Mrs. Hutton was the wife of the writer and literary critic Laurence Hutton. At the Huttons' New York home, Helen Keller met many of the leading literary figures of the day, including William Dean Howells and Mark Twain. When Keller attended Radcliffe, Mrs. Hutton sent her encouraging letters. Keller also wrote letters to Mrs. Hutton updating her friend about her progress though college and reminiscing about the times they had spent together. For example, in a letter dated May 3, 1897, Keller thanked Mrs. Hutton for having taken her to the Players Club in New York. Keller also wrote Mrs. Hutton about the time she spent in the countryside around Boston, in Wrentham, enjoying sledding. It's clear that Mrs. Hutton introduced Keller to many elements of cosmopolitan New York and was also a source of support when Keller was studying at Radcliffe.