Biography: Helen Keller (1880-1968) Early life Helen Adams Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, on June 27, 1880. She was the daughter of newspaper editor Captain Arthur Keller and his wife, Kate Adams Keller. At the age of 19 months, Helen was struck with a severe illness (called "brain fever" at the time, it may have been scarlet fever) which left her both blind and deaf. Her deafness made it difficult to learn to speak. She invented 60 of her own signs in order to communicate with her family. Using touch and smell, she explored the world ....