Russell Freedman

Though different, Abraham Lincoln and formerly enslaved Frederick Douglass shared a great deal in common. Both came from poverty, achieved prominence; they developed camaraderie and a shared vision that changed a nation, all presented in this clear and accessible volume.

The East Coast had Ellis Island, comparable to the West Coast’s Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. There immigrants, primarily Chinese, entered the U.S. from about 1910 to 1940 where they stayed sometimes for long periods. Primary sources, both text and image, combine for a poignant portrait of the people and the period.

Fifty years ago well-known civil rights leaders came together with other lesser known but key individuals in Selma, Alabama. Events leading to breaking down the barriers to voting rights for African Americans are detailed through strong images and moving, well-documented narrative.

From a shy child, Eleanor grew up to be an activist and a quietly powerful First Lady. Her life is chronicled in an understandable, well documented narrative complemented by an array of photographs. This is a solid companion to Freedman’s biography of Eleanor’s husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (opens in a new window).

Powerful portraits of six Indian leaders of western tribes are presented in a handsome volume. Photographic portraits and other visuals from the period enhance the well-documented, highly readable biographies of well and lesser known chiefs.

Abraham Lincoln comes to life as a leader, a husband and a father in this enthralling account of his life and the times in which he lived. Lincoln’s writing and other primary sources are seamlessly incorporated along with telling photographs.

Martha Graham was tenacious; she was a dancer with a vision who left her mark on the modern American dance. Her life and art combine in this highly readable biography revealed through photographs and narrative which incorporates interviews with those who knew her.

From the controversial, unpopular taxes on tea through the defiant act of dumping hundreds of chests of British cargo into the harbor, this exciting retelling puts readers in the middle of this historic event. Detailed watercolor illustrations bring this story of early American protest to life, depicting the colonial era and the charged atmosphere of Boston in the weeks leading up to the Boston Tea Party.  Informational backmatter includes a bibliography, index, and historic map of Boston.

A Newbery Honor book that accounts the life and musical career of the great African American vocalist, Marion Anderson, in the context of the history of civil rights in the United States.

The First World War comes into gritty focus through battles fought and the world changes it brought about. Photographs and other primary source material make this a riveting, sophisticated look at an impactful period in world history.