Helen Keller collection, 1913-1951 and undated, bulk (bulk 1930-1949)
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Summary
- Creator:
- Keller, Helen, 1880-1968
- Abstract:
- Helen Adams Keller was a white American author, political activist, and lecturer. Collection includes letters from Helen Keller to Agatha and Harry Hunter, dated 1930 and undated, thanking them for their food gifts at Christmas. There is another letter from Keller to Frank L. Boyden, dated 1949, regarding the possibility of a bequest by him to the American Foundation for the Blind. Includes his letter in response negating that possibility, but expressing his admiration for her. There is also an unrelated letter in the collection, written by Harry Hunter to Mabel McCormick (Mrs. Ferris? McCormick) in 1951, discussing their respective interests, food, friends, business, and their love for each other. Includes envelopes. Also contains a photograph of Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller, and a postcard with her printed portrait and a salutation in Braille.
- Extent:
- 0.1 Linear Feet (7 items)
- Language:
- Materials in English
- Collection ID:
- RL.11650
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection includes letters from Helen Keller to Agatha and Harry Hunter, dated 1930 and undated, thanking them for their food gifts at Christmas. There is another letter from Keller to Frank L. Boyden, dated 1949, regarding the possibility of a bequest by him to the American Foundation for the Blind. Includes his letter in response negating that possibility, but expressing his admiration for her. There is also an unrelated letter in the collection, written by Harry Hunter to Mabel McCormick (Mrs. Ferris? McCormick) in 1951, discussing their respective interests, food, friends, business, and their love for each other. Includes envelopes.
Collection also contains two images of Helen Keller. First is a photograph of Keller and Anne Sullivan standing near train tracks, autographed by photographer W.H. Langley and dated 1913. Second is an undated postcard with a printed portrait of Keller and a message in Braille that reads: "I am a co-worker with Helen Keller."
- Biographical / historical:
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Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree; she campaigned for women's suffrage, labor rights, and socialism. She attended the Perkins Institute for the Blind, 1888-1894, then Radcliffe College, 1900-1904.
- Acquisition information:
- The Helen Keller Letters were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2015.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Alice Poffinberger, July, 2018
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2015-0050-LUBMSS271, 2015-0050-LUBMSS272, 2015-0050-LUBMSS273, 2015-0050-LUBMSS274, 2015-0050-LUBMSS262.
Photograph and postcard added by Meghan Lyon, December 2021.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- Deafblind people
Braille - Names:
- American Foundation for the Blind
Lisa Unger Baskin Collection (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library)
Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
Keller, Helen, 1880-1968
Boyden, Frank L. (Frank Learoyd), 1879-1972
Hunter, Agatha F., 1890-
Hunter, Harry H., 1887-
Hunter, Harry H., 1887-
Baskin, Lisa Unger
Sullivan, Annie, 1866-1936
Contents
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- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
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- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Helen Keller Letters, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1tw6z