Teacher Annie Sullivan: Irish Women of Massachusetts

(1866-1936)

The daughter of impoverished Irish immigrants, Annie Sullivan became world-famous for teaching Helen Keller to read and write. Born nearly-blind in Feeding Hills, MA, Annie and her crippled brother lived at the Tewksbury Almshouse before Annie attended the Perkins School for the Blind in South Boston. Upon graduation Annie was sent to Tuscumbia, AL to teach the blind six-year-old Keller. Helen’s epiphany came when Annie taught her that everything had a name and could be spelled out. Their lives together were made into a movie called The Miracle Worker.

Annie Sullivan is part of BITA's 2019 Irish Women of Massachusetts series in celebration of Irish Heritage Month and Women's History Month.

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