Jean Lee Latham facts for kids
Jean Lee Latham (born April 19, 1902 – died June 13, 1995) was an American writer. She was famous for writing biographies for young people. These books told the life stories of important historical figures.
About Jean Lee Latham
Jean Lee Latham was born in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Her father was a cabinetmaker. Her mother worked as a teacher. Jean loved learning and writing from a young age.
She went to West Virginia Wesleyan College. She earned her degree there in 1925. She also studied at Ithaca Conservatory. While in college, she enjoyed writing plays.
Her Teaching Career
After college, Jean Lee Latham taught English and history. She also taught how to produce plays. She continued teaching in Ithaca for some time. This experience helped her understand young readers.
Her Books and Awards
Jean Lee Latham wrote many books for children. Her first book was The Story of Eli Whitney. This book told about the inventor of the cotton gin.
Her most famous book is Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. This book won the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1956. The Newbery Medal is a very important award for children's literature. It is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
What She Wrote About
Jean Lee Latham specialized in biographies. These are books that tell the true story of someone's life. She wrote about many famous people.
Some of the people she wrote about include:
- Eli Whitney, who invented the cotton gin.
- Samuel Morse, who invented the telegraph.
- Rachel Carson, a famous scientist and writer.
- Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States.
- Francis Drake, a famous English explorer.
- Cyrus W. Field, who helped lay the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean.
- Sam Houston, a key leader in Texas history.
- David Farragut, a famous admiral during the American Civil War.
- John Ericsson, who designed the USS Monitor warship.
- James Cook, a famous British explorer.
She also wrote a book called This dear-bought land. It was about a fifteen-year-old boy. He joined an expedition to start an English colony in Virginia.
Awards
- Newbery Medal, 1956
