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  • Featured Exhibit

  • Online Exhibits May 2010

    In this exhibit, the R. Stanton Avery Special Collections has selected items from their extensive collection of family papers and institutional records to pay tribute to students past and present.
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  • Thaxter Parks Spencer Collection including earliest known photo of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan

  • Among the many family treasures of the Thaxter Parks Spencer Collections are photograph albums belonging to the Parks family. Some of the earliest photos are of the family's trips to Brewster in the late 1880's. Frederic Thaxter Parks, his wife Flora and their children stayed at the Elijah Cobb House owned by Helen (Cobb) Dugan, grandaughter of Elijah Cobb. It was some time during the summer of 1888 that the Parks family made the acquaintance of  Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan who were staying in a nearby house. In honor of Helen Keller's birthday, June 27, 1880, we present the Helen Keller photo along with some of the Parks family photographs of summers spent on Cape Cod.

    Keller Parks image 1Click here for enlarged image Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan at Brewster, summer of 1888. Photo taken by Cornelius Chenery, a frequent summer guest at the Elijah Cobb House and acquaintance of the Parks Family.

    Keller Parks image 2Click here for enlarged image Mrs. Helen (Cobb) Dugan, owner of the Elijah Cobb House, and her daughter Caroline "Caro" Dugan.

    Keller Parks image 3Click here for enlarged image Hope Thaxter Parks Spencer (1884-1976) at the beach.

    Keller Parks image 4Click here for enlarged image Hope with her brother, Ward Jackson Parks (1887-1964). Photo taken around 1889-1890.

    Keller Parks image 5Click here for enlarged image The Parks family maintained a lifelong friendship with the Dugans as is evident by this photo taken in the early 1900's. From left to right, Caroline Dugan, Flora (Hatch) Parks (1857-1935) and son Samuel Thaxter Parks (1892-1908) standing on the lawn at the Elijah Cobb House, Brewster. 

    Keller Parks image 6Click here for enlarged image Ward Parks at the beach.

    Keller Parks image 7 Ward Parks enjoying the water.

    Keller Parks image 8 Frederic Thaxter Parks (1855-1940), called "Bill" by members of his family, at Brewster, summer of 1888.

    Keller Parks image 9 Frederic Thaxter Parks with daughter Hope, age 4, at Brewster, summer of 1888. It was during this summer visit that Hope had her face "explored" by Helen Keller.

    Keller Parks image 10Click here for enlarged image Hope Thaxter (Parks) Spencer
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