| Years |
Age |
Events |
| 1880 |
0 |
Born on June 27 in Tuscumbia, Alabama, to Arthur H. Keller and Catherine Everett (Adams) Keller, with four siblings. |
| 1882 |
2 |
Stricken with illness, likely scarlet fever or meningitis, loses sight and hearing at 19 months, isolating her from communication. |
| 1887 |
7 |
Anne Sullivan arrives on March 5 to teach her, a day Keller called “my soul’s birthday,” beginning with spelling “d-o-l-l” into her hand. |
| 1888 |
8 |
Moves to Perkins Institution in Boston, enrolled as a student, marking formal education start, with Sullivan as her guide. |
| 1891 |
11 |
Writes “The Frost King” at age 11, published in a magazine, later accused of plagiarism, a controversial early work. |
| 1894 |
14 |
Attends Wright-Humason School in New York City, focusing on speech and lip-reading, expanding her communication skills. |
| 1896 |
16 |
Attends Cambridge School for Young Ladies, meets Mark Twain, who becomes a supporter, broadening her social circle. |
| 1900 |
20 |
Enters Radcliffe College, becoming the first deaf and blind person to attend, with Sullivan assisting in classes. |
| 1903 |
23 |
“The Story of My Life” is published, detailing her education, becoming a bestseller, adapted into The Miracle Worker later. |
| 1904 |
24 |
Graduates from Radcliffe College cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree, a historic achievement for a deaf-blind person. |
| 1905 |
25 |
Writes “The World I Live In,” exploring her sensory experiences, further establishing her as an author. |
| 1910 |
30 |
Writes “The Song of the Stone Wall,” a collection of poems, reflecting her literary output. |
| 1913 |
33 |
Joins the suffragist movement, participates in Woman Suffrage Procession in Washington, DC, on March 3, advocating for women’s rights. |
| 1916 |
36 |
Meets Margaret Sanger, supports birth control, aligning with progressive causes, reflecting her socialist leanings. |
| 1920 |
40 |
Becomes a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, advocating for civil liberties, expanding her activism. |
| 1924 |
44 |
Writes “My Religion,” exploring her spiritual beliefs, influenced by Emanuel Swedenborg, a significant work. |
| 1927 |
47 |
Visits the Soviet Union, meets Joseph Stalin, an unexpected international engagement, reflecting her global influence. |
| 1932 |
52 |
Writes “How I Would Help to Abolish War,” advocating for peace, aligning with her pacifist views. |
| 1936 |
56 |
Anne Sullivan dies on October 20, ending a 49-year partnership, a profound personal loss. |
| 1937 |
57 |
Begins working with Polly Thomson, who becomes her new companion, continuing her public work. |
| 1946 |
66 |
Receives the Medal of Merit from President Harry S. Truman on October 22, recognizing her contributions. |
| 1954 |
74 |
Receives the National Achievement Award from the American Alumni Council, honoring her educational impact. |
| 1955 |
75 |
Receives an honorary Academy Award on March 30 for her inspiration to Helen Keller in Her Story, and an honorary degree from Harvard University, becoming the first woman so honored. |
| 1960 |
80 |
Suffers a stroke in June, impacting her health, leading to a quieter life thereafter. |
| 1964 |
84 |
Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 14, her highest honor. |
| 1968 |
88 |
Dies on June 1 in Westport, CT, at age 87, at her home Arcan Ridge, leaving a legacy of resilience and advocacy. |
