Helen Keller

Helen Keller

            One of the most famous women in world history was Helen Adams Keller. Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf and blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1887 in Tuscumbia, USA. The daughter of Captain Arthur Henley Keller and Kate Adams Keller. She has pale blue eyes and golden blond hair, just like her mother. When Helen was 19 months old, Hellen became deaf and blind as a result of an unknown illness.

On March 3, 1887, Anne Mansfield Sullivan came to Tuscumbia to be her teacher. Anne had to teach Helen basic things like how to eat with a knife and fork. While Anne was struggling trying to help her understand, she was also struggling to try and control Helen's continuing bad behaviour. Helen made great progress but it wasn't enough for Anne. Anne and Helen moved into a small cottage and get Helen to improve her behaviour.

Helen was doing so well that shortly before her eight birthday, Anne took her to the Perkins Institution for the blind. There she learned to read and write in Braille. She could read books and write letters. When Helen was ten, she learned how to speak by placing her hand gently over a person's lips as they spoke. It took long, hard hours of practice but in the end she could speak. When she was 17 years old, Helen was accepted to Radcliffe College and graduated with honors.

            As Helen Keller got older, Helen went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She began to travel around the world giving speeches. People came from afar to listen to this astonishing woman. During her life she met many famous people. Helen Keller died on June 1, 1968- a few weeks before her eighty-eighth birthday. Her story has been told many times and has inspired many people.