Anne Sullivan

By: Carmella J 

Introduction- Anne Mansfield Sullivan, came from two, poor, Irish immigrants, her father, always drunk, abused Anne. Her poor mother who suffered from tuberculosis could do nothing to help. When Anne was just eight her mother died, which resulted in, her father abandoning Anne and her siblings, while Anne was partially blind. As Anne grew older, she suffered from a lot of trauma but finally made it to college. Anne soon became the teacher of blind and deaf, 7-year-old Helen Keller. 

Anne Mansfield Sullivan was born on April 14th, 1866, in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. She lived with her family of six; her mother, Alice Sullivan, her father, Thomas Sullivan, her siblings, Mary and Jimmie Sullivan, plus herself. When Anne was at the young age of eight, her mother unfortunately passed from tuberculosis. Thomas Sullivan (Annes father) who had abused her from a young age while being drunk and/or short tempered, abandoned Anne and her siblings. Anne, who had been partially blind, and short tempered. Jimmie, who had a lump on his hip, caused from tuberculosis, and Mary, a healthy, lovable toddler, were all abandoned. An aunt took in young Mary, but Jimmie and Anne were not wanted.  They were sent to live at a state-run poorhouse, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Just 3 months after they arrived, Jimmie sadly died at the young age of 5. Anne stayed at the poorhouse for another 4 years before she got sent to Perkins Institution for the Blind in Boston, in 1880. She could not read or write and didn’t even know her own birthday. Anne learned and worked well and got good rewards. In 1887, she underwent surgery that restored most of her vision. She then went to Tuscumbia, Alabama, to become the private teacher of blind and deaf, 7-year-old Helen Keller. Anne first spelt words out on Helens hands but later taught Helen to read and write in braille. As both women grew older, Anne taught Helen, at her best ability and the girls stayed together for 49 years. On October 20th, 1936, Anne passed away from coronary thrombosis, at age 70, while holding Helen's hand. She died in Queens, New York. When Helen died, her ashes were placed next to Annes. 

That was the end of my written presentation of Anne Sullivan. Hope you enjoyed it!