Aimee VanMiddlesworth
Annotated Bibliography
Topic: Top 10 Inventions of the 19th Century
Introduction:
Young children are always interested in the past and inventions. They marvel at the way “things” looked
long ago. Top 10 Inventions of the 19th Century (1788-1879) is an annotated bibliography of 26
resources for teachers of students in the first grade that will help them understand what these
inventions looked like and their purpose. The resources in this bibliography range from secondary
sources, such as children’s books and teacher resource books to primary sources that include websites
and photographs. Also included are two field trip sites where students would be able to see 19th
inventions first hand. This bibliography of resources will help young children understand some of the
top inventions that were made long ago that still benefit us today. Students will be able to see visual
representations of each of the ten inventions. These visualizations, along with the trade books and
websites will help students gain an understanding of the human condition of the 19th century by
showing students what everyday life was like for Americans. Students will get an idea how the top ten
inventions made way for the improvement of life back then and now.
Children’s Books (Secondary Sources)
Cefrey, Holly. The Inventions ofEli Whitney: The Cotton Gin. Rigby, 2002.
The Inventions of Eli Whitney: The Cotton Gin is a children’s book for readers ages 4-8 by author
Holly Cefrey. In this book, first graders will learn how Eli Whitney's mechanical aptitude
changed farming in America through the invention of the cotton gin. It is an easy to read book
with interesting facts.
—. The Inventions of Alexander Graham Bell: The Telephone. PowerKids Press, 2003.
The Inventions of Alexander Graham Bell: The Telephone is a children’s book for readers ages 48 by author Holly Cefrey. In this book, first graders will learn about Alexander Graham Bell’s
life, from his early years as a teacher of the deaf to the invention of the telephone. The book
includes photographs of Bell and his inventions. It is an easy to read book with interesting facts.
—. The Inventions of Granville Woods: The Railroad Telegraph System and the "Third Rail". PowerKids
Press, 2003.
The Inventions of Granville Woods: The Railroad Telegraph System and the “Third Rail” is a
children’s book for readers ages 4-8 by author Holly Cefrey. In this book, first graders will learn
through patent drawings and period photographs how this important African-American inventor
made train travel faster and safer. It is an easy to read book with interesting facts.
—. The Inventions of Thomas Alva Edison: Father of the Light Bulb and Motion Picture Camera.
PowerKids Press, 2003.
The Inventions of Thomas Alva Edison: Father of the Light Bulb and Motion Picture Camera is a
children’s book for readers ages 4-8 by author Holly Cefrey. In this book, first graders will learn
about Thomas Alva Edison’s life and his many inventions, including the telephone and motion
picture camera. It is an easy to read book with interesting facts.
Kulling, Monica. Alll Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine. Tundra, 2010.
All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine is a children’s book for readers ages 4-8 by author
Monica Kulling. In this book, first graders will learn how Elijah McCoy escaped slavery and grew
up to study mechanical engineering. The book is full of watercolors that help students imagine
what life was like in this era.
—. Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race. Random House, 2004.
Eat My Dust! Henry Ford’s First Race is a children’s book for readers ages 4-8 by author Monica
Kulling. In this book, first graders will learn how Henry Ford wants to build a car that everyone
can own but first he needs the money. He enters and wins a race that awards him enough
money to start his famous company.
—. It's a Snap! George Eastman's First Photo. Tundra, 2009.
It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photo is a children’s book for readers ages 4-8 by author
Monica Kulling. In this book, first graders will learn how George Eastman was determined to
make photography easier and more affordable for everyone. He proceeded to invent the dry
plate, the first roll of film and the Kodak camera.
O'Brien, Patrick. Steam, Smoke, and Steel: Back in Time With Trains. Charlesbridge, 2000.
Steam, Smoke, and Steel: Back in Time with Trains is a children’s book for readers ages 4-8 by
author Patrick O’Brien. In this book, first graders will learn facts and antidotes about trains and
the people who make them run through the fictional account of a young boy’s description of his
father’s, grandfather’s and his great-great-great-great-great grandfather’s job as a locomotive
engineer.
Thompson, Gare. The Monitor: The Iron Warship That Changed the World. Grosset & Dunlap, 2003.
The Monitor: The Iron Warship that changed the world is a children’s book for readers ages 4-8
by author Gare Thompson. In this book, first graders will learn about the Monitor's
revolutionary design, exciting battle, and intriguing excavation. This book tells a double story.
The first part is about the building of the ship during the Civil War. The second part describes
efforts to find and raise the Monitor from the ocean floor.
Teacher Reference Books (Secondary Sources)
Dulken, Stephen. Inventing the 19th Century: 100 Inventions that Shaped the Victorian Age, From Aspirin
to Zeppelin. NYU Press, 2006.
Inventing the 19th Century: 100 Inventions that Shaped the Victorian Age, From Aspirin to
Zeppelin by Stephen Dulken is a teacher resource book. The book chronicles the history of the
one hundred most important, innovative, and memorable inventions of the 19th century. It has
original patent drawings from The British Library’s collection.
King, David. The Age of Technology: 19th Century American Inventors. History Compass, 1970.
The Age of Technology: 19th Century American Inventors by David King is a teacher resource
book. The book highlights many of the inventors of the 19th century and includes excerpts from
primary source documents relating to their inventions, including Colt, Bell, Edison, Fulton and
Ford.
Windelspecht, Michael. Groundbreaking Scientific Expiriments, Inventions and Discoveries of the 19th
Century. Greenwood, 2003.
Groundbreaking Scientific Experiments, Inventions and Discoveries of the 19th Century by
Michael Windelspecht is a teacher resource book. In this book, Windelspecht investigates the
19th century's discoveries, inventions, and inquiries in more than 60 alphabetical entries. It is an
easy-to-use reference for anyone interested in the scientific revolutions of the 19th century.
Websites (Primary and Secondary Sources)
Danelek, Jeff. Top Ten Greatest Inventions of the 19th Century. August 9, 2010.
http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-greatest-inventions-of-th-19th-century.php (accessed March 16, 2011).
The website www.toptenz.net provides the user with top ten lists for many different topics.
This website lists the top ten inventions for this bibliography. It is a resource for the teacher
because it provides information for each of the inventions. It can also be used as a primary
resource to show students additional pictures and photographs of the inventions.
Enchanted Learning. http://enchantedlearning.com/inventors.shtml (accessed March 16, 2011).
This web address takes you to an alphabetized list of topics on the Enchanted Learning website.
Click on Inventors and Inventions under the letter I. Students can then go to inventions made
during the following two categories 1801-1850 and 1851-1900. The student can choose from
numerous inventors and inventions from the 19th century. There are drawings and/or
photographs for each inventor and/or invention. They will also find a link to more information
for many of the inventors and inventions.
Photographs (Primary Sources)
"A Rendition of the First Kodak Camera Developed by George Eastman [Photograph]."
www.allposters.com.
This is a rendition drawing of the parts of the first Kodak camera that was developed by George
Eastman. The drawing shows multiple views of the parts of the camera. Each part is numbered
with a brief description underneath the drawing. It was done in black and white. The drawing
was made in the 1800’s.
"Civil War Field Telegraph Sending-Key in Working Order, Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee
[Photograph]." www.allposters.com.
This is a color photograph of a Civil War field telegraph. It is a close-up photograph and the
dimensions of the telegraph can be seen compared to the hand in the photo. This is a modern
day photograph that shows the telegraph, which is located at Shiloh National Military Park in
Tennessee.
"Close-Up of Patent Model of Cotton Gin Invented by Eli Whitney in 1794 [Photograph]."
www.allposters.com.
This is a close-up black and white photograph of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin, which was patented in
1794. The dimensions of the cotton gin can be seen compared to the hand on the crank in the
photo. The top view photograph shows the interior parts of the cotton gin.
"Colt's New Army Model .44 Caliber Six-Shot Percussion Revolver, 1860 [Photograph]."
www.allposters.com.
This photograph shows a Colt New Army revolver. The .44 caliber six-shot revolver was from
1860. It is a color photograph taken on a red back ground. This is a clear photograph that
shows the wooden hand grip, the hammer, the barrel and the trigger of the revolver.
"Deck of the "Monitor" in the James River, 1861-1865 [Photograph]." www.allposters.com.
This is a black and white photograph of an ironclad ship called the Monitor. It was taken on the
James River during the early 1860’s. The photograph shows the crew of the Monitor on the
deck of the ship. This is a posed photograph with the men standing side by side with crossed
arms.
"Early Light Bulbs: Left- First Commerical Light Bulb, Right- Electric Filament Lamp, 1879 [Photograph]."
www.allposters.com.
This is a photograph of two early light bulbs from 1879. The light bulb on the left is a
commercial light bulb and the smaller of the two light bulbs. The light bulb on the right is an
electric filament lamp on wooden base. It is a color photograph.
"Internal Combustion Engine, 1876 [Photograph]." www.allposters.com.
This photograph shows an internal combustion engine from 1876. It is a color photograph that
appears to be black and white due to the color of the internal combustion engine. This is a clear
photograph that shows the different parts of the engine.
"James Watt's Improved Steam Engine of 1788 [Photograph]." www.allposters.com.
This is an actual photograph of James Watt’s improved steam engine. It is a black and white
photo. The dimensions of the steam engine can be seen in proportion to the door in the right
side of the photo. In the photograph parts of the steam engine can clearly be seen.
"Prototype Telephone Design, 1873 [Photograph]." www.allposters.com.
This is a color photograph of Alexander Graham Bell’s prototype telephone design from 1873. It
shows Bell’s primitive sound transmitter and receiver. The photograph is modern day and
clearly shows the parts of the telephone. It is the front side view of the telephone.
"Railroad Construction Crew, 1886 [Photograph]." www.allposters.com.
This is a photograph of a railroad construction crew taken in 1886. It is a black and white photo
of the locomotive sitting on wooden railroad tracks. The photo shows ten railroad crew
members posing in front of the train, some standing on the tracks while others are standing or
sitting on the train.
Field Trips
"Gaar Mansion and Farm Museum [Field Trip]." Richmond, IN.
The Gaar Mansion is located in Richmond, IN. The mansion was the home of Abram and Agnes
Gaar. It has been turned into a home and farm museum. This field trip will show students the GaarScott steam engine which was manufactured in Richmond, IN from 1842-1911. Students will also get
the opportunity to see several other inventions while visiting the museum; the lighting in the house and
well as an early telephone.
"Wayne County Historical Museum [Field Trip]." Richmond, IN.
The Wayne County Historical Museum is located in Richmond, IN. The museum houses many
artifacts from Wayne County, including several inventions from the 19th century. The inventions that
students will be able to see include steam engines, internal combustion engines and rifles. Students will
get an idea of what life was like during the 19th century by visiting the Main Street exhibits in the
basement of the museum.
Conclusion:
Creating an annotated bibliography on the top ten inventions of the 19th century helped me understand
all the hard work our forefathers did to make our country prosper long ago and how it plays a role in
what the United States is today. The 19th century was a time of rapid industrial growth and population.
It was also a turbulent time in our country for war and economics. Through the various inventions
during this time period, life was made easier towards the end of the century. Almost every aspect of
daily life was influenced in some ways by these top ten inventions.