Biography Project
This activity gives you a chance to learn more about a famous North
Carolinian Look at the list of famous artists below, and then read the
descriptions about each of them. Which North Carolinian sounds the most
interesting to you?
After you pick an artist to study, you will need to do some research to
find out more information about your artist. Your research may include the use
of Web sites, books, encyclopedias, periodicals (magazines, newspapers,
journals, etc.), and other sources. At the bottom of this list, there is a selection
of resources to get you started!
Kids
Virginia Dare: The first child born of English parents in the New World. Dare was born August 18, 1587,
in the ill-fated "Lost Colony" of Roanoke.
Conrad Reed: This twelve year old boy discovered the first gold nugget in the United States in 1799 while fishing in a
Cabarrus County creek. Young Conrad's find would eventually spark the nation's first gold rush, but it took a while.
The 17 pound rock was used as a doorstop in the Reed family home for three years before being sold for approximately $3.50.
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Betsy Dowdy: This Currituck County girl rode her pony 50 miles in 1775 to warn General William
Skinner that British troops were planning to attack her colony.
Public Figures
 William Blount: This North Carolina native was one of three representatives of the
Tar Heel State to sign the United States Constitution as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
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Curtis Brown: An astronaut from Elizabethtown, North Carolina, Brown led the 1999
Space Shuttle Discovery mission that took the legendary John Glenn back into space.
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Levi Coffin: Born in New Garden, North Carolina to Quaker parents in 1798,
Underground Railroad.
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Adolph Dial: An outspoken advocate for Lumbee tribal heritage, Dial was a historian,
considered to be the definitive book on the Lumbee tribe.
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Elizabeth Dole: A native of Salisbury, Dole worked for six different presidents and
served as president of the American Red Cross before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002. She served in the U.S.
January 3, 2009.
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Charlie Duke: This native of Charlotte grew up to become an astronaut and one of only
12 people to ever walk on the surface of the moon!
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John Edwards: This Robbins native was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998 and served from
January 3, 1999, to January 3, 2005.
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Sam Ervin: This Morganton native became known nationwide as "Senator Sam."
He served in the U.S. Senate for 20 years, and was the chairman of the committee investigating the Watergate burglary.
his folksy charm and his strong moral character.
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John Hope Franklin: One of the world's most celebrated historians, Franklin was born
in Oklahoma, but made North Carolina his home for many years as a professor at Duke University.
Freedom," a book that helped reshape the way African American history is
understood, Franklin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995 and was appointed chairman
Initiative on Race in 1997.
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Henry Frye: This Greensboro attorney became the first African-American to serve
on the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1983. He served as Chief Justice of the
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Billy Graham: Perhaps the most famous evangelical preacher in the world,
been voted 39 times to a list of the most admired
man in the world. He has advised several presidents and has become famous for
his "crusades" across the globe.
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Jesse Helms: A former journalist from Monroe who became the first
North Carolina in modern times.
Known for his conservative viewpoints, Helms retired from the Senate after serving five terms.
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Andrew Jackson: Born in Western North Carolina, Jackson was the
United States. He was known for his staunch defense of the
parties, which anyone in the country could attend!
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Andrew Johnson: A Raleigh native and former tailor who rose to become
United States, Johnson assumed the presidency after Abraham Lincoln
became the first President ever to be impeached.
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Dolley Madison: One of America's most famous First Ladies, this Piedmont,
was the wife of President James Madison.
Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn
and also for saving George Washington's picture and many important state
White House when it was set on fire in 1814.
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Daniel McFadden: This Nobel Prize winning economist teaches at the University of California
but he grew up in North Carolina. At 16, McFadden dropped out of
Carolina. However, he went on to ace his college
entrance exams and enter the University of Minnesota, where he studied physics,
economics. He won the 2000 Nobel Prize in economics for his
microeconomics.
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John Merrick: Merrick founded North Carolina Mutual and Provident Insurance
1898. By 1948, it was the largest African American owned
country.
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James K. Polk: Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and
Jackson. Eventually, he rose to become one of Jackson's aides and then
his administration that California and
Oregon became part of the United States.
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Terry Sanford: This Laurinburg native had a distinguished political career,
Governor of North Carolina, a term as a U.S. Senator, and two
University as one of the top ten
governors of the century, and was known for doing what he felt was right, from standing
rights to opposing the Gulf War.
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Michael Smith: An astronaut from Beaufort, North Carolina, Smith perished on
when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after launching
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Richard Dobbs Spaight: A delegate to the convention that framed the United States
Carolina native strongly advocated the state’s adoption of the federal
constitution. In 1792, he was elected governor of North Carolina.
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Hugh Williamson: This Pennsylvania born physician settled in North Carolina and later
signed the federal constitution of the United States after being appointed
delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Writers
 Maya Angelou: Born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis and raised in rural Arkansas, Angelou
Carolina since the early 1980s, when she accepted a position as a
has had a distinguished career as a novelist
Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
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Clyde Edgerton: Edgerton, a native of Bethesda, North Carolina, has achieved national
recognition for his novels, among them his first work, "Raney."
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Kaye Gibbons: A native of North Carolina's Nash County, Gibbons has won critical
acclaim for novels such as "Ellen Foster" and "A Cure for Dreams."
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William Sydney Porter: This famed short story writer is better known by his pen
Born in Polecat Creek in 1862 and raised in Greensboro, Porter was
for his surprise endings, such as that in the story "Gift of the Magi."
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Thomas Wolfe: Born in Asheville, Wolfe was a noted novelist and author
books such as "Look Homeward, Angel" and "You Can't Go Home Again."
Journalists
 David Brinkley: A TV news reporter and commentator from Wilmington, Brinkley
co-hosting the "Huntley-Brinkley Report" from 1956 to 1970
"This Week with David Brinkley."
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Howard Cosell: Cosell was a famous sports commentator from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
for freely expressing his opinions on nearly every topic in sports, and
the original hosts of the television program "Monday Night Football."
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Charles Kuralt: An Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist from Wilmington,
of his career with CBS news, most notably as the host of
Morning."
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Edward R. Murrow: A five-time Emmy winning journalist from Polecat Creek,
Murrow is a member of the Television Hall of Fame. He earned
at CBS news for his TV and radio reporting.
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Sam Ragan: Born in Granville County, Ragan has been called North Carolina's "literary godfather."
man who gave newsman David Brinkley his start, hiring him as a cub
Wilmington Star. He was honored as North Carolina's Poet Laureate in 1982.
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Charlie Rose:An Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist and interviewer,
Henderson, North Carolina. His interview show, "Charlie Rose,"
become a staple of PBS programming.
Entertainers/Artists
Individuals
 Clay Aiken: This Raleigh native became a national singing sensation as he competed for top
show "American Idol" in 2003. Aiken came in runner up in the
his single "This is the Night" went platinum.
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Fantasia Barrino: This High Point native came to fame when she won top honors on
“American Idol” in 2004. After being crowned the American Idol,
Billboard Awards and her album “Free Yourself”
went platinum in 2005.
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John Coltrane: Born in Hamlet, North Carolina, Coltrane is considered to be one of the
greatest and most innovative jazz musicians of all time.
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Cecil B. DeMille: DeMille, from Washington, North Carolina, was a famous actor and
He is best known for his work on movies such as
Commandments" and "The Greatest Show on Earth."
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Roberta Flack: This Grammy-winning singer from Black Mountain,
North Carolina, is best known for titles such as "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and
"Set the Night to Music."
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Ava Gardner: This famous actress from Smithfield, North Carolina, received both Oscar and Golden
Globe nominations for her many film roles. Some of her more noted films include "Show Boat," "On the Beach,"
and "The Sun Also Rises."
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Andy Griffith: The actor from Mount Airy, North Carolina is famous for his work on the long running
television programs "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Matlock."
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Thelonious Monk: Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Monk was a legendary jazz pianist known for
his innovative techniques. He was among a select group of musicians responsible for the birth of a new
form of jazz known as "bebop."
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Earl Scruggs: Born and raised in North Carolina's Cleveland County, Earl Scruggs was just
four years old when he picked up his first banjo. Together with guitarist Lester Flatt and the
"Foggy Mountain Boys," he helped introduce bluegrass music to popular culture in the 1960s
through the theme music to the television show "The Beverly Hillbillies" and the film "Bonnie and Clyde."
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Arthur Smith: Known to country music fans for many years, Smith created and produced
"The Arthur Smith Show." The show ran for 32 years, giving many up and coming musicians their first
exposure to a national audience. A musician in his own right, Smith composed and recorded
"Guitar Boogie," the all time best selling country music instrumental song.
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James Taylor: Born in Boston and raised in Chapel Hill, Taylor was arguably the most famous
singer/songwriter of the 1970s. Known for the introspective lyrics of songs like "Carolina in My Mind,"
"Fire and Rain" and "Sweet Baby James," Taylor is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the
Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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Bob Timberlake: Timberlake is a Lexington, North Carolina artist who is renowned for his intricate
paintings and attention to detail.
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Doc Watson: Born in Deep Gap, North Carolina, this musician gained prominence during the folk music
revival of the 1960s. Blind since infancy, Watson's unique blend of traditional Appalachian, country,
blues, gospel and bluegrass music has earned him five Grammy Awards.
Athletes
 Dale Earnhardt, Sr.: A native of Kannapolis, North Carolina, Earnhardt became one of the most popular race
car drivers in NASCAR history. Known to fans as "The Intimidator" for his aggressive style, Earnhardt
won seven Winston Cup Championships. He was killed in a crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500 race on
February 18, 2001.
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Jim "Catfish" Hunter: This Perquimans County native gained national fame as a pitcher for the Kansas
City Athletics and the New York Yankees. His impressive list of wins earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall
of Fame, as well as the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
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Michael Jordan: Although he was born in Brooklyn, the man regarded by many as the greatest basketball
player of all time moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, at a very early age, and spent his childhood there.
He attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where his team won an NCAA tournament, and then was a part of two Olympic
gold medal teams and 6 NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls.
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Charlie "Choo-Choo" Justice: An Asheville native who became a star football player for the UNC Tar
Heels in the late 1940s and then the Washington Redskins in the 1950s.
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Meadowlark Lemon: A native of Wilmington, North Carolina, Lemon played with the Harlem Globetrotters for
24 years. Affectionately known to many as the "Clown Prince of Basketball," Lemon was as famous for his
comedic skill on the basketball court as he was for his athletic talent. He later became an ordained minister and
now serves as a preacher in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he divides his time between his work with youth and with
his own basketball team, the Harlem All-Stars.
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Sugar Ray Leonard: This world famous boxer, born in Wilmington, won an Olympic gold medal and 5 world titles.
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Gaylord Perry: This Williamston native and Baseball Hall of Famer pitched 3,534 strikeouts during his career,
playing for teams like the San Francisco Giants, the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves. Perry
won the prestigious Cy Young Award in 1972 and 1978.

Richard Petty: This Randleman, North Carolina native gained fame as a NASCAR racing driver. Petty won
7 championships and holds the record for most consecutive race wins: 10.
Famous North Carolinian Biography Project
File Folder Report Directions
Your Name ______________________________________________________________
Famous Person _________________________________________________________
Project Begins: November 14, 2011 Written Report Due: November 30, 2011 Speeches
Begin: December 2, 2011
File Folder Report:
• Front Cover: Attach the drawing of your famous person
• Inside Left Cover: Attach your Inspiration timeline & “Important Poem”
• Inside Right: Staple all pages of the written report with bibliography at the end
• Back Cover: Glue any photos or quotes
• File Folder Tab: Write the famous person’s name and your name
Background Information on the Person
You will need to read and locate information from three sources:
1. Biography novel (can be checked out from the school’s library or the public library)
2. Encyclopedia
3. Internet source
Famous Person Drawing
Draw a picture in color of your famous person on the paper provided. Decorate the
background of the drawing of your person if you wish. Label your person’s full name in
large neat lettering and dates of birth and death. Write your first and last name and date in
small lettering the lower right corner of the paper.
Biography Project Directions
File Folder Report page 2
Written Report
Use Microsoft Word or write your final copy in your best printing about your famous
person. Include information in a logical order to include:
• Where was this person born? In what year?
• Where did this person grow up?
• What does/did this person do for a living?
• Why is this person famous? What did/does this person do to become famous?
• How has this person made an impact on others' lives?
• Quotes and interesting information about the person
• Fill out the bibliography information sheet showing the three sources used and attach it
as the last page of your report
Important Book Poem
Margaret Wise Brown was the author of a book entitled The Important Book.
Use this as a model and write a poem entitled “The Important Thing” using your
famous person as the subject of the poem.
Example:
The important thing about________ is that he __________________. (What he is famous
for)
He _____________________ . (list one thing he did)
He _____________________ . (list another thing he did)
He _____________________. (list a third thing he did)
But the important thing about is that he was ____________ . (What he is famous for)
Here is an example poem:
The important thing about Sir Francis Drake is that he was an English explorer.
He was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world. He followed secret orders from Queen
Elizabeth as a pirate who attacked Spanish ships and towns. He later became Vice-Admiral of the
English navy as commanded by the queen. But, the most important thing about Sir Francis Drake
is that he defeated the Spanish Armada and kept England safe.
Public Speaking Monologue
This activity will give you an opportunity to meet your benchmark goal 4.03 (Make oral and
written presentations using visual aids with an awareness of purpose and audience.) You will dress up (as
much as you can) as your person and pretend you are the person. You will tell all about
your contributions, and about your life. You will need to rehearse at home. Speeches will
begin in October. You will sign up for a time to give your presentation.
Remember you will be scored for:
•C
•O
•L
•D
Content - important details included
Organization - a clear beginning, middle, and end
Language - appropriate and interesting words and language
Delivery – good eye contact, volume and body posture
Student Name _______________________________
Project Begins: November 14, 2011
Written Report Due: November 30, 2011
Speeches Begin: December 2, 2011
Biography Notes ~ Famous Person__________________________________________
Date of Birth Place of Birth ________________________________________________
Date of Death Place of Death ______________________________________________
Family__________________________________________________________________
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Childhood Information
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What did this person do for a living?
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Biography Notes page 2
Major Accomplishments - Why the person is famous
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How has this person made an impact on others' lives?
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Biography Notes page 3
Interesting Information & Other Facts
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Famous Quotes by this Person
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Student Name _______________________________
Bibliography of Sources Used_____________________________________________
BOOK: _________________________________________________________________
Book Title: ______________________________________________________________
Author__________________________________________________________________
Name of Publisher ________________________________________________________
Place Published __________________________________________________________
Date Published _________________________________________________________
ENCYCLOPEDIA BOOK: _____________________________________________
Print Encyclopedia Title ___________________________________________________
Volume Letter Volume Number Date ________________________________________
Name of Publisher ___________________________________________________
Place Published ___________________________________________________
Date Published ___________________________________________________
Article title ___________________________________________________
Pages used ___________________________________________________
ON-LINE ENCYCLOPEDIA: ____________________________________________
On-line Encyclopedia Title _________________________________________________
Internet Address ___________________________________________________
Date you used this site ___________________________________________________
INTERNET WEB SITE: ___________________________________________________
Internet Web Site Title ___________________________________________________
Internet Address ___________________________________________________
Date you used this site ___________________________________________________
INTERNET WEB SITE: ___________________________________________________
Internet Web Site Title ___________________________________________________
Internet Address ___________________________________________________
Date you used this site ___________________________________________________
Important Poem
The important thing about_____________________ is that he/she
____________________________________________________.
(what he/she is famous for)
He/she _____________________________________________ .
____________________________________________________.
(list one thing he/she did)
He/she _____________________________________________ .
____________________________________________________.
(list another thing he/she did)
He/she _____________________________________________ .
____________________________________________________.
(list a third thing he/she did)
But the important thing about _______________________ is that
he/she ______________________________________________
____________________________________________________.
(what he/she is famous for)
Helpful websites
 http://ncpedia.org/biography
 http://&www.classbrain.com/artst
ate/publish/article_541.shtml
 http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/
kidspg/famous.htm
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_
of_people_from_North_Carolina
 http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A
0108254.html
