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June 09, 2005

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This month in Harvard history

June 1904 - Helen Keller, who had lost sight and hearing in early childhood, earns her A.B. (with honors) from Radcliffe. Dorothy Elia Howells recalls the memorable moment in "A Century To Celebrate: Radcliffe College, 1879-1979":

"Guided by Anne Sullivan [Keller's faithful teacher and companion since childhood], she crossed the platform of Sanders Theater [sic]. As [Radcliffe] President [Le Baron Russell] Briggs was about to hand her her diploma he paused and said, 'This seems to be a veritable fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped." ' The applause that followed shook the hall, and Helen Keller felt its vibrations. Many students came to Radcliffe afterward because of Helen Keller."

- From the Harvard Historical Calendar, a database compiled by Marvin Hightower