1. Anne Sullivan
Anne Sullivan
Anne Sullivan in 1887
Johanna Mansfield Sullivan
April 14, 1866
Born
Feeding Hills, Massachusetts
October 20, 1936 (aged 70)
Died
Forest Hills, New York, New York
Spouse(s) John Albert Macy (m. 1905–1932)
Johanna "Anne" Mansfield Sullivan Macy (April 14, 1866 – October 20, 1936), best known
as Anne Sullivan, was an Irish-American teacher best known as the instructor and companion of
Helen Keller.[1]
Early life
Sullivan was born on April 14, 1866 in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. According to her baptismal
certificate, her full name at birth was Johanna Mansfield Sullivan; however, she was called Anne
from the time she was born.[2] Her parents' names were Thomas Sullivan and Alice Cloesy
Sullivan and they were Irish immigrants who couldn't read and had virtually no money.[2] In
1874 her mother, Alice, died, probably of tuberculosis;[3] after which Anne and her younger
brother, Jimmie were sent to an almshouse in Tewksbury, Massachusetts (today part of
Tewksbury Hospital). She was at Tewksbury for four years.[2] In 1880, Anne, who was blind
from untreated trachoma and had untreated intestinal worms[citation needed], was sent to the Perkins
School for the Blind. Anne had a brother, Jimmie (James),[4] born in 1869,[3] a sister Ellen born
in 1867[3] and a sister, Mary.[citation needed]