Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/740

Rh also books on the care of the eye and the prevention of blindness, and all books concerning the education and employment of the blind. The idea was to build up a special library on all subjects connected with the blind and that most important organ, the eye, which was and would have been in the future most helpful to the blind of the district and those all over the country, and even of international use. Unfortunately, Mr. Young could not be spared to carry out his splendid ideas. This collection has been removed by the present librarian, but the effort is now being made to have it returned to the Library of Congress, where it is more accessible and will be properly cared for and continued and enlarged. Miss Giffin is now actively at work endeavoring to accomplish this end. As the literature in tangible print is limited it was decided on the opening of the reading room in the new library to have oral readings by sighted volunteers for one hour daily, and Mr. Young invited Thomas Nelson Page, F. Hopkinson Smith, Henry Van Dyke, and many others of prominence to read, and, if possible, give an address to the blind. Miss Giffin was particularly active in bringing about and conducting these delightful entertainments.

Miss Keller was born at Tuscumbia, Ala., June 27, 1880. She is the daughter of Captain Arthur H. and Kate Adams Keller, and is descended, on her father's side, from Alexander Spottswood, colonial governor of Virginia, and through her mother is related to the Adams and Everett families of New England. Helen Keller has been deaf and blind since the age of nineteen months, as a result of illness. She was educated by Miss Ann M. Sullivan (now Mrs. Macy) from the beginning of her education to the present time. She entered Radcliffe College in 1900, graduating with the degree of A.B. in 1904.