1866-1936

Anne was born in Springfield, Mass., to poor Irish immigrant parents. Her father was Thomas Sullivan, who later became an alcoholic, and her mother, Alice, who bore five children, only two of whom reached adulthood. Her mother died from tuberculosis when Annie was 8-years-old and soon after that Annie contracted an eye disease, trachoma, that was left untreated and gradually destroyed her vision.

At the age of 10, Annie and her brother Jimmie, who was born partially crippled from the effects of his mother's tuberculosis, were sent to the state poorhouse in Tewksbury. Conditions there were horrific and the death rate, especially among the children, was very high. Her one desire was to escape the poorhouse and go to school. Her determination finally overcame all odds. She studied at the Perkins Institute and graduated at the top of her class. Whilst at the institute she had two eye operations which left her with enough sight to be able to read normal print for short periods. Finding work as a partiallysighted woman would have been exceedingly difficult so, shortly after graduation, when she was offered the challenge of teaching Helen Keller, she leapt at the opportunity.

After the "miracle" that this play deals with and Helen's incredible progress they were together for almost fifty years: from Helen's childhood until Annie's death.

Annie accompanied Helen to Radcliffe College but the huge amount of work for both of them led to a deterioration in Annie's eyesight. They are portrayed as inseparable with Helen being seen as dependent on Annie the liberator, sacrificing her life for the good of her pupil. Even in Helen's later years, when Annie's role had long evolved into one of friend, interpreter and assistant, she was addressed as "Teacher". But Annie also depended on Helen both financially and emotionally. It should not be forgotten that Annie too was a disabled woman. Both Helen and Annie had a desire to leave their pasts behind and their relationship meant opportunities beyond all expectations for both of them. But this also meant a dependency by Helen. In childhood Helen dreaded separation from Annie and in adulthood, she dreaded Annie's death. Only after Annie's death was it proved that other people could take on the role of interpreter. While Annie's friendship was irreplaceable her function was not.

When Helen's mother died in 1921 Annie became the sole constant in Helen's life. But in 1922 a severe bout of bronchitis left Annie unable to speak above a whisper and thus unable to "translate" for Helen any longer. Unlike Helen, who saw her blindness and deafness as opportunities for courage, Annie's complete loss of sight came late in life and filled her with desperation and hopelessness. She had no faith to fall back on and the roles of teacher to student were reversed as Helen tried to keep Annie from total despair.

When Annie died in 1936 at the age of seventy, Helen was sitting by her bed holding her hands.