Management Plan

Early Life

Anne was born April 14, 1866 in Feeding Hills in

Massachusetts. Anne’s real name is actually

Johanna Mansfield Sullivan. She was just called

Anne or Annie since she was born. Anne was the

oldest child of Alice Sullivan and Thomas Sullivan.

Anne’s siblings were James Sullivan, Mary

Sullivan, and Ellen Sullivan. Mary and Ellen died

when they were babies. By 7 years old Anne got

Trachoma which left her almost blind. It’s sad

because at 8 years old Anne’s mother died. A few

years later Anne’s abusive father left her and James

because he was afraid he could not raise them on

his own. So, Anne and James were sent to a

almshouse in Tewksbury . An almshouse is a place

for the poor. James had died within a few months

of moving there. When she was there Anne had

heard about special schools for the blind and deaf.

She was determined to go to one to get out of

poverty. Then one day a group from a special

commission visited the almshouse. After following

the group around all day, Anne finally asked them

about sending her to a special school.

Education

Anne attended Perkins School for the Blind at age

14 in 1880. She also had a surgery in 1880 to help

improve her vision. But Anne did have some

challenges at Perkins. Since she had never been to

school before, she was humiliated by her ignorance.

Anne had a temper and liked to challenge the rules,

so that got her in trouble with some of her

teachers. Anne did eventually settle down one day,

but she still felt like she didn’t fit in. But, Anne

soon academically advanced. She had developed a

friendship with the school’s director. Anne was the

valedictorian of her class and delivered her speech

in her graduation in June 1886.

Career

The school’s director helped Anne find a job after

she had graduated. The Keller family had sent him

a letter saying that they wanted somebody to help

their daughter Helen who was blind, deaf, and

mute. So in March 1887 Anne traveled...