There’s a story out about a rare and, perhaps, one of the best photographs of Helen Keller as a child with her teacher Anne Sullivan. As with many treasured photos, it was tucked in another family’s album. The photograph is now in the care of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, a place for pouring over old documents, photographs and microfiche. Perhaps, you can see Helen’s photo if you ever go there.
Not long ago, I read that Helen Keller is becoming one of those people who those under a certain age don’t know about. Not because she’s not important, but because of how quickly time passes. Other people who are more recent start taking their place. If people do know about Helen, it’s the sound bite version. “Oh, she was the blind and deaf girl who learned to finger spell water.” This is a reminder about the need for history months. It gets us to dust off the stories, and point out the places of interest where we can wander around in the lives of truely remarkable people who lived before us.
To wander around in Helen’s life, one place to head is Helen Keller’s birthplace, Ivy Green in Tuscumbia, Alabama. The house and grounds are still there to visit. As an interesting point, the house was not harmed by the damages of the Civil War and looks today as it did back then. Included in the tour are several of Helen’s belongings.
The fact that Helen was deaf and blind is remarkable, of course, but her life was much more than that. She also blazed trails for women’s education and voice in public life. Plus, she gave voice to the goodness and hope in people. A timeless message, perhaps?
Here’s a quote from Helen that fits the traveler’s life: Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger in the long run is no safer than exposure.