In November 2000, I contacted the American Foundation for the Blind inquiring about the origin of the term "miracle worker" with the following question: ~~~~~ Did the phrase "Miracle Worker" as applied to Annie Sullivan Macy arise from the inscribed photo Twain gave to her where he wrote: "To Mrs. John Sullivan Macy, with warm regard and with limitless admiration of the wonders she has performed as a miracle worker." According to my sources the date of the inscription was Jan. 11, 1909. I would appreciate any info you could provide regarding whether or not this was the first usage of the term as applied to Annie. ~~~~~ The reply I received was from Jessica Mathewson, Manager, Library Information Resources, American Foundation for the Blind: ~~~~~ Thank you for contacting the American Foundation for the Blind with your question concerning the origins of the term "miracle worker." I have not been able to find a definitive answer in my archives. Although I have been unable to locate an earlier existence of the term in our records, I cannot prove that it does not exist elsewhere. The papers in our Helen Keller collection contain significant gaps prior to 1946, due to a fire in Miss Keller's NY home. ~~~~~ Mark Twain did use the phrase "miracle-worker" in "The Memorable Assassination" written in 1898 and again in regard to "organization" in "Papers of the Adam Family" written in 1905-06. However, the photo inscription in 1909 seems to be the earliest that he used the phrase in regard to Keller. Barb