Anne Sullivan & Helen Keller, 1897 Anne Sullivan: Who Was She?
Anne Sullivan was the teacher and lifelong companion of the well-known Helen Keller. But who was she? Anne Mansfield Sullivan was born on April 14, 1866, in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. At the age of 5, she was diagnosed with an eye disease called trachoma, which resulted in her being partially blind and without reading or writing skills. Her childhood was very difficult, with her mother dying when she was 8 and her father abandoning her and her siblings soon after. She was sent to live at the Tewksbury Almshouse, where disabled and/or poor people were sent to live. The conditions were horrifying and it was likely very traumatic for Sullivan. However, during her time at the almshouse she was able to receive treatment for her blindness that gave her limited, short-term relief. She also learned that there are schools for blind people, and it became her main goal of her childhood to get into one of them. Her life changed greatly when she reached that dream and started attending Perkins School For The Blind in 1880. At age 20, she graduated as valedictorian of her class. Her graduation speech was thus: “....duty bids us go forth into active life. Let us go cheerfully, hopefully, and earnestly, and set ourselves to find our especial part. When we have found it, willingly and faithfully perform it; for every obstacle we overcome, every success we achieve tends to bring man closer to God." Almost immediately after graduation, Sullivan began teaching Helen Keller. Keller was blind, mute, and deaf, and her father was searching for a good teacher with whom she could learn how to communicate better. Sullivan was immediately recommended to him. Upon Sullivan’s arrival at the Keller home in Tuscambia, Alabama, Sullivan actually got into an argument with Keller’s parents about the Civil War and the fact that the Kellers were slaveholders. But upon meeting Helen, they clearly had a connection. The two would remain companions for 49 years. Originally, Sullivan’s curriculum was very strict. But she soon realized that this did not suit Keller, and so she changed it to suit her. Rather than introducing new words constantly, she took a slower approach, teaching her words that corresponded with what she was interested in at the time. Sullivan taught Keller new words by drawing the shapes of the letters on Keller’s palm. These methods proved to work when, six months into teaching, Keller had learnt 575 words, some multiplication tables, and the Braille system. In 1888, Keller’s parents, after Sullivan strongly encouraging it, sent Keller to Perkins School for the Blind. Sullivan accompanied her and it is said that this is when their friendship really blossomed. Keller became a symbol for the school, helping it fundraise and improve. Sullivan and Keller remained companions for the rest of Sullivan’s life, with Sullivan assisting Keller in her educational and career pursuits. When Anne married John Albert Macy in 1905, he moved in with Keller and Sullivan, who were already living together, as Sullivan was still Keller’s personal teacher. John and Anne’s marriage faded away not to long after, however. Sullivan had no children. During Sullivan’s lifetime and after, Helen Keller made many strides for the rights of disabled people and women. Anne Sullivan died in 1936, with Helen Keller holding her hand. Anne Sullivan was a talented teacher, loving friend, and should serve as a huge source of inspiration for all people. Resources for your Research: 1. "Anne Sullivan - Biography." - for a detailed biography 2. "Anne Sullivan Found 'the Fire of a Purpose' Through Teaching Helen Keller - Biography." - For research on Anne & Helen's relationship 3. "Anne Sullivan." - for a detailed biography on Anne Sullivan 4. "Helen Keller." - for a detailed biography on Helen Keller 5. "Anne's Formative Years: 1866-1886." - For research on Anne Sullivan's childhood Citations: 1. "Anne Sullivan." Wikipedia. Accessed March 2, 2021. 2. "Anne Sullivan." Biography.com. Accessed March 2, 2021. 3. "Anne Sullivan." Perkins School for the Blind. Accessed March 2, 2021. 4. "Helen Keller." Wikipedia. Accessed March 2, 2021. 5. "Tewksbury Almshouse." American Foundation for the Blind. Accessed March 2, 2021. (Trigger Warning: Abuse) 6. "Helen Keller FAQ." Perkins School for the Blind. March 2, 2021. Comments are closed.
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the authorHello there! I'm Gemma, and I love women's history! archive
May 2021
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