Helen Keller worked for the American Foundation for the Blind for more than 40 years. She was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, on June 27, 1880, and became deaf and blind at 19 months. Few could have imagined the leading role she would go on to play in many of the significant political, social, and cultural movements of the 20th century. Until her passing on June 1, 1968, she worked unceasingly to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

As caretakers of Helen Keller's archival collection and legacy, we are honored to share her history with you via our website. Learn more about Helen Keller's life through AFB's biography and chronology, her letters and speeches, and famous quotes.

AFB is proud to preserve and provide access to this unique collection of Helen Keller papers, letters, scrapbooks, artifacts, photograph albums, and photographs—the world’s largest repository of materials about and by Helen Keller—via the digital Helen Keller Archive, the first fully accessible digital archive collection.