Research at
Gallaudet University
2005 - 2006

Helen Keller and Yvonne Pitrois Dialogue about Vaudeville

Status: Ongoing Begin date: June 6, 2003 End date: December, 2006

Description

This study involved a contrastive analysis of Helen Keller (1880-1968) and her French contemporary, Yvonne Pitrois (1880-1937). Having much in common, these two extraordinary women differed, nonetheless, in their views on living with disability. This study focuses, in particular, on Pitrois' critique of Helen Keller's appearances on the Vaudeville stage with Anne Sullivan and Keller's response to that critique. This essay, originally presented at Deaf Way II in July of 2002, was selected for inclusion in a book tentatively entitled The Deaf Way II Reader. Edited by Harvey Goodstein, the book is scheduled to be published by Gallaudet University Press in 2006.

Investigators