Famous Americans

Primarily targeting school children in grades 4 through 8, the 13 - 4 column by 10 inch - installments can be published in-print or online, as a series or as a special section. Use all or just a few. The people we are profiling offer our students a look at native sons and daughters who contributed to our nation and the world. Each 500 word profile is accompanied with a photograph/artwork of the person and a locator map.

The series comes with a complete set of graphic organizers/teachers’ guide and, MP3 audio pod casts of each feature!

The list of those profiled in alphabetical order include:

• Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) African American educator, stateswomen, philanthropist & civil rights activist; b. South Carolina

• Louis Brandeis (1856-1941) Supreme Court Justice; b. Kentucky

• Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain (1835-1910) Writer, humorist, publisher and lecturer; b. Missouri

• Roberto Clemente (1934-1972) Humanitarian, and first Latin American to elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame; b Puerto Rico

• William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody (1846-1917) Scout, bison hunter, showman; b. Iowa

• W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) One of the founding members of the NAACP, civil rights activist, author and editor; b. Massachusetts

• John Deere (1804-1886) Blacksmith, manufacturer and inventor who founded Deere & Company; b. Vermont

• Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001) Professional NASCAR auto racing driver and team owner; b. North Carolina

• Fred T. Korematsu (1919-2005) Resisted U.S. military orders that imprisoned Japanese Americans during World War II; b. California

• Chester W. Nimitz (1885-1966) Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas—air, land and sea forces during WWII; b. Texas

• Janet Reno (1938-2016) First female to serve as U.S. Attorney General; b. Florida

• Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) Diplomat, activist and first lady; b. New York

• Jim Thorpe (1887-1953) Native American multiple sport athlete and Olympian; b. Oklahoma

Click here to access the Famous Americans Teachers' Guide and Student Graphic Organizers. Teachers wishing to purchase the profiles please contact Mary Miller at mmiller@nynpa.com.

Click here to access a SoundCloud site with audio podcasts of each of the above profiles.

Anyone wishing to combine this series with the Black History Month and Women’s History Month mini series can earn a discounted price for all three! The Black History Month profiles include—Elizabeth Jennings Graham, Jerome “Brud” Holland, Marie Maynard Daly & Richie Havens. The Women’s History Month profiles include—Emily Warren Roebling, Mary Edwards Walker, Agnes de Mille and Lucille Clifton.

The cost is only $104 for NYNPA members to get the complete series, graphic organizers/teaching guide and set of 13 audio pod casts of each profile. Prices for non-members vary by circulation size for individual newspapers, or number of participating newspapers for all other organizations. Questions or to order simply email Mary Miller or call 518-449-1667 ext. 701 between 7 am and 3 pm Monday through Friday, Eastern time.

The posted samples below will give you some idea what these materials have to offer.

John Clum Feature (downloadable PDF file)

John Clum Audio Pod Cast (MP3 file)

If you have any questions about this project or for more information about other News Media Literacy or Newspaper In Education programs contact Mary Miller via email or call 518-449-1667.

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