CONTACT: Tony Stephens, Assistant Vice-President, Communications 212.502.7627 | tstephens@afb.org
NEW YORK (February 20, 2025) — The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) are pleased to announce a special livestream event on Monday, March 17 to unveil a 90-year-old audio recording of Helen Keller.
The special livestream event, which will include leaders from AFB and APH, will take place at 3 p.m. at the Center for Jewish History. The livestream will be available on AFB’s YouTube and social media channels. The Center for Jewish History’s current location is the former site of AFB’s headquarters, where Helen Keller worked for decades.
“Both AFB and APH are excited to share with the world these powerful words of Helen Keller and others, which are just as relevant today as they were almost a century ago when they were captured during a special ceremony commemorating the laying of the cornerstone for AFB’s new headquarters,” said Eric Bridges, AFB president and CEO.
The event commemorates a series of rare, unearthed recordings on silver discs from the 1930s that were placed in a time capsule at the former AFB headquarters at 15 W. 16th Street. The moving speech by Helen Keller was broadcast over the NBC Radio network and allowed her lifelong teacher and friend, Anne Sullivan Macy, to hear the ceremony from her hospital bed.
“Not since 1934 has the world heard these special words that Keller spoke in her own voice, and we are so thankful that the Talking Book engineers had the forethought to capture them on silver disc for future generations to hear,” said Craig Meador, Ed.D, APH President. “As APH completes The DOT Experience attraction in Louisville, we’re excited that Keller’s legacy will continue to live on for future generations.”
The audio recordings were discovered in 2021 during a time capsule reveal as part of AFB’s centennial celebration. They were placed in the AFB Helen Keller Archive, which is housed at APH in Louisville, KY. APH has worked painstakingly to preserve the artifacts and digitize the silver disc records to share them with the world. The silver discs remain at APH and will be displayed at The Dot Experience when it opens in 2026.
AFB and APH thank the Center for Jewish History for graciously opening their doors for this special occasion. Helen Keller’s impact extended far beyond New York City, leaving an indelible impression as one of the world’s great women leaders, and her message continues to inspire all of humanity.
About the American Foundation for the Blind
Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind creates equal opportunities and expands possibilities for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision through advocacy, thought leadership, and strategic partnerships. In addition to publishing the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB), AFB is also the proud steward of the Helen Keller Archive, which is available on the AFB website at www.afb.org.
About American Printing House for the Blind
American Printing House for the Blind is a leader in designing innovative lifelong learning solutions for children and adults who are blind or low vision. We believe in the power and necessity of learning to open the doors to educational success, satisfying employment, and personal well-being. We level the learning playing field for students who are blind or low vision by providing specialized technology, materials, products, and services that are essential for education and life.
