Other materials about Anne are located at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts, and the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Massachusetts. But for historical purposes, materials were retained, and the American Foundation for the Blind's Helen Keller Archive contains some of her letters, prose, and verse. Similarly, she did not want her correspondence to be kept after her death. Sometime after she married John Albert Macy in 1905, the young wife burned her private journals for fear of what her husband might think of her if he should read them. Although some of her letters still exist, it is primarily through the eyes of others that we know her.

Clemens (Mark Twain) dubbed her a 'miracle worker.' However, Anne's personal story remains relatively unknown. Her work with Helen Keller became the blueprint for education of children who were blind, deaf-blind, or visually impaired that still continues today. She became a model for others disadvantaged by their physical bodies, as well as by gender or class.Īnne was a pioneer in the field of education. A rose is pinned to her gown.Īnne Sullivan Macy (1866-1936) was a woman whose brilliance, passion, and tenacity enabled her to overcome a traumatic past. Her light-colored dress has a wide neck with lace edging. A long thick braid of hair appears to be curled at the top of her head and curly wisps of hair frame her face. Her head is tilted a little to her right.

In this image, Anne faces the camera with a slight smile.

Head and shoulders portrait of Anne Sullivan, circa 1894.

Themes in the miracle worker