Vassar Miller
(1924–1998)

Although cerebral palsy affected the speech and movement of poet Vassar Miller, it never stopped her from achieving critical acclaim and success as a writer. The daughter of a prominent architect, she was born in Houston, Texas, and began writing as a child. She composed her work on a typewriter because of her restricted movement.

Miller published her first volume of poetry, Adam's Footprint, in 1956. An outspoken advocate for the rights and dignity of the physically challenged, Miller wrote many poems that dealt with her experiences with disability and with her strong religious faith.

Her literary career spanning nearly forty years, Miller published ten volumes of poetry and received many awards and accolades. In 1988, she was named Poet Laureate of Texas, and in 1997 she was named to the Texas Women's Hall of Fame. Miller's major works include Struggling to Swim on Concrete (1984), Despite This Flesh (1985), and If I Had Wheels or Love (1991).

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