Helen Keller (1880-1968) Author, political activist, lecturer. Keller was blind and deaf. Keller was deprived by illness of sight and hearing at the age of 19 months, and her speech development soon ceased as well. Five years later she began to be instructed by Anne Sullivan, who taught her the names of objects by pressing the manual alphabet into her palm. Eventually Keller learned to read and write in Braille. She wrote several books, including The Story of My Life. Her childhood was dramatized in William Gibson's play The Miracle Worker. 3 ½†x 5 ½†black and white photograph signed in pencil against a dark background.