Helen Keller
(1880–1968)

At only 19 months of age, Helen Keller became ill with a high fever and lost consciousness. Because of the illness she lost both her sight and hearing. In 1887, Anne Sullivan came to the Keller home to become Helen's teacher. One of history's most famous teacher-student relationships was the one between Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy (1866–1936), her childhood teacher and lifelong companion. With the help of Anne, Helen went on to graduate from Radcliffe College in 1897, and was able to give lecture tours throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Africa. Her lectures attempted to improve the condition of the handicapped throughout the world. This remarkable relationship is celebrated through Helen Keller's autobiographical writings, The Story of My Life (1903) and Teacher, Anne Sullivan Macy (1955). Helen Keller worked for the American Foundation for the Blind as a counselor in international relations.

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