Anne Sullivan | Mini Bio | Biography

A short biography about Anne Sullivan Macy. Helen Keller's teacher.
The film clips of Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller and Polly Thomson are from the 1919 film titled "Deliverance". And from the 1954 film titled "Helen Keller in Her Story". Transcript: "Dedicated to Anne Sullivan Macy. 1866 -1936. Helen Keller's teacher." Golden moments with her teacher." "It is not I...but the world that is blind." "The greatest individual achievement in the history of education" - Dr. James Kerr Love of Glasgow." "Mrs. Anne Sullivan Macy". "My beloved teacher...Through thirty years of discouragement and joys we have walked together hand in hand...Her vitalizing love is the secret of my progress and triumph over difficulty".... Helen Keller." "Anne Sullivan Macy was born as Johanna Mansfield Sullivan on April 14, 1866 in Agawam, Massachusetts" "Born to poor Irish immigrants. When she was eight, her mother died of tuberculosis." "Anne and her brother James were placed in the dilapidated Tewksbury Almshouse for indigents." "Her brother died of tuberculosis four months later." "Due to an eye disease called trachoma, Anne became almost blind". "At age 14 she was sent to Perkins School for the blind, in Watertown, Massachusetts." "At 15, eye surgery restored much of her vision. But she suffered from weak eyesight for the rest of her life." In 1887 Helen Keller's parents contacted Perkins school, looking for a teacher for Helen." At age 20, Anne arrived at the Keller's home in Tuscumbia Alabama." "After trial and error, Anne developed a successful teaching system," In six months, seven year old Helen had learned the manual alphabet, 575 words, the Braille system and some mathematics." "As the cool water gushed into one hand, the word "water" was spelled into the other, and Helen learned for the first time the name of an object." "W-a-t-e--r". "In this moment of triumph the light of understanding thrills Helen ... the realization that she lives in a world where all things have a name." "B-A-B-Y". "Helen tries to teach her dog the manual alphabet." "Dog...talk...to...Helen?" In 1888 Helen enrolled in the Perkins school, and Anne accompanied her and continued to assist with her education." Eventually Helen earned a degree from Radcliff College." In 1905 Anne married John Albert Macy, a Harvard University instructor and literary critic." John Anne and Helen shared a home in Waltham Massachusetts." "In 1914 Anne and John separated. They never officially divorced." Also in 1914, Anne hired Polly Thomson as an assistant and secretary." Anne, Helen and Polly became close companions." "Then later, Polly came. We were always so happy together...my Polly...my Helen. - Anne Sullivan, from her deathbed." Anne, Helen and Polly spent the next several years traveling the world, meeting famous people and supporting various social causes. In 1932 Anne was awarded an honorary degree from Temple University, in recognition of her life accomplishments." "Soon after, her health began to fail. By 1935, she was completely blind." On October 15, 1936 she had a heart attack and fell into a coma. She died on October 20th, with Helen holding her hand." "Thank God I gave of my life, that Helen might live. God help her to live without me when I go." - Anne Macy Sullivan. "Anne's ashes were placed in a memorial at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. Later Helen's and Polly's ashes were placed beside her." - To be continued soon.