Helen Keller was born in 1880 and developed illnesses as a toddler that left her both deaf and blind. In 1887, Anne Sullivan became her teacher and helped Helen learn language and communication. Helen went on to attend several schools for the deaf and blind before graduating from Radcliffe College in 1904. She spent her life as an advocate for others who were blind or deaf, publishing works about her experiences and working to establish libraries and services for the blind. Helen Keller died in 1968 at the age of 87 after suffering a heart attack.

1. Helen KellerDied on: June 1,1968Born on: June 27, 1880Lighting The Way for the Blind and the Deaf

2. 1882Helen Keller was only 2 years old when she developed an illness leaving her blind and deaf.

3. 1887Anne Sullivan becomes Helen’s teacher; Helen discovers the meaning of language at the water pump.

4. 1890Helen begins voice lessons at the Horace Mann School for the Deaf in Boston.

5. 1888She visits the Perkins Institution for the Blind in Boston.

6. 1894She attends the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf in New YorkCity.

7. 1896Her father, Arthur Henley Keller, dies; enrolls in the Cambridge School for Young Ladies.

8. 1897-1898Leaves the Cambridge School and is privately tutored.

9. 1900Enters Radcliffe College.

10. 1903She publishes her autobiography, “The Story of My Life.”

11. 1904Graduates with honors from Radcliffe College; she and Sullivan buy a farmhouse in Wrentham, Massachusetts.

12. 1905Anne Sullivan marries John Macy.

13. 1908Keller writes “The World I Live In.”

14. 1909She joins the Socialists Party of Massachusetts.

15. 1913Publishes “Out of The Dark”,a series of essays on socialism.

16. 1914Macy and Sullivan separate; Polly Thompson becomes part of the household.

17. 1916Peter FaganKeller becomes romantically involved with Peter Fagan.

18. 1917Moves to Forest Hills, New York, with Sullivan and Thompson.

19. 1919Appears in the movie Deliverance, based on her life.

20. 1920-1924Performs on the vaudeville circuit.

21. 1924She begins working for the American Foundation for the Blind.

22. 1931Helps establish uniform Braille code; aids in creating national system of libraries for the blind.

23. 1932John Macy dies; Keller receives honorary doctor of law degree from University of Glasgow.

24. 1933Nella Braddy’s biography Anne Sullivan Macy is published.

25. 1936Anne Sullivan dies.

26. 1937Keller travels to Japan on behalf of the blind.

27. 1946-1957She begins touring for the American Foundation for the Overseas Blind.

28. 1948Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima, Japan Travels to Hiroshima, Japan.

29. 1953The Unconquered, a documentary of Keller’s life, is released.

30. 1955Publishes Teacher, a biography of Anne Sullivan.

31. 1957TheMiracle Worker, a drama based on Helen Keller’s childhood, is broadcasts live on television.

32. 1960Polly Thompson dies.

33. 1961Keller has a stroke.

34. 1964Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

35. 1965Elected to Women’s Hall of Fame.

36. 1968Dies on June 1 after suffering a heart attack.

37. The End