3rd Grade Biographies
Wallace Amos (1936- ) Wallace (Wally) Amos is known
for his development and marketing of a brand of
chocolate-chip cookies under the name “Famous Amos.”
In a world of mass-produced food products, Amos hit
upon a food liked by most people, the American homestyle chocolate-chip cookie. Two years after opening his
first store in Los Angeles, Amos was the head of a large
corporation, or company, selling cookies as well as other
“Famous Amos” products, worldwide.
Mary Kay Ash (1915-2001) Mary Kay Ash used directsales marketing and women as sales people to create a
multi-million dollar business. Born in Texas, Mary Kay
Wagner Ash founded Mary Kay Cosmetics in 1963. She
learned about direct sales of home products from being a
manager in Houston and by serving as a national training
director in Dallas. She motivated her sales staff of
"beauty consultants" by paying the highest commissions
in the direct-sales industry and rewarding those who
recruited new "consultants. Her cosmetic company
manufactured all of its products and sold them directly to
the sales people.
Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) Benjamin Banneker
was born as a free African-American and became a
scientist, mathematician, and astronomer. He worked on
the survey crew which laid out the District of Columbia.
He sent a letter to Thomas Jefferson pleading with him to
make an effort to end slavery and ensure that all men
were entitled to the "inalienable rights" outlined in the
Declaration of Independence. He published an almanac
which was published in Philadelphia.
Clara Barton (1821-1912) Clara Barton taught school for
several years and then became the first woman to work in
the federal government. She worked in the Patent Office.
During the Civil War, she realized the troops did not have
adequate health care. While her friend, Dorothea Dix,
worked on organizing nurses, Barton worked on
organizing donations and collecting and distributing
supplies to the doctors and nurses. In 1865, with
President Abraham Lincoln's support, she opened an
agency to search for missing soldiers and marked the
graves of those who died during the war. After the war,
she visited Europe and learned about the International
Red Cross. She supported its cause. When she returned
to America, she asked Congress to start an American
Red Cross and for the government to give support. This
was granted in 1882.
Todd Beamer (1968-2001) Todd Beamer was a
passenger on Flight 93. The plane crashed on September
11, 2001, because of the attacks by terrorists, people
who try to harm a country and its people. He was on the
phone when he learned that the World Trade Center had
been attacked using hijacked airplanes. Beamer reported
by phone the actual events of what was happening on the
plane. He told the operator that he and other passengers
were planning to "jump on" the hijackers. Many people
believed that the passengers crashed the airplane to
save the lives of others on the ground. Others believed
that the passengers fought with the terrorists over the
controls for the plane. He is considered a hero because
of his courageous efforts.
Daniel Boone (1734-1820) Daniel Boone opened the
Kentucky frontier to settlement from the east by surveying
land, opening the Wilderness Road, fighting Indians, and
building settlements. Wherever Boone went, a settlement
was started. He spent his life exploring the frontier. His
real life accomplishments made him popular during his
lifetime. His adventures were symbols of the changes in
America from an independent, rugged frontier to a
modern nation. Boone is a real figure of national
significance, but he is also known as a folk hero. This is
partly because of the exaggerations, or the stretching of
the stories, of his abilities and experiences.
Ruby Bridges (1954- ) Ruby Bridges played an
important role in the Civil Rights Movement. Ruby was
born in 1954 in Mississippi, but later moved to New
Orleans, Louisiana. Ruby Bridges was a young black girl
who decided to go to an all-white school during a time
when some people believed that white and black people
should be kept separate. When Ruby went to school, no
white parents would allow their children to be in the same
classroom with her. This meant she was the only one in
her class. Her class was even on a different floor from all
the other students. She had one person she could
depend on at school. Her teacher, Mrs. Henry, was very
loving toward her and taught her each day. She helped
Ruby through the difficult times that she had at school.
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) Christopher
Columbus was born in Italy and was a navigator and
explorer. Columbus believed the world was round. In
1492 he led a voyage which landed in the West Indies.
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain gave
Columbus money to buy ships to sail and explore to the
west. His ships were the Pinta, Niña, and the Santa
Maria. After a 37-day voyage, he landed in present-day
San Salvador on October 12, 1492. He thought he had
reached the East Indies. The significance of Columbus'
discovery is remembered every Columbus Day, a federal
holiday on the second Monday of October.
Tomie dePaola (1934- ) Tomie dePaola is an author and
illustrator. He has published about 200 children's books in
fifteen different countries. He is considered one of the
most popular creators of books for children. His love of
books came from his mother reading to him everyday
when he was young. He is the author of The Legend of
the Bluebonnet.
Henry Ford (1863-1947) Henry Ford helped to create a
country which is mobile by mass producing and
marketing the Model T automobile. Through his efforts,
the automotive industry became world-wide. As a young
boy, Ford worked on a farm, at a shipbuilding firm, and
for a company which serviced steam engines. During the
winters he worked at building his own engines. He built
and drove his first automobile in 1896. The Ford Motor
Company was founded in 1903, and he developed the
Model T by 1908. Ford used mass production to reduce
the price of the Model T, and he worked to perfect the
assembly line.
Founding Fathers Founding Fathers is the general
name given for all male American patriots during the
Revolutionary War. The name specifically refers to the
signers of the Declaration of Independence and those
who drafted the Constitution. John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James
Madison, and George Washington were all considered
Founding Fathers.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Benjamin Franklin was a
well-known printer in Philadelphia and an active leader in
the city. He published Poor Richard's Almanack which
shared bits of wisdom in shaping American character with
the readers. He founded the first library and fire
department in America. As an inventor he proved that
lightning was a form of electricity and he also invented
bifocal glasses, lightning rods, and the Franklin stove. In
his political roles, Franklin helped write the Declaration of
Independence and the U.S. Constitution. He spent most
of his time during the Revolutionary War in France
negotiating the alliance with France and then the Treaty
of Paris which ended the war. He also participated in the
U.S. Constitutional Convention in 1787 and earned the
distinction as being the oldest delegate in attendance.
Hector P. Garcia (1914- ) Hector García founded the G.I.
Forum, one of the most active and successful civil rights
organizations for Mexican-Americans. Although he was
born in Mexico, he grew up in South Texas with his family
and was educated there. He earned a medical degree
from the University of Texas at Austin. Garcia served in
the U.S. Army Medical Corp during World War II and
received the Bronze Star. He founded the American G. I.
Forum to protect the rights of Mexican-American veterans
and helped them receive financial and medical benefits
from the Veterans Administration. García was politically
active as a member of the state and national Democratic
Party committees. He was awarded the U.S. Medal of
Freedom in 1984.
Carmen Lomas Garza (1948- ) Carmen Lomas Garza is
an artist and author. Her expertise is evident in her
paintings and other works as they reflect her rich family
and cultural heritage. She was the first Mexican-American
artist to have a solo exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum
and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC. Carmen
Lomas Garza has published two books for children. Both
are filled with paintings of her childhood memories. The
text in her books is written in both English and Spanish.
One of her well-known books is Family Pictures.
Bill Gates (1955- ) Bill Gates grew up with the computer
industry. He became a leader through the widespread
use of his own product, Microsoft. He was born in Seattle,
Washington, and attended Harvard University before
starting his company in 1976. He is considered a leader
in the evolution of the computer industry. He has been
considered one of the wealthiest men in the world, but he
has given money to many charities and organizations as
well as to scientific research. Although he is no longer
C.E.O. of the Microsoft Corporation, he is busy with the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Milton Hershey (1857-1945) Milton Hershey worked at
several jobs as a young boy and became an apprentice
at a young age. He learned all he could about the candy
business and tried to create his own. He was not
successful in his first several attempts. He finally created
a caramel candy which was successful, and then his milk
chocolate candy became popular. Ever since Milton
Hershey introduced the Hershey milk chocolate bar to the
world in 1900, he never had to look back. His business
grew, and he developed a “company town.” He is known
for his candy and his generosity of providing a school for
orphaned boys.
Helen Keller (1880-1968) When she was a baby of
nineteen months, Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing
due to a fever. Her mother refused to let Helen give up
and sought expert advice and treatment. Anne Sullivan
became her lifelong teacher and companion. The
"teacher" taught Helen how to communicate by sign
language, read with Braille, and write with a special
typewriter. Keller earned a degree from Radcliffe College
and published two books. She was active in supporting
the right for women to vote, supported the American
Foundation for the Blind, and was a symbol of courage
and capability to the world. She received the Presidential
Medal of Freedom in 1964.
Pierre-Charles L’Enfant (1754-1825) Pierre-Charles
L'Enfant was born in France, but he lived in the United
States and designed its government buildings. He fought
in the American Revolution and served as the captain of
engineers for a time. L'Enfant converted the Old City Hall
in Philadelphia to the Federal Hall. When Washington,
D.C., was chosen as the site of the new capital, President
Washington asked L'Enfant to design the city. Although
L'Enfant was dismissed because he overspent the
budget, his ideas and plans are seen in the layout of the
White House and the Capitol
James A. Lovell (1928- ) James Lovell was in the U.S.
Navy and then joined NASA to be an astronaut. He is
recognized for his bravery. He was the commander of
Apollo 13. When the spaceship had a malfunction, or
something that goes wrong, he safely led his crew back
to Earth with the help of the Mission Control. He has
received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and
the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927) Juliette Gordon Low
founded the Girl Scouts of America in 1912. As a young
girl, she was very artistic and talented. She was also
witty. When she grew up, she wanted to devote her time
to something that she felt was worthwhile. She found this
in Europe when she met the leader of the Boy Scouts.
She then returned to America and founded an
organization for girls, the Girl Scouts of America.
Bill Martin Jr. (1916-2004) Bill Martin, Jr., was truly
"America's favorite children's author." He wrote for
almost 60 years. He was the author of the classic text,
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? He also
wrote over 300 other books for children including I Pledge
Allegiance, a book about the pledge to the U.S. flag and
what it means. As a tribute to Bill Martin, Jr., the Kansas
Reading Association established an award in his honor.
One picture book is honored each year and presented Bill
Martin Jr., Picture Book Award.
Cyrus McCormick (1809-1884) Cyrus McCormick was
the son of a farmer/blacksmith/inventor. He used his
talents to invent, improve, manufacture, and market of a
successful mechanical reaper. The reaper was used to
cut the grain, bind it, and stack it in the fields. Before the
reaper, a farmer could only plant as much wheat as he
could harvest because it ruined easily. The reaper
allowed farmers to plant more wheat. Reapers and other
machines caused a change in farming because
mechanical instruments were need to make life easier for
farmers.
Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) Maria Mitchell was taught by
her astronomer father. She was the first professional
woman astronomer in the United States and became a
professor of astronomy at Vassar College. She was the
first woman to be a member of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences. She served as president of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Kadir Nelson (1974- ) Kadir Nelson is an illustrator who
starting drawing pictures at the age of three. His artwork
is captured in numerous award-winning picture books,
including Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and
Abe’s Honest Words by Doreen Rapport. He received
the Coretta Scott King Award for his illustrations in
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to
Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford. In 2008 he
wrote and illustrated his first book, We Are the Ship: The
Story of Negro League Baseball. He enjoyed writing the
book so much that he plans to write more.
Ellen Ochoa (1958- ) Dr. Ellen Ochoa is a veteran of
three NASA Space Shuttle flights. She has logged over
719 hours in space, traveling four million miles in one
mission alone. Before NASA selected Ellen to become an
astronaut, Ellen proved herself on Earth by getting a
doctorate degree in electrical engineering and
co-inventing three patents for optical engineering
systems.
John “Danny” Olivas (1965- ) John “Danny” Olivas was
an astronaut until he retired in May 2010. He was born in
California but grew up in El Paso, Texas. Before he
became an astronaut, he worked at Dow Chemical
Company as a mechanical engineer. At NASA, he was a
STS-117 mission specialist. He participated in the first
planned session of extravehicular activity (EVA).
Juan de Oñate (ca. 1550-1626) Juan de Oñate was a
Spanish explorer. He is considered the founder of the first
European settlements in the upper Rio Grande Valley,
including the city of El Paso. Oñate led campaigns
against Indians along the northern frontier of Mexico and
prospected for silver. He aided in the establishment of
missions in newly conquered territory.
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) Louis Pasteur discovered
that heat could kill bacteria. This helped people realize
why liquids such as milk spoiled. His discovery introduced
the field of microbiology. He proved that the growth of
bacteria resulted from germs in the air. The process of
heating bacteria to kill them is known as "pasteurization."
Pasteur also invented a vaccine to counter the effects of
rabies. Pasteur directed the Pasteur Institute to the
research of rabies until his death.
Jonas Salk (1914-1995) Jonas Salk was a doctor who
found a vaccine for polio. When Salk went to college, he
planned to be a lawyer. His gained an interest in medical
science and then decided to become a physician. While
he was in medical school, he researched the flu virus. He
wanted to know if the virus could be stopped from
infecting people. He was successful and used this
knowledge to help with a discovery of the polio vaccine.
With this discovery of it, he became world famous over
night.
Harriet Tubman (ca. 1820-1913) Harriet Tubman was a
slave who escaped to the North for freedom. Once she
was free, she led more than 300 slaves to freedom over
the next ten years. She used a system called the
Underground Railroad to help others to get to freedom.
She owned property in upstate New York. Her parents
and other refugees lived there. Tubman was a spy and
scout for the Union troops during the Civil War. After the
war she opened a home on her farm in New York for
elderly African-Americans. She attended the women's
rights meetings in Seneca Falls. The first Black Heritage
postage stamp had a picture of Harriet Tubman on it.
Sam Walton (1918-1992) Sam Walton was the founder
of two American retail stores, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.
He was father of the Walton family, one of the richest
families in the world. In 1962 the first Wal-Mart store
opened its doors in Rogers, Arkansas. It became a huge
success and was the world’s largest retail store chain. By
2004, the number of people working for the Wal-mart
Corporation was 1.5 million. Sam Walton was named by
Time Magazine as one of the top 100 most influential
people of the 20th Century. He also received the
Presidential Medal of Freedom for his pioneering efforts.
Walton was once considered the richest man in the U.S.
Wal-Mart also operates Sam’s Club warehouse stores.
Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) Phillis Wheatley is known
as the first African-American poetess and the first AfricanAmerican woman to have her works published. Her work
is highly looked upon, today. It marks the beginning of
African-American literature. She is well-known for her
poem about the first U.S. President, George Washington.
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) Laura Ingalls Wilder
was the author of the classic "Little House" book series.
These were stories of her life and the places where she
had lived. She wrote because she wanted to keep the
tales of that time in American history. She wrote about
the pioneer days she remembered about growing-up on
the Midwestern frontier in the 1870s and 1880s. Laura
wrote eight books about her time on the frontier. These
books have been loved so many that a television series
was based on her books.