This head and shoulders photographic portrait of Anne Sullivan Macy shows her in profile, circa 1920. Anne's thick, glossy hair is short and waved. She is wearing a dark, embroidered V-neck garment with a light-colored blouse or collar underneath. The collar appears to be fastened with a decorative pin. She has a strand of pearls around her neck.
In 1924, Anne, Helen, and Polly had the opportunity to work for the American Foundation for the Blind. AFB was founded three years earlier with a mission to represent those in the United States who were blind or visually impaired. Its president and executive director, M. C. Migel, hired Helen and Anne as ambassadors who could draw attention to the young organization. The women's task was to raise funds and advocate for the blind on behalf of AFB. The work suited them. It unleashed Helen's passion as an advocate and provided them with the financial security they needed.
This business relationship was not without friction regarding expectations. During their first year of employment, Anne and Helen set a goal of two million dollars to be raised in six months for the Helen Keller Endowment Fund. By the following summer they were far from their target, as Migel suspected would happen. In June 1925 Anne wrote the following to M. C. Migel:
...we all deplore our failure to come nearer to the goal of our expectations in the matter of raising the Fund, though I now understand that those expectations were naively childish. The idea of raising two million dollars in six months for a new and scarcely heard of organization mocks at commonsense.
I have often tried to project myself in imagination into your mind to get your reaction on the situation with indifferent success. I have never been a capitalist; so I find it difficult to sense what a capitalist's state of mind is when a pet investment yields a negligible dividend. Humanly speaking, you must have felt keenly disappointed sometimes, and asked yourself if such large expenditure was justified by the meager contributions we were sending in;...Right here I wish to say, we have been much impressed by your attitude of patient waiting for results that have not been forthcoming...
Multitudes came to our meetings, listened to our story, dropped a small contribution in the plate and went on their way...it seems to me that the educational value of our work cannot be overestimated. Indeed, it may be that educating the people about the needs and capabilities of the blind is the most important part of our campaign.
Full Transcript of Letter
Anne's Letter to M. C. Migel (June 25, 1925)
June 25, 1925.
Mr. M. C. Migel,
1 Madison Avenue,
New York City
Dear Mr. Migel:-
I won't harass you by going too deeply into the history of our unsuccessful efforts to secure the Endowment Fund, all the more that we have failed so obviously; but I must plead for my delay in acknowledging your letter of May 12th. Its genuine kindness went straight to my heart, and I cannot thank you enough for writing in such splendidly generous spirit.
There has been little time on this tour for writing other than letters of appeal, and of appreciation of kindnesses shown us en route. The last weeks in California were very busy, crowded up to the last moment with things to be done for the wind-up of our work. We held two meetings in San Francisco the day before our departure, and Helen wrote thank-you letters to Bishops, Rabbis and others who had rendered special service until the bell-boy said he must have the typewriter.
I need not tell you, Mr. Migel, that I—that we all deplore our failure to come nearer to the goal of our expectations in the matter of raising the Fund, though I now understand that those expectations were naively childish. The idea of raising two million dollars in six months for a new and scarcely heard of organization mocks at common sense.
I have often tried to project myself in imagination into your mind to get your reaction on the situation with indifferent success. I have never been a capitalist; so I find it difficult to sense what a capitalist's state of mind is when a pet investment yields a negligible dividend. Humanly speaking, you must have felt keenly disappointed sometimes, and asked yourself if such large expenditure was justified by the meager contributions we were sending in; and perhaps you have thought that we might have done better. But as the days passed, I am sure you have felt in the depths of your generous nature that we have all done our very best. Right here I wish to say, we have been much impressed by your attitude of patient waiting for results that have not been forthcoming. Not once have you complained, or shown us by any sign that you were dissatisfied with our procedure. As a matter of fact, all our time, energy and strength, all the ingenuity, persuasion and resourcefulness at our command went into our efforts, and yet we have not arrived at an impressive altitude! Multitudes came to our meetings, listened to our story, dropped a small contribution in the plate and went on their way, not however, I believe, indifferent to our appeals. On the whole, I think the people were favorably impressed by what we are doing; and it seems to me that the educational value of our work cannot be overestimated. Indeed, it may be that educating the people about the needs and capabilities of the blind is the most important part of our campaign.
At any rate, the clearing of the ground for action has been done in a manner that will enable whoever continues the work to get far ahead of where we started. At times it appeared that we were not getting anywhere; but now when I look back over the field we have cultivated, I can see the beginning of a rich harvest—if our work is followed up.
Such are the short and simple annals of the poor in purse, but rich in experience. I am sorry they are not brighter and more to our liking.
There are a few suggestions I should like to offer in passing. I had hoped to have some conferences with you this summer; but there are enormous reasons for my returning to Los Angeles after the Lions meeting in Cleveland and remaining there until my physical condition is improved - a matter of six months or so. Therefore what I have to say to you must be written.
At the very end of our campaign we thought that, thanks to an idea of Mr. Hayes's, the tide had at last definitely turned. You may recollect that when we first discussed methods of raising money, I thought we should get it from the people in small donations, and you, on the other hand, thought we should try to get large gifts from the rich. Now I am convinced that we must get a large part of the Fund from the common people before we can hope for big donations. If you stop to think, you will see that men do not give in the beginning of a new movement. They wait until it is well established and recognized. The few delectable windfalls we have picked up here and there have been dropped in response to personal appeals from Helen. It was more agreeable for the givers to write a small check than to ignore her letter or write a refusal. I enclose a letter from a man here, Mr. Crouse, who sent her a check for five hundred dollars to do with as she pleases. A very wealthy man, Mr. Mather, gave her a pledge for five thousand dollars yesterday with a hug and a kiss. He did not seem the least bit interested in the Foundation. That is because he had heard a great deal about Helen Keller and very little about the Foundation.
The last few meetings, when we asked the people for a pledge of twenty-five cents a month for a year, the response was spontaneous, and quite satisfactory. This idea will work; and it should involve less expense, as the meetings can be held in schools and churches, thus avoiding the costly method of hiring halls and theatres and sending out invitations. When the people once get this idea, the Fund will grow rapidly, and then wealthy givers will see that our work has a just claim to be taken seriously. The pledge card can be made less elaborate. The sentence in braille does not help at all. An inexpensive little bank with Helen's name on it, and a few words of appeal, either on the bank or a slip of paper, would be sufficient.
It seems to me very important that there should be a good follow-up person to visit each city immediately after we leave. A good deal of money could be collected then, while the people are interested. Also, may I suggest that some well known Catholics be invited to become members of the Endowment Committee. It is very embarrassing to ask help from Catholics when there are none on our board.
It is urgent, Mr. Migel, that we should keep our promises to help cities, Los Angeles and Denver for instance, to organize their work for the blind. If we do not help them, our motives will be suspected, and the Foundation will lose much of its influence for good.
I doubt if any one who has not had an opportunity to get a "close-up" view of the special problems of the blind in the various cities can adequately appreciate the amount of money, time and effort wasted by local organizations through lack of proper guidance and intelligent co-operation. A Foundation representative going into a city after our visit would find a receptive, eager public interest available for any worth while suggestions to better the condition of the sightless.
In closing this unconscionably long letter, I should not feel satisfied or happy if I did not say a word of appreciation of those who have worked with Helen, Miss Thomson and myself. It seems to me, our party might appropriately be called the "success group". From the beginning there has been a fine spirit of fellowship and harmony. Each one has performed her or his task with unfailing good-nature. Mrs. Gifford has carried her end of the campaign through with ardent enthusiasm. Enlisting interest and the active support of busy men and women for a cause they have little knowledge of is not the easiest thing in the world. Her energetic propaganda has won many friends for the blind. She has in an unusual degree the qualities of "push", pluck and loyalty.
I feel that Mr. Hayes has made a distinct contribution to our work. He has had to assume many roles, and in each he has proved an adequate and winning personality. He has a genius for harmonizing conflicting individualities. Association with him has left with me an unforgettable impression of considerateness and good sense. Without his encouragement and genuine helpfulness the denoument of the campaign might have been very different. He has entered heart and soul into whatever he did, and given without stint the very best that is in him to make our enterprise succeed. Now we are separating to go our different ways; but we part friends, thus paving the way for further service to the blind.
I wonder if you will have the patience to read this letter. They tell me you do not approve of letters more than one page in length. Well, I do not think the order of the universe will be much deranged if you do not read it through. After all is said, there is an awful lot to be done.
With kind regards from Helen, Miss Thomson and myself, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Annie S. Macy
P.S. 1. I am enclosing Mr. Crouse's letter and a copy of the speech Helen gave before the American Association of Workers for the Blind last night.
P.S. 2. In regard to our Traveling expenses the Lions Club are paying our railroad fares to Cleveland. I do remember our conversation with regard to extra compensation for larger gifts that might come directly through Helen. They have been very few and Helen is only too glad to contribute to whatever she may think should come to her to the Endowment Fund.
A. S. M.
