Helen Adams Keller (1880 – 1968) was an American writer, activist and lecturer. Blind, deaf and mute at the beginning of her life, she wrote novels and political essays and got involved in feminist and socialist movements. His determination always commands admiration.
Deaf and blind
Daughter of Kate Adams and Arthur H. Keller, Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Alabama. In February 1882, at 24 months, she had a stroke which made her deaf and blind and cut her off suddenly from the world. The little girl communicates very poorly with her parents and relatives, except with the daughter of the family cook with whom she speaks a little by signs.
In 1886, Helen's mother took her to a medical specialist, Dr. J. Julian Chisolm, who referred them to Alexander Graham Bell, who worked with deaf children. In turn, he sends them back to an institute for the blind in Boston, the Perkins Institute. The school principal then asks a former student, Anne Sullivan, herself visually impaired, to take charge of Helen's education. It was the start of a relationship that would last 49 years.
Anne arrived at the Kellers in March 1887 and immediately set about teaching Helen to communicate, signing words in her hand. But the little girl does not understand at first, and, frustrated, has frequent tantrums. Her parents yielding to all her whims, Anne obtains to be able to isolate herself with her in a barn belonging to the family.
With Anne Sullivan
One day when they are in the garden, Anne makes Helen touch the water from the well and repeatedly spells the word “water” to her. Suddenly, Helen understands the connection between the signs made by her educator and what she touches. She takes Anne by the hand and runs all over the garden to ask her the name of everything.
Helen quickly learns to communicate thanks to sign language then Anne teaches her Braille which allows her to read. Able to express herself, she no longer throws tantrums. In 1888, she joined the Perkins Institute for the Blind and then, in 1894, she left for New York with Anne to join the Wright Humason School for the Deaf. In 1900, she was admitted to Radcliffe College, a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge. She learns to speak and becomes able to "hear" what people are saying by touching their lips.
Speaker and activist
In 1905, Anne married John Macy but remained with Helen. Together, they create the American Foundation for the Blind. Helen became involved in multiple causes and became a world famous speaker. In 1915, she founded the Helen Keller International organization, dedicated to research on vision, health and diet. In 1920, she helped found the American Civil Liberties Union, whose goal was to preserve individual rights and freedoms. Member of the Socialist Party, she actively campaigned between 1909 and 1921. Feminist, suffragette, she campaigned for women's right to vote.
Helen Keller travels the world and hangs out with celebrities; she is the friend of Graham Bell, Charlie Chaplin, Mark Twain and meets several American presidents. She wrote 12 books (novels, autobiography, essays) and numerous articles.
In 1936, Anne Sullivan died and Helen was with her to hold her hand. After her death, Helen writes about her courageous "mistress". In 1961, Helen suffered a series of heart attacks and henceforth stayed at home. She died in her sleep on June 1, 1968. During her lifetime and after her death, Helen Keller received many honors and tributes; she has been listed in the National Women's Hall of Fame since 1965.