Helen Keller

1880–1968

American author and activist, the first deafblind person to earn a U.S. college degree Show bio

Bio

Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing to an illness at 19 months old. She called the day her teacher, Anne Sullivan, arrived "my soul's birthday." Keller grasped language when Sullivan spelled "water" into one hand, running water over the other.

She went on to graduate from Radcliffe College, part of Harvard University. Keller recounted her schooling with Sullivan in her autobiography, The Story of My Life.

She campaigned for disabled people, votes for women, labor rights and world peace. Keller was holding Sullivan's hand when Sullivan died, nearly 50 years after they met.

Book by Helen Keller

  1. The Story of My Life
    1903

    This autobiography follows a deafblind girl's childhood and education with her teacher, Anne Sullivan. At a water pump, she connects Sullivan's finger-spelled letters with the cool water flowing over her hand.

    9h 35m reading time