Sullivan/Keller/Anagnos correspondence collection

Creator:

Anne Sullivan, Michael Anagnos, Helen Keller, Kate Keller, Captain Arthur Keller and others

Date Range:

1886-1933, bulk 1886-1896

Call Number:

AG19

Abstract:

In the summer of 1886, Helen Keller’s father contacted Mr. Anagnos, to inquire whether he might be able to recommend someone to teach his daughter who was deaf and blind following an illness. Anagnos’ initial response is the first letter of this collection. He selected one of his prize pupils, Anne Sullivan, a recent graduate, to go to Tuscumbia, Alabama. In May of 1888, Sullivan brought Helen to Perkins School for the Blind in Boston. Helen was very happy to meet other children with whom she could communicate, and loved the library of embossed books, as well as the tactile museum’s collection of bird and animal specimens. This collection is comprised of access copies (binders), photocopies, digital files on CD, and microfilm of letters written between 1886 and 1933 related to the education of Helen Keller. 

Extent:

1.5 linear feet

Language:

English

Processed by:

Perkins School for the Blind Archives

Biographical/historical note:

Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama to retired army Captain Arthur Keller and his second wife, Kate. Helen had a younger brother, Phillips Brooks, and a sister, Mildred. When she was nineteen months old, she became very ill with a high fever. Doctors at the time diagnosed this as “brain fever” or “brain congestion”, but experts today believe that she most likely suffered from scarlet fever or meningitis.

In the summer of 1886, Capt. Keller contacted Mr. Anagnos, to inquire whether he might be able to re- commend someone to teach Helen. Anagnos’ initial response is the first letter of this collection. He selected one of his prize pupils, a recent graduate, to go to Tuscumbia, Alabama. Anne Mansfield Sullivan arrived at the Keller’s house in March 1887.

In May of 1888, Sullivan brought Helen to Perkins School for the Blind in Boston. Helen was very happy to meet other children with whom she could communicate, and loved the library of embossed books, as well as the tactile museum’s collection of bird and animal specimens.

Restrictions:

The Perkins Archives reserves the right to deny physical access to materials available in a digital format. 

Copyright:

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Perkins School for the Blind, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Contact the American Antiquarian Society regarding materials from their collection.

Credit line/Citation:

AG19 Sullivan/Keller/Anagnos Correspondence Collection (Access copies and surrogates). Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope/Contents:

This collection is comprised of access copies (binders), photocopies, digital files on CD, and microfilm of letters written between 1886 and 1933 related to the education of Helen Keller.  Includes correspondence between Michael Anagnos, the Director of Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind (now Perkins School for the Blind) in Boston, Anne Sullivan, and Helen Keller’s parents, Capt. A.H. and Kate Keller, as well as with Helen Keller herself.  A large part of the correspondence is between Anagnos and Anne Sullivan, a graduate of Perkins, who was sent to Tuscumbia, Alabama to work with Helen. 

The letters feature detailed descriptions of Helen’s education, documenting both her rapid progress and some of the challenges that she and her teacher faced.

The collection contains copies of letters from the Perkins collection, the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, MA, the Hadley School for the Blind in Illinois, and other foundations and private collections.

Arrangement:

4 Boxes, 2 Series.
Series 1: Access Copies (Binders)
Series 2: Photocopies and CDs with digital files

Related collections:

List of digital collections related to Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan that are available online.

Anagnos-Sullivan-Keller Correspondence, 1886-1896 on Flickr.

Container List:

Series 1: Access Copies (binders) 

Printouts of collections posted online by the Perkins School for the Blind on Flickr in 2012. 

Box 1: American Antiquarian Society Collection

Access copies of Anne Sullivan’s correspondence with Michael Anagnos, 1887-1896. Originals at the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, MA. Color prints of digitized handwritten letters with corresponding typed transcriptions interleaved following each letter.

• 1887
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, October 1887 (4 pages)
• 1888
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, January 13, 1888 (7 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, April 2, 1888 (7 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, April 20, 1888 (10 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, April 22, 1888 (6 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, May 15, 1888 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, November 7, 1888 (9 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, November 18, 1888 (14 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, December 8, 1888 (7 pages)
• 1889
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, January 8, 1889 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, Jan. 17, 1889 (6 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, February 1, 1889 (8 pages)
  • Extract from Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, February 19, 1889 (2 pages)
  • Extract from Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, March 23, 1889 (5 pages)
• 1890
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, January 20, 1890 (4 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, July 7, 1890 (7 pages)
  • Letter to Michael Anagnos from Annie von Rabe, October 9, 1890 (3 pages)
• 1891
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, October 12, 1891 (1 page)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, November 4, 1891 (5 pages)
• 1892
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, March 6, 1892 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, March 6, 1892 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Fanny S. Marrett to Michael Anagnos, March 6, 1892 (6 pages)
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, April 28, 1892 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, June 11, 1892 (7 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, June 28, 1892 (7 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to unknown recipient, August 17, 1892 (10 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to unknown recipient, August 18, 1892 (10 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, November 25, 1892 (8 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, December 11, 1892 (6 pages)                                                                                                                                        
• 1893
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, [January or February, 1893], (3 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, January 23, 1893 (9 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, January 25, 1893 (8 pages)
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, March 16, 1893 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, November 20, 1893 (4 pages)
• 1896
  • Letter from Anne Sullivan to Mrs. Chanler, May 11, 1896 (12 pages)
• Fragments with no date
  • Fragment of letter from Anne Sullivan to unknown recipient, no date (1 page)
  • Fragment of letter from Anne Sullivan to unknown recipient, no date (1 page)
  • Fragment of letter from Anne Sullivan to unknown recipient, no date  (1 page)
  • Fragment of letter from Anne Sullivan to unknown recipient, no date (1 page)
  • Fragment of letter from Anne Sullivan to unknown recipient, no date (1 page)

Box 2: Perkins’ Collection

Access copies of Sullivan/Keller/Anagnos correspondence, 1886-1895, and Helen Keller’s childhood letters to Michael Anagnos, 1887-1891. Color prints of digitized handwritten letters with corresponding typed transcriptions. Originals located in Perkins bound correspondence volumes and in the Helen Keller Collection.

• Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, no date
• 1886
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Capt. Keller, August 16, 1886
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Annie Sullivan, August 26, 1886
• 1887
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Capt. Keller, January 21, 1887
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, January 28, 1887
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Capt. Keller, February 2, 1887
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, March 13, 1887 (5 pages)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, May 5, 1887 (10 pages)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, May 23, 1887 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Annie Sullivan, June 21, 1887
  • Letter from Kate Keller to Michael Anagnos, June 25, 1887 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, August 23, 1887 (8 pages)
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Annie Sullivan, Sept. 1, 1887
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, September 18th, 1887 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Annie Sullivan, October 17, 1887 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, Nov. 7, 1887
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, Nov. 16th, 1887 (4 pages)
• 1888
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, January 15, 1888
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Capt. Keller, April 5, 1888
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Capt. Keller, May 13, 1888
  • Letter from Kate Keller to Michael Anagnos, July 24, 1888 (5 pages)
• 1889
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Annie Sullivan, March 5, 1889 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, March 26, 1889 (5 pages)
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, March 28, 1889 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Capt. Keller, April 9, 1889
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Annie Sullivan, April 9, 1889
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Capt. Keller, May 12, 1889
  • Letter from John Bennett to Anne Sullivan, Sept. 17, 1889 (5 pages)
  • Letter to Capt. Keller from John A. Bennett, Sept. 19, 1889
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Mr. Bennett, Sept. 23, 1889
• 1890
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, February 23, 1890 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, March 2, 1890 (6 pages)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to John Bennett, May 18, 1890 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Dr. Eliot, June 17, 1890
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to the Board of Trustees of Perkins Institution, June 17, 1890
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Capt. Keller, Sept. 18, 1890
• 1891
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, July 5, 1891 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, Nov. 14, 1891 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, Nov. 26, 1891 (2 pages)
• 1892
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, February 5, 1892 (2 pages)
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, March 28, 1892 (2 pages)
• 1894
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, February 25, 1894 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, April 23, 1894 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Annie Sullivan, April 26, 1894
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, July 30, 1894
  • Letter from Michael Anagnos to Annie Sullivan, August 3, 1894
• 1895
  • Letter to Annie Sullivan from Miss Ella F. Prout, Clerk, Jan. 7, 1895
• Fragments with no date
  • Letter from Capt. A. Keller to Michael Anagnos, no date (fragment)
  • Letter from Annie Sullivan to Michael Anagnos, no date
  • Letters from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos:
  • Helen Keller’s First Letter, 1887
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, May 18th, 1889 (6 pages)
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos on Nov. 7, 1889 (5 pages)
  • Letter From Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, June 2, unknown year (1 page)
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, no date (1 page)
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, February 1, 1890 (3 pages)
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, February 2-3, 1890 (5 pages)
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, July 4, 1890 (7 pages)
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, September 6, 1890 (1 page)
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, August 8, 1891 (6 pages)
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, September 29, 1891 (4 pages)
  • Letter from Helen Keller to Michael Anagnos, Nov. 4, 1891 (1 page)

Series 2: Photocopies and CDs with digital files: 

Photocopies and digital files of correspondence from various collections including Perkins, American Antiquarian Society, Hadley School for the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, private collections, and other sources

• B3:F1: Perkins’ collection photocopies of correspondence between Sullivan/Keller/Anagnos, 1886-1894
• B3:F2: Photocopies of Helen Keller letters to Michael Anagnos and others (including Dr. W. Jerusalem (Vienna), J. H. Meijer (Institution for the Blind, Amsterdam), and Mary Mye), from the collection at the Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, Illinois. Letters were presented to the Hadley School by Mrs. James Beach Beckett. Her husband was a manuscript collector and an admirer of Mr. Hadley. Letters purchased at auction, possibly in Boston. 1890s
• B3:F3: Photocopies of letters from Helen Keller to various recipients from the Perkins collections, private collections and foundations including the American Foundation for the blind, 1891-1933
• B3:F4: Photocopies of the American Antiquarian Society Collection of letters from Anne Sullivan to Michael Anagnos. Includes on letter from John A. Macy to Michael Anagnos concerning the Frost King Incident (1902), Several photocopies of newspaper clippings concerning the re-discovery and cataloging of the letters, 1887-1902, 1977-1978
• B3:F4: Anne Sullivan and Michael Anagnos correspondence copies from the American Antiquarian Society, 1887-1896. Digital files on 2 CDs (PDF’s), 1 roll of microfilm, 1 CD with digitized files from the microfilm, and a license agreement (2012) between Perkins and the American Antiquarian Society for permission to post letters on www.flickr.com with other correspondence from the Perkins Collection.

Provenance:

Unknown

Subject headings:

• Anagnos, Michael, 1837-1906
• Keller, Helen, 1880-1968
• Keller, Kate Adams
• Keller, Arthur Henley, 1836-
• Sullivan, Anne, 1866-1936
• Perkins School for the Blind.
• Perkins School for the Blind–History.
• Children who are deafblind.
• Children who are deafblind–Education.
• Teachers of people who are deafblind.