN 1920, SHE HELPED FOUND THE AMERIN CIVIL LIBERTI UNN. WHEN THE AMERIN FERATN FOR THE BLD WAS TABLISHED 1921, KELLER HAD AN EFFECTIVE NATNAL OUTLET FOR HER EFFORTS. SHE BEME A MEMBER 1924, AND PARTICIPATED MANY MPAIGNS TO RAISE AWARENS, MONEY AND SUPPORT FOR THE BLD. SHE ALSO JOED OTHER ANIZATNS DITED TO HELPG THOSE LS FORTUNATE, CLUDG THE PERMANENT BLD WAR RELIEF FUND (LATER LLED THE AMERIN BRAILLE PRS). SOON AFTER SHE GRADUATED OM LLEGE, KELLER BEME A MEMBER OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY, MOST LIKELY DUE PART TO HER IENDSHIP WH JOHN MACY. BETWEEN 1909 AND 1921, SHE WROTE SEVERAL ARTICL ABOUT SOCIALISM AND SUPPORTED EUGENE DEBS, A SOCIALIST PARTY PRINTIAL NDIDATE. HER SERI OF SAYS ON SOCIALISM, ENTLED "OUT OF THE DARK," SCRIBED HER VIEWS ON SOCIALISM AND WORLD AFFAIRS. IT WAS DURG THIS TIME THAT KELLER FIRST EXPERIENCED PUBLIC PREJUDICE ABOUT HER DISABILI. FOR MOST OF HER LIFE, THE PRS HAD BEEN OVERWHELMGLY SUPPORTIVE OF HER, PRAISG HER URAGE AND TELLIGENCE. BUT AFTER SHE EXPRSED HER SOCIALIST VIEWS, SOME CRICIZED HER BY LLG ATTENTN TO HER DISABILI. ONE NEWSPAPER, THE BROOKLYN EAGLE, WROTE THAT HER "MISTAK SPNG OUT OF THE MANIFT LIMATNS OF HER VELOPMENT."IN 1946, KELLER WAS APPOTED UNSELOR OF TERNATNAL RELATNS FOR THE AMERIN FOUNDATN OF OVERSEAS BLD. BETWEEN 1946 AND 1957, SHE TRAVELED TO 35 UNTRI ON FIVE NTENTS. IN 1955, AT AGE 75, KELLER EMBARKED ON THE LONGT AND MOST GELG TRIP OF HER LIFE: A 40,000-E, FIVE-MONTH TREK ACROSS ASIA. THROUGH HER MANY SPEECH AND APPEARANC, SHE BROUGHT SPIRATN AND ENURAGEMENT TO LNS OF PEOPLE. 'THE MIRACLE WORKER' MOVIE KELLER'S TOBGRAPHY, THE STORY OF MY LIFE, WAS ED AS THE BASIS FOR 1957 TELEVISN DRAMA THE MIRACLE WORKER. IN 1959, THE STORY WAS VELOPED TO A BROADWAY PLAY OF THE SAME TLE, STARRG PATTY DE AS KELLER AND ANNE BANCROFT AS SULLIVAN. THE TWO ACTRS ALSO PERFORMED THOSE ROL THE 1962 AWARD-WNG FILM VERSN OF THE PLAY.AWARDS AND HONORSDURG HER LIFETIME, SHE RECEIVED MANY HONORS REGNN OF HER ACPLISHMENTS, CLUDG THE THEODORE ROOSEVELT DISTGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL 1936, THE PRINTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM 1964, AND ELECTN TO THE WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME 1965. KELLER ALSO RECEIVED HONORARY DOCTORAL GRE OM TEMPLE UNIVERSY AND HARVARD UNIVERSY AND OM THE UNIVERSI OF GLASGOW, STLAND; BERL, GERMANY; DELHI, INDIA; AND WWATERSRAND JOHANNBURG, SOUTH AI. SHE WAS NAMED AN HONORARY FELLOW OF THE EDUTNAL INSTUTE OF STLAND. DEATHKELLER DIED HER SLEEP ON JUNE 1, 1968, JT A FEW WEEKS BEFORE HER 88TH BIRTHDAY. KELLER SUFFERED A SERI OF STROK 1961 AND SPENT THE REMAG YEARS OF HER LIFE AT HER HOME CONNECTICUT.DURG HER REMARKABLE LIFE, KELLER STOOD AS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW TERMATN, HARD WORK, AND IMAGATN N ALLOW AN DIVIDUAL TO TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSY. BY OVERG DIFFICULT NDNS WH A GREAT AL OF PERSISTENCE, SHE GREW TO A RPECTED AND WORLD-RENOWNED ACTIVIST WHO LABORED FOR THE BETTERMENT OF {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
- IS HELEN KELLER A GAY
HELEN {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}AMERIN TOR HELEN KELLER OVERME THE ADVERSY OF BEG BLD AND AF TO BEE ONE OF THE 20TH CENTURY'S LEADG HUMANARIANS AS WELL AS -FOUNR OF THE {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 6, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: NEW YORK TIM CO./GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1880-1968){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS HELEN KELLER?HELEN KELLER WAS AN AMERIN TOR, ADVOTE FOR THE BLD AND AF AND -FOUNR OF THE ACLU. STRICKEN BY AN ILLNS AT THE AGE OF 2, KELLER WAS LEFT BLD AND AF. BEGNG 1887, KELLER'S TEACHER, ANNE SULLIVAN, HELPED HER MAKE TREMENDO PROGRS WH HER ABILY TO MUNITE, AND KELLER WENT ON TO LLEGE, GRADUATG 1904. DURG HER LIFETIME, SHE RECEIVED MANY HONORS REGNN OF HER ACPLISHMENTS.EARLY LIFE AND FAYKELLER WAS BORN ON JUNE 27, 1880, TCUMBIA, ALABAMA. KELLER WAS THE FIRST OF TWO DGHTERS BORN TO ARTHUR H. KELLER AND KATHERE ADAMS KELLER. KELLER'S FATHER HAD SERVED AS AN OFFICER THE CONFERATE ARMY DURG THE {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}CIVIL WAR. SHE ALSO HAD TWO OLR STEPBROTHERS.THE FAY WAS NOT PARTICULARLY WEALTHY AND EARNED E OM THEIR TTON PLANTATN. LATER, ARTHUR BEME THE EDOR OF A WEEKLY LOL NEWSPAPER, THE NORTH ALABAMIAN. KELLER WAS BORN WH HER SENS OF SIGHT AND HEARG, AND STARTED SPEAKG WHEN SHE WAS JT 6 MONTHS OLD. SHE STARTED WALKG AT THE AGE OF 1.LOSS OF SIGHT AND HEARGKELLER LOST BOTH HER SIGHT AND HEARG AT JT 19 MONTHS OLD. IN 1882, SHE NTRACTED AN ILLNS — LLED "BRA FEVER" BY THE FAY DOCTOR — THAT PRODUCED A HIGH BODY TEMPERATURE. THE TE NATURE OF THE ILLNS REMAS A MYSTERY TODAY, THOUGH SOME EXPERTS BELIEVE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SRLET FEVER OR MENGIS. WH A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FEVER BROKE, KELLER'S MOTHER NOTICED THAT HER DGHTER DIDN'T SHOW ANY REACTN WHEN THE DNER BELL WAS NG, OR WHEN A HAND WAS WAVED ONT OF HER FACE. AS KELLER GREW TO CHILDHOOD, SHE VELOPED A LIMED METHOD OF MUNITN WH HER PANN, MARTHA WASHGTON, THE YOUNG DGHTER OF THE FAY OK. THE TWO HAD CREATED A TYPE OF SIGN LANGUAGE. BY THE TIME KELLER WAS 7, THEY HAD VENTED MORE THAN 60 SIGNS TO MUNITE WH EACH OTHER. DURG THIS TIME, KELLER HAD ALSO BEE VERY WILD AND UNLY. SHE WOULD KICK AND SCREAM WHEN ANGRY, AND GIGGLE UNNTROLLABLY WHEN HAPPY. SHE TORMENTED MARTHA AND FLICTED RAGG TANTMS ON HER PARENTS. MANY FAY RELATIV FELT SHE SHOULD BE STUTNALIZED.KELLER'S TEACHER, ANNE SULLIVANKELLER WORKED WH HER TEACHER ANNE SULLIVAN FOR 49 YEARS, OM 1887 UNTIL SULLIVAN'S ATH 1936. IN 1932, SULLIVAN EXPERIENCED HEALTH PROBLEMS AND LOST HER EYIGHT PLETELY. A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED POLLY THOMSON, WHO HAD BEGUN WORKG AS A SECRETARY FOR KELLER AND SULLIVAN 1914, BEME KELLER'S NSTANT PANN UPON SULLIVAN'S ATH.LOOKG FOR ANSWERS AND SPIRATN, KELLER'S MOTHER ME ACROSS A TRAVELOGUE BY CHARL DICKENS, AMERIN NOT, 1886. SHE READ OF THE SUCCSFUL TN OF ANOTHER AF AND BLD CHILD, LRA BRIDGMAN, AND SOON DISPATCHED KELLER AND HER FATHER TO BALTIMORE, MARYLAND TO SEE SPECIALIST DR. J. JULIAN CHISOLM. AFTER EXAMG KELLER, CHISOLM REMEND THAT SHE SEE ALEXANR GRAHAM BELL, THE VENTOR OF THE TELEPHONE, WHO WAS WORKG WH AF CHILDREN AT THE TIME. BELL MET WH KELLER AND HER PARENTS, AND SUGGTED THAT THEY TRAVEL TO THE PERKS INSTUTE FOR THE BLD BOSTON, MASSACHETTS. {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}HELEN KELLER AND ANNE SULLIVAN {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}PHOTO: THAXTER P. SPENCER FAY, NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGIL SOCIETY [PUBLIC DOMA], VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONSTHERE, THE FAY MET WH THE SCHOOL'S DIRECTOR, MICHAEL ANAGANOS. HE SUGGTED KELLER WORK WH ONE OF THE STUTE'S MOST RECENT GRADUAT, SULLIVAN. ON MARCH 3, 1887, SULLIVAN WENT TO KELLER'S HOME ALABAMA AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WORK. SHE BEGAN BY TEACHG SIX-YEAR-OLD KELLER FGER SPELLG, STARTG WH THE WORD "DOLL," TO HELP KELLER UNRSTAND THE GIFT OF A DOLL SHE HAD BROUGHT ALONG. OTHER WORDS WOULD FOLLOW. AT FIRST, KELLER WAS CUR, THEN FIANT, REFG TO OPERATE WH SULLIVAN'S STCTN. WHEN KELLER DID OPERATE, SULLIVAN ULD TELL THAT SHE WASN'T MAKG THE NNECTN BETWEEN THE OBJECTS AND THE LETTERS SPELLED OUT HER HAND. SULLIVAN KEPT WORKG AT , FORCG KELLER TO GO THROUGH THE REGIMEN. AS KELLER'S TRATN GREW, THE TANTMS CREASED. FALLY, SULLIVAN MAND THAT SHE AND KELLER BE ISOLATED OM THE RT OF THE FAY FOR A TIME, SO THAT KELLER ULD NCENTRATE ONLY ON SULLIVAN'S STCTN. THEY MOVED TO A TTAGE ON THE PLANTATN. IN A DRAMATIC STGGLE, SULLIVAN TGHT KELLER THE WORD "WATER"; SHE HELPED HER MAKE THE NNECTN BETWEEN THE OBJECT AND THE LETTERS BY TAKG KELLER OUT TO THE WATER PUMP, AND PLACG KELLER'S HAND UNR THE SPOUT. WHILE SULLIVAN MOVED THE LEVER TO FLH OL WATER OVER KELLER'S HAND, SHE SPELLED OUT THE WORD W-A-T-E-R ON KELLER'S OTHER HAND. KELLER UNRSTOOD AND REPEATED THE WORD SULLIVAN'S HAND. SHE THEN POUND THE GROUND, MANDG TO KNOW S "LETTER NAME." SULLIVAN FOLLOWED HER, SPELLG OUT THE WORD TO HER HAND. KELLER MOVED TO OTHER OBJECTS WH SULLIVAN TOW. BY NIGHTFALL, SHE HAD LEARNED 30 WORDS.IN 1905, SULLIVAN MARRIED JOHN MACY, AN STCTOR AT HARVARD UNIVERSY, A SOCIAL CRIC AND A PROMENT SOCIALIST. AFTER THE MARRIAGE, SULLIVAN NTUED TO BE KELLER'S GUI AND MENTOR. WHEN KELLER WENT TO LIVE WH THE MACYS, THEY BOTH IALLY GAVE KELLER THEIR UNDIVID ATTENTN. GRADUALLY, HOWEVER, ANNE AND JOHN BEME DISTANT TO EACH OTHER, AS ANNE'S VOTN TO KELLER NTUED UNABATED. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, THE UPLE SEPARATED, THOUGH WERE NEVER DIVORCED.EDUTNIN 1890, KELLER BEGAN SPEECH CLASS AT THE HORACE MANN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF BOSTON. SHE WOULD TOIL FOR 25 YEARS TO LEARN TO SPEAK SO THAT OTHERS ULD UNRSTAND HER.FROM 1894 TO 1896, KELLER ATTEND THE WRIGHT-HUMASON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF NEW YORK CY. THERE, SHE WORKED ON IMPROVG HER MUNITN SKILLS AND STUDIED REGULAR AMIC SUBJECTS. AROUND THIS TIME, KELLER BEME TERMED TO ATTEND LLEGE. IN 1896, SHE ATTEND THE CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LADI, A PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR WOMEN. AS HER STORY BEME KNOWN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, KELLER BEGAN TO MEET FAMO AND FLUENTIAL PEOPLE. ONE OF THEM WAS THE WRER MARK TWA, WHO WAS VERY IMPRSED WH HER. THEY BEME IENDS. TWA TRODUCED HER TO HIS IEND HENRY H. ROGERS, A STANDARD OIL EXECUTIVE. ROGERS WAS SO IMPRSED WH KELLER'S TALENT, DRIVE AND TERMATN THAT HE AGREED TO PAY FOR HER TO ATTEND RADCLIFFE COLLEGE. THERE, SHE WAS ACPANIED BY SULLIVAN, WHO SAT BY HER SI TO TERPRET LECTUR AND TEXTS. BY THIS TIME, KELLER HAD MASTERED SEVERAL METHODS OF MUNITN, CLUDG TOUCH-LIP READG, BRAILLE, SPEECH, TYPG AND FGER-SPELLG.KELLER GRADUATED, CUM L, OM RADCLIFFE COLLEGE 1904, AT THE AGE OF 24. {BORR-LEFT:MEDIUM SOLID BLACK;BORR-LEFT-LOR:#A00000;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG:0.625REM 0 0;PADDG-LEFT:1.25REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY'S HELEN KELLER FACT CARD'THE STORY OF MY LIFE' WH THE HELP OF SULLIVAN AND MACY, SULLIVAN'S FUTURE HBAND, KELLER WROTE HER FIRST BOOK, THE STORY OF MY LIFE. PUBLISHED 1905, THE MEMOIRS VERED KELLER'S TRANSFORMATN OM CHILDHOOD TO 21-YEAR-OLD LLEGE STUNT. SOCIAL ACTIVISMTHROUGHOUT THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY, KELLER TACKLED SOCIAL AND POLIL ISSU, CLUDG WOMEN'S SUFAGE, PACIFISM, BIRTH NTROL AND SOCIALISM.AFTER LLEGE, KELLER SET OUT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORLD AND HOW SHE ULD HELP IMPROVE THE LIV OF OTHERS. NEWS OF HER STORY SPREAD BEYOND MASSACHETTS AND NEW ENGLAND. KELLER BEME A WELL-KNOWN CELEBRY AND LECTURER BY SHARG HER EXPERIENC WH DIENC, AND WORKG ON BEHALF OF OTHERS LIVG WH DISABILI. SHE TTIFIED BEFORE CONGRS, STRONGLY ADVOTG TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF BLD PEOPLE. IN 1915, ALONG WH RENOWNED CY PLANNER GEE KSLER, SHE -FOUND HELEN KELLER INTERNATNAL TO BAT THE AND NSEQUENC OF BLDNS AND MALNUTRN. IN 1920, SHE HELPED FOUND THE AMERIN CIVIL LIBERTI UNN. WHEN THE AMERIN FERATN FOR THE BLD WAS TABLISHED 1921, KELLER HAD AN EFFECTIVE NATNAL OUTLET FOR HER EFFORTS. SHE BEME A MEMBER 1924, AND PARTICIPATED MANY MPAIGNS TO RAISE AWARENS, MONEY AND SUPPORT FOR THE BLD. SHE ALSO JOED OTHER ANIZATNS DITED TO HELPG THOSE LS FORTUNATE, CLUDG THE PERMANENT BLD WAR RELIEF FUND (LATER LLED THE AMERIN BRAILLE PRS). SOON AFTER SHE GRADUATED OM LLEGE, KELLER BEME A MEMBER OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY, MOST LIKELY DUE PART TO HER IENDSHIP WH JOHN MACY. BETWEEN 1909 AND 1921, SHE WROTE SEVERAL ARTICL ABOUT SOCIALISM AND SUPPORTED EUGENE DEBS, A SOCIALIST PARTY PRINTIAL NDIDATE. HER SERI OF SAYS ON SOCIALISM, ENTLED "OUT OF THE DARK," SCRIBED HER VIEWS ON SOCIALISM AND WORLD AFFAIRS. IT WAS DURG THIS TIME THAT KELLER FIRST EXPERIENCED PUBLIC PREJUDICE ABOUT HER DISABILI. FOR MOST OF HER LIFE, THE PRS HAD BEEN OVERWHELMGLY SUPPORTIVE OF HER, PRAISG HER URAGE AND TELLIGENCE. BUT AFTER SHE EXPRSED HER SOCIALIST VIEWS, SOME CRICIZED HER BY LLG ATTENTN TO HER DISABILI. ONE NEWSPAPER, THE BROOKLYN EAGLE, WROTE THAT HER "MISTAK SPNG OUT OF THE MANIFT LIMATNS OF HER VELOPMENT."IN 1946, KELLER WAS APPOTED UNSELOR OF TERNATNAL RELATNS FOR THE AMERIN FOUNDATN OF OVERSEAS BLD. BETWEEN 1946 AND 1957, SHE TRAVELED TO 35 UNTRI ON FIVE NTENTS. IN 1955, AT AGE 75, KELLER EMBARKED ON THE LONGT AND MOST GELG TRIP OF HER LIFE: A 40,000-E, FIVE-MONTH TREK ACROSS ASIA. THROUGH HER MANY SPEECH AND APPEARANC, SHE BROUGHT SPIRATN AND ENURAGEMENT TO LNS OF PEOPLE. 'THE MIRACLE WORKER' MOVIE KELLER'S TOBGRAPHY, THE STORY OF MY LIFE, WAS ED AS THE BASIS FOR 1957 TELEVISN DRAMA THE MIRACLE WORKER. IN 1959, THE STORY WAS VELOPED TO A BROADWAY PLAY OF THE SAME TLE, STARRG PATTY DE AS KELLER AND ANNE BANCROFT AS SULLIVAN. THE TWO ACTRS ALSO PERFORMED THOSE ROL THE 1962 AWARD-WNG FILM VERSN OF THE PLAY.AWARDS AND HONORSDURG HER LIFETIME, SHE RECEIVED MANY HONORS REGNN OF HER ACPLISHMENTS, CLUDG THE THEODORE ROOSEVELT DISTGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL 1936, THE PRINTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM 1964, AND ELECTN TO THE WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME 1965. KELLER ALSO RECEIVED HONORARY DOCTORAL GRE OM TEMPLE UNIVERSY AND HARVARD UNIVERSY AND OM THE UNIVERSI OF GLASGOW, STLAND; BERL, GERMANY; DELHI, INDIA; AND WWATERSRAND JOHANNBURG, SOUTH AI. SHE WAS NAMED AN HONORARY FELLOW OF THE EDUTNAL INSTUTE OF STLAND. DEATHKELLER DIED HER SLEEP ON JUNE 1, 1968, JT A FEW WEEKS BEFORE HER 88TH BIRTHDAY. KELLER SUFFERED A SERI OF STROK 1961 AND SPENT THE REMAG YEARS OF HER LIFE AT HER HOME CONNECTICUT.DURG HER REMARKABLE LIFE, KELLER STOOD AS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW TERMATN, HARD WORK, AND IMAGATN N ALLOW AN DIVIDUAL TO TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSY. BY OVERG DIFFICULT NDNS WH A GREAT AL OF PERSISTENCE, SHE GREW TO A RPECTED AND WORLD-RENOWNED ACTIVIST WHO LABORED FOR THE BETTERMENT OF {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
She appeared at the Apollo Theater and the Cotton Club, but she was also often seen cked out a whe tuxedo sgg rnchy songs at gay speakeasi like Harry Hansberry’s Clam Hoe, backed up by drag performers.
IS HELEN KELLER A GAY
One of the few openly gay Black wrers of the perd, Richard Bce Nugent, published the short story “Smoke, Lili and Ja, ” nsired a semal work of gay Harlem for pictg bisexualy and a 19-year-old male artist sexually volved wh another man. Wrg that picted Gay Harlem went out of prt as well. Read more: You’ve Probably Heard of the Red Sre, but the Lser-Known, Anti-Gay ‘Lavenr Sre’ Is Rarely Tght Schools The richns of that culture still remaed, wag to be redisvered—a procs that began after the 1960s and ‘70s gay rights movement was followed by the loss of life durg the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and ’90s, which raised awarens of the need to prerve gay history.