Eli Whitney
Cotton gin was patented by Eli Whitney in 1794. It changed the way cotton was raised and processed in the southeastern United States. Prior to the gin, slaves had to hand separate the cotton fibers from cotton seeds and debris. The cotton gin processed the separation ten times faster. More cotton could therefore be planted, and unfortunately more slaves were needed. Children could glean many more details at: Cotton Gin Patent.
Frank Borman (born Gary, Indiana, 1928; died Billings, Montana, November 7, 2023) was an astronaut. He was the Command Pilot of Gemini 7. He and his crew set an endurance record in 1962 by spending fourteen days in space. He was Commander of Apollo 8, the first vehicle to circle the moon. Children could learn more at: Frank Borman.
Eugene Cernan (born Chicago, Illinois, 1934; died Houston, Texas, January 16, 2017) was a test pilot and astronaut. He participated in Gemini 9A and Apollo 10. He was commander of Apollo 17. He was the eleventh man on the moon and the last person to walk on the moon. Children can learn more at: Eugene Cernan.
Marguerite de Angeli (born Lampeer, Michigan, 1889; died Detroit, Michigan, June 16, 1987) was a children’s author. She received a 1945 Newbery Honor Award for Yonie Wondernose. Her book The Door in the Wall received the 1950 Newbery Medal. De Angeli received a 1956 Newbery Honor Award for The Black Fox of Lome. Children could visit a website at: Marguerite de Angeli.
Albert Einstein (born Ulm, Germany, 1879; died Princeton, New Jersey, April 18, 1955) revolutionized theories about the universe. Children could read Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities and Thought Experiments by Jerome Pohlen.
Lucy B. Hobbs (born Constable, New York, 1833; died Lawrence, Kansas, October 3, 1910) became the first woman dentist when she graduated from the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 21, 1866. She practiced dentistry for over 20 years. She then turned her attention to politics and women’s rights.
Casey Jones (born John Luther Jones near Cayce, Kentucky, 1864; died April 30, 1900 in a train wreck near Vaughn, Mississippi) is the subject of “the Ballad of Casey Jones.” Children can read the text of the ballad at: Casey Jones.
Hank Ketcham (born Seattle, Washington, 1920; died Pebble Beach, California, June 1, 2001) created Dennis the Menace. Dennis was created in the early 1950’s. Ketcham retired in 1995, and other people draw Dennis today. Children can learn more at: Hank Ketcham.
Ides of March occurred when Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. Idea: Children could locate more facts about Caesar’s death and discuss the saying “Beware the Ides of March.”
Maine State Flag
Maine became the twenty-third state of the United States in 1820. Vikings explored the area around AD 1000. Originally Maine was a part of the Massachusetts colony. Augusta is the state capital, and the state nickname is the Pine Tree State. People who live in Maine are called Down-Easters. Today fishing, lumbering, and growing potatoes are strong sources of income. It is home to Acadia National Park. The moose is the state mammal. Maine is the twelfth smallest state, and it ranks as the ninth least populous state. Idea: Children could find out why and when Maine separated from Massachusetts.
Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869 became the first professional baseball team in the United States. Today Major League Baseball counts 30 teams, 29 in the United States and one in Canada. Children could enjoy reading The Everything KIDS’ Baseball Book by Greg Jacobs.
Escalator was patented in 1892 by Jesse Reno of New York City. He used his escalator as a ride at Coney Island. Later, by about 1910, the escalator was developed as a mode of moving people. Children could view his patent at: Escalator.
Blood bank was created in 1937. Dr. Bernard Fantus, of Chicago’s Cook County Hospital, coined the term blood bank and then established the bank. A blood bank is a location where blood is drawn, stored, and preserved for future use in blood transfusions. Children can learn more at an excellent website: Blood Bank.
President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson spoke before a formal presidential press conference in 1913. The press conference was the first of its kind. Children can see some very interesting data regarding presidents and the number of press conferences held at: Presidential Press Conference.
Barbara Cohen (Asbury Park, New Jersey, 1932; died November 29, 1992) wrote books for children. Her most famous book is Molly’s Pilgrim. She received the 1980 Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award. Children could learn more at: Barbara Cohen.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (born Brooklyn, New York, 1933; died Washington, DC, September 18, 2020) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She was the second woman to hold the office. She took the oath of office August 13, 1993 and remained on the bench until she died. Children could read No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Nancy Zhang. Older children could learn more at: Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson (born Waxhaw, South Carolina, 1767; died Nashville, Tennessee, June 8, 1845) was the seventh president (1829-1837) of the United States. He was nicknamed “Old Hickory” after his leadership in the War of 1812, especially in the Battle of New Orleans. He was the first president to be born in a log cabin, the first to travel by train, and the first to survive an assassination attempt. While he was not a polished man, he did care about the country’s economy and was able to pay off the entire federal debt. Children could visit a website at: Andrew Jackson.
Ruth White (born Whitewood, Virginia, 1942; died Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, June 8, 2017) wrote at least twelve books for children. Her books include Little Audrey and Sweet Creek Holler. She received a 1997 Newbery Honor Award for Belle Prater’s Boy.
Tomorrow is Saint Patrick’s Day! Are your shamrocks ready? Do you have at least some green in tomorrow’s clothes? Children could read a great book, The Night Before Saint Patrick’s Day, written by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Amy Wummer.