This ledger entry shows Anne and Jimmie's admission to Tewksbury in 1876. Image courtesy of the Public Health Museum, Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Full ledger entry shown below.
No explanation exists as to why Anne and Jimmie were sent to the almshouse, while their sister Mary was sent to an aunt's house. However, Nella Braddy Henney, in her biography entitled Anne Sullivan Macy, suggests that Anne and Jimmie were harder to handle than Mary; Anne because she misbehaved and was contrary, and Jimmie because he suffered from a tubercular hip.
Upon their arrival at Tewksbury, Anne successfully protested against attempts to separate her from her brother. As a result, both siblings were sent to the women's ward, where inmates included women who were physically and mentally ill:
Very much of what I remember about Tewksbury is indecent, cruel, melancholy, gruesome in the light of grown-up experience; but nothing corresponding with my present understanding of these ideas entered my child mind. Everything interested me. I was not shocked, pained, grieved or troubled by what happened. Such things happened. People behaved like that—that was all that there was to it. It was all the life I knew. Things impressed themselves upon me because I had a receptive mind. Curiosity kept me alert and keen to know everything.
Full Ledger Entry
Reg. No. 48457-458 Age 10
Name Annie Sullivan
48458 James " 5, born Agawam
Hip Disease
From Agawam Feb. 22, 1876
Condition Weak Eyes
Examined March 29, 1876
[48458 (James) Died May 30, 1876]
Discharged..................
Removed.....................
By whom.....................
For Nos.....................
10, born July 1866, Agawam, and always lived there till sent here. Father Thomas Sullivan, born Ireland. No estate, can't tell if naturalized or paid taxes, or in service in [Civil] War. Now lives in Agawam, working as a farmer for Stephen O'Hearn. Mother Alice died about 2 years ago in Agawam. Sister Mary, 3 years old, with Aunt Mary Clarey in Agawam. Sore eyes, and James has hip complaint. Neither ever went to school.
