Helen Keller (1880–1968) was a
deafblind American author, political activist, and lecturer. The story of how Keller's teacher,
Anne Sullivan, broke through the isolation imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the girl to blossom as she learned to communicate, has become widely known through the dramatic depictions of the play and film
The Miracle Worker. A prolific author, Keller was well-traveled, and was outspoken in her
opposition to war. A member of the
Socialist Party of America and the
Industrial Workers of the World, she campaigned for
women's suffrage,
workers' rights, and
socialism, as well as many other
leftist causes.
Photo: Unknown; Restoration: Lise Broer