American Red Cross was created by Clara Barton and associates in Washington, DC, in 1881. Today over one million volunteers help in activities ranging from collecting donated blood to providing disaster relief. Children can learn more at: Red Cross. Children could read Clara Barton’s A Story of the Red Cross at: Project Gutenberg.
Clara Barton 1865
Clara Barton (born Oxford, Massachusetts, 1821; died Glen Echo, Maryland, April 12, 1912) was the founder of the American Red Cross. During the Civil War, she began helping the wounded. She also started a system to find missing soldiers. After the war, she traveled to Europe. She observed the International Red Cross in action. She returned to the United States and in 1881 founded what was later known as the American Red Cross. She worked as its president until 1904. Children can visit the AMAZING National Park Service site of her home, featuring virtual tours and handouts, at: Clara Barton.
Cab Calloway (born Rochester, New York, 1907; died Hosckessin, Delaware, November 18, 1994) was a jazz singer and bandleader. One of his most famous songs is “Minnie the Moocher.” Children can view him performing “Hi-De-Ho” on Sesame Street at: Cab Calloway.
Eth Clifford (born New York, New York, 1915; died Pikesville, Maryland, April 1, 2003) wrote over 80 books for children. Her books include Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library and the Flatfoot Fox mystery series. Children could learn more at: Eth Clifford.
Isaac Newton (born Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, 1642; died London, England, March 20, 1727) was a mathematician, scientist and writer. He is remembered for three major contributions. He developed calculus, a branch of mathematics. He discovered relationships of light and color. He delineated theories of motion and gravity. All three of the accomplishments were made in an eighteen-month period. Children could eat Fig Newtons and carry out experiments with prisms. They could also read Isaac Newton and Physics: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities by Kerrie Logan Hollihan.
Dora Pantell (born New York, New York, 1915; died March 15, 1996) was a writer and a social worker. She continued writing the Miss Pickerell series after Ellen MacGregor, the creator, died.
Robert Ripley (born Santa Rosa, California, 1893; died New York, New York, May 27, 1949) was the creator of the Believe It or Not cartoons, books and museums. The first Believe It or Not cartoon appeared in New York City’s Globe December 19, 1918. Experts believe the peak readership for his work was about 80 million people. Children could create their own “Believe It or Nots.”
Pam Muñoz Ryan (born Bakersfield, California, 1951) writes children’s books. Her Esperanza Rising received both the 2002 Pura Belpré Award and the 2002 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. The Dreamer earned the 2011 Pura Belpré Award. When Marian Sang was a 2003 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book. She received a 2016 Newbery Honor Award for Echo. Children can visit her website, which includes free readers’ theater scripts, at: Pam Munoz Ryan.