May, Florence Lewis

Born at Fairfield, CT; deafened from spinal meningitis at age 5. Graduated the American School for the Deaf (1915) and Gallaudet College (1921). Worked in the museum department of the Hispanic Society of America for her entire 60-year working career, ultimately rising to Curator of Textiles. Wrote scholarly works in the study of textiles as well as poems, and also was a translator from Spanish. Was offered the leading role in the original 1940 Broadway production of Johnny Belinda, but declined.