Helen Keller’s Christmas Cards

The Helen Keller Archive is filled with incredible artifacts that typically could not be found in most folks’ homes. There are letters from presidents, medals from royalty, and fine works of art with personal inscriptions from their artists. But occasionally one does come across items that could be found in the home of any ordinary person.

The 1955 and 1957 lists of Helen Keller’s Christmas card recipients might seem quite mundane to the average reader outside of the field. While there is an incredibly diverse number of geographic locations represented in the addresses, most names are not as immediately recognizable as might be expected from such a famous person. Familiar friends are referred to only as “Hazle and Dick, John and Vi,” or ‘”Bess,” listed between people like the Prime Minister of India and the President of AFB.

Her 1956 “Friends and Gifts” list is similar. “Sandra and Boys” get money, “Grummon children” get candy, Marian Patterson gets 3 pairs of size 9 stockings, and Mildred Jr. gets “something from India.”  Finally, Helen’s Christmas Gift List 1963  is perhaps the most humorous list.  The gardener and the local police get liquor, while the milkman gets 5 bucks. Unfortunately, “Mrs. Kelleher and boys in AFB shipping may be eliminated this year,” though it’s not clear if that means that they are off of the list or out of a job.  It is a very personal rather than professional side of Helen Keller to enjoy during the holidays.