Deaf and blind, she learned to speak and became a powerful activist for workers and women.
Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing at 19 months old. Trapped in a dark, silent world, she was "wild" until her teacher, Anne Sullivan, broke through. Keller grew up to be a radical socialist, suffragette, and author who traveled the world.
1. The "Water" moment
Her breakthrough came at the water pump. Sullivan spelled W-A-T-E-R into one hand while water flowed over the other. Helen suddenly understood that the motions meant the cool liquid. She demanded to know the names of everything else instantly.
2. She was investigated by the FBI
Keller was a radical socialist and a member of the IWW (Wobblies). She wrote fiercely against WWI and capitalism. Because of her politics, the FBI kept a file on her for decades.
3. She co-founded the ACLU
In 1920, she helped found the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), proving her commitment to civil rights went far beyond disability advocacy.
4. She "heard" music through vibration
She enjoyed music by placing her hands on the radio or the piano to feel the rhythm and beat vibrations. She could identify instruments by their distinct vibrations.
5. She met 12 Presidents
From Grover Cleveland to John F. Kennedy, she met every U.S. President during her lifetime.
6. She almost married
At 36, she fell in love with Peter Fagan, her secretary. They took out a marriage license and planned to elope. However, her family forbade it, believing a deaf-blind woman should not marry. The relationship ended, a heartbreak she carried for life.
7. Mark Twain adored her
She and Mark Twain were great friends. He was the first to call Anne Sullivan a "Miracle Worker," a name that stuck.
8. She worked in Vaudeville
To earn a living, she and Anne Sullivan toured on the Vaudeville circuit in the 1920s. She would tell her story and answer audience questions. It paid well (better than writing), though some criticized it as exploiting her disability.
9. She introduced the Akita to America
On a visit to Japan, she was gifted an Akita dog. She is credited with bringing the first Akita to the United States.
10. She lived to be 87
She died peacefully in her sleep in 1968. Her ashes are interred at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., next to her beloved teacher Anne Sullivan.