A Rare Look at Helen Keller

Posted March 6, 2008, 2:17 pm in Disabilities by Growing Bolder


We've all heard the story about Helen Keller, the woman born blind and deaf in 1800. She became the first woman with the combination of disabilities to graduate from college, and she went on to become a renowned author and activist.

But when she was only 8 years old, she could barely communicate; locked in a dark, silent world, she lashed out at anyone who tried to touch her or break through the barriers. That all changed when teacher Anne Sullivan found a way to teach Helen sign language, by spelling letters into the palm of the girl's hand.

When Sullivan got to Keller's house, she gave the girl a doll as a present. Recently, the New England Historic Genealogical Society announced the discovery of a photograph, showing Keller, Sullivan and the doll.

The image has never been seen before. Taken in July 1888 in Brewster, Cape Code, Massachusetts, the 8-year-old is seated next to her teacher. On Keller's lap, you can see the doll. Both Keller and Sullivan told stories in their journals that "DOLL" was the first word Keller learned in sign language. This photo was taken 16 months after that breakthrough.

A staff member found the photograph while going through a collection of photography donated by 87-year-old Thaxter P. Spencer. Spencer says he doesn't know which of his family members ever took the picture, but it has been in an album as long as he can remember.

Talking about the photograph, Spencer said "When my mother was a little girl, she and her family stayed at the Elijah Cobb House on Cape Cod. One of the guests that summer was Helen Keller. My mother remembered having her face 'explored' by Helen, who then commented that 'she had a good face.'"

The photo is a rare look at the summer vacations Keller spent with her family, as they traveled from Alabama.

In a letter Keller wrote to a friend in September 1888, Keller says "I had a pleasant time in Brewster. I went bathing almost every day … and I had fun. We splashed and jumped and waded in the deep water. I am not afraid to float now."

The American Foundation for the Blind houses the Helen Keller Archives, and says there are very few pictures that exist, showing Keller and Sullivan during Keller's childhood.

For excerpts from Helen Keller's autobiography and Annie Sullivan's journal, click here.

For the complete collection of writings, pictures, and more on the life of Helen Keller, click here.

And for other examples of people who overcame challenges:

• From the outside looking in, Tom Ross has it all -- a high-powered job, Broadway plays in New York and downhill runs in Utah. From the inside looking out, the view is much different. When he came to a crossroads in life, he chose to start growing bolder.

• Esther Medley recently bowled a 244, the highest in her league. That may not sound impressive until you realize that she is 94 years old and legally blind. She talked to Growing Bolder about being diagnosed with macular degeneration 20 years ago and how it affected it her life, including her passion for bowling.
  

• His music is universal and timeless. He's a songwriter, a performer and a musician. He's recognized as the first Latin artist to cross over into the English music market and is called by many the greatest living guitarist. José Feliciano has 16 Grammy nominations, six wins and 45 gold and platinum records. Not bad for a boy born blind to very humble beginnings in Puerto Rico.
  

• Having macular degeneration has made Dortha King, 84, give up a lot of her favorite habits, but she's still an avid golf player. She says golf means so much to her because it keeps her active and outdoors, something she loved to do before going blind.
  

© 2006-2009. Growing Bolder Media Group. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.