iPentimento

Rare Helen Keller - Anne Sullivan Photo Found

Posted on March 6th, 2008 by webduck

You may have seen it in the news or online, but if not, there has been found a previously undiscovered Helen Keller - Anne Sullivan photo found in a collection donated to the NEHGS.

An NEHGS staff member discovered the photograph while combing through a large photography collection recently donated by Thaxter P. Spencer, 87, of Waltham, MA. (Full story can be read here.)

The signifcance of the photo is that there are very few images of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan when Helen was a child. This is a truly intriguing photo and I hope you have the time to read the full story by clicking on the link I have included above. On a more personal note, just this week I had the heart-warming experience of sharing a photo of my ancestor Eleazer Smith with a new-found cousin. It was early evening and the phone rang, and Katie introduced herself and how we connect with the Smith family.

Eleazer Smith, Great Great Great Grandfather to Carol Yates Wilkerson

She had found online where I had said that I have a photo copy of Eleazer (Ale) Smith and she wondered if I still had it in my possession. The photo was generously copied by another cousin named Christine Brady who lives in Tennessee and given to me for my records. When I was given this photo it was as if a pot of gold had been dropped in my lap. I never thought I would see a photo of this GGG-Grandfather. And now, I have shared it with Katie and I know she feels the same way. Ale was born in 1803, and since he looks to be a young man in this photo, it was most likely taken in the 1820's or so. Many of my family photos can be found on Webshots. I have posted them there as public albums so that any of my cousins and kin can see them and download them if they like. I don't see myself as the 'owner' of the photos and documents I have, but ratehr the 'caretaker' and as such, it is my goal to keep them safe but also share them with as many people as possible. That way, history is not lost. Do you feel the same way?