Great Girls in Michigan History

by Patricia Majher

Overview

For young readers, a diverse collection of biographical sketches of twenty notable young women with ties to Michigan.

A deep-sea diver, a dancer, an activist, an aviator, a singer, and a soldier—Great Girls in Michigan History highlights some of the girls from Michigan’s past who did amazing things before they turned twenty years old. Author Patricia Majher presents easy-to-read mini-biographies of twenty girls with ties to Michigan, representing a variety of personal backgrounds and interests, locations across the state, and historical time periods.

Majher introduces little-known stories, like those of female aviator Nancy Harkness (Love), pioneer Anna Howard Shaw, freedom seeker Dorothy Butler, professional baseball player Marilyn Jenkins, union leader Myra Komaroff (Wolfgang), and Native American writer Jane Johnston (Schoolcraft). She also includes figures that many readers will recognize—including First Lady Betty Bloomer (Ford), jockey Julie Krone, Motown star Diana Ross, and tennis champion Serena Williams. Majher shows that while life wasn’t always easy for these girls, they were able to overcome any number of obstacles to achieve their goals. Great Girls in Michigan History includes a brief section on each girl’s life after the age of twenty and a glossary of selected vocabulary words at the end of the book.

With its depictions of young women who have not typically been represented in history texts, this book will be inspirational reading for upper elementary school students (ages 8 to 12) and welcomed by Michigan schools, bookstores, and public libraries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814340745
Publisher:	Wayne State University Press
Publication date:	03/01/2015
Series:	Great Lakes Books Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	22 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Patricia Majher is the editor of Michigan History magazine (published by the Historical Society of Michigan) and the author of Ladies of the Lights: Michigan Women in the U.S. Lighthouse Service.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Girl Diver of the Great Lakes Fannie Baker 3

Dancing to Her Own Beat Betty Bloomer (Ford) 11

Freedom Seeker Dorothy Butler 21

A Musical Marvel Regina Carter 27

The Secret Soldier Sarah Emma Edmonds (Seelye) 33

An Adventurous Aviator Nancy Harkness (Love) 43

Acting Was Her Life Julie Harris 51

Yearning to Learn Marylou Hernandez (Olivarez-Mason) 59

The "We Can Do It!" Girl Geraldine Hoff (Doyle) 67

A Slugger in a Skirt Marilyn Jenkins 73

The First Known American Indian Writer Jane Johnston (Schoolcraft) 81

A Fierce Friend of Workers Myra Komaroff (Wolfgang) 89

Born to Race Julie Krone 97

Silver Screen Star Joan Leslie (Caldwell) 107

The Littlest Lifesaver Maebelle Mason (Connell) 115

A Petite Patriot Ella May (Willson) 121

Wrestling with the Rules Tricia McNaughton (Saunders) 127

A Supreme Songstress Diana Ross 133

A Pint-Sized Pioneer Anna Howard Shaw 143

Queen of the Court Serena Williams 155

Glossary 167

Photo Credits 177

What People are Saying About This

Jean Alicia Elster of Who's Jim Hines? (Wayne State University Press

'I'm where I want to be. . . I'm who I want to be.' Those words spoken by teenager Fannie Baker ('Girl Diver of the Great Lakes') early in the first chapter of Great Girls in Michigan History alert even the most casual reader to the fact that the young women profiled in this book have a grit and gumption not found in many people of any age or gender. Author Patricia Majher has created concise biographies of some amazing young women: an enslaved seven-year-old girl who escaped to freedom in Michigan, the youngest woman in American history to earn a private pilot's license, and the teenager who became the first known American Indian writer. Thanks to author Majher, the accomplishments of these and other 'great girls' will not fall into obscurity but, rather, ably serve to inspire and encourage.

Editorial Reviews

You don’t have to have lived a long life to have lived a great one. In Patricia Majher’s new book Great Girls in Michigan History, the Michigan historian writes about 20 girls younger than 20 who have made a mark on history.

WMUK - Zinta Aistars

Great Girls in Michigan History will inspire readers through stories of the impressive achievements of young Michigan women. The girls included in this collection have diverse accomplishments and backgrounds and come from across the state. No other book focuses exclusively on the actions of Michigan’s girls. Young women reading this book will feel both the spark of curiosity to learn more about these historical figures and pride in knowing that Michigan girls achieve great things!

Executive Director of the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame - Emily Fijol

Highlighting twenty girls from Michigan’s past who did amazing things before they turned 20, Majher's subjects include aviator Nancy Harkness Love, pioneer Anna Howard Shaw, escaped slave Dorothy Butler, professional baseball player Marilyn Jenkins, union leader Myra Komaroff (Wolfgang), Native American writer Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, former First Lady Betty Bloomer Ford, Motown star Diana Ross, tennis champion Serena Williams and others.

Detroit Free Press

Great Girls in Michigan History will inspire readers through stories of the impressive achievements of young Michigan women. The girls included in this collection have diverse accomplishments and backgrounds and come from across the state. No other book focuses exclusively on the actions of Michigan's girls. Young women reading this book will feel both the spark of curiosity to learn more about these historical figures and pride in knowing that Michigan girls achieve great things!--Emily Fijol "executive director of the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame"

'I'm where I want to be. . . I'm who I want to be.' Those words spoken by teenager Fannie Baker ('Girl Diver of the Great Lakes') early in the first chapter of Great Girls in Michigan History alert even the most casual reader to the fact that the young women profiled in this book have a grit and gumption not found in many people of any age or gender. Author Patricia Majher has created concise biographies of some amazing young women: an enslaved seven-year-old girl who escaped to freedom in Michigan, the youngest woman in American history to earn a private pilot's license, and the teenager who became the first known American Indian writer. Thanks to author Majher, the accomplishments of these and other 'great girls' will not fall into obscurity but, rather, ably serve to inspire and encourage.--Jean Alicia Elster "author of Who's Jim Hines? (Wayne State University Press, 2008) and The Colored Car (Wayne State University Press, 2013)"

Highlighting twenty girls from Michigan's past who did amazing things before they turned 20, Majher's subjects include aviator Nancy Harkness Love, pioneer Anna Howard Shaw, escaped slave Dorothy Butler, professional baseball player Marilyn Jenkins, union leader Myra Komaroff (Wolfgang), Native American writer Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, former First Lady Betty Bloomer Ford, Motown star Diana Ross, tennis champion Serena Williams and others.-- "Detroit Free Press" (1/3/2016 12:00:00 AM)

You don't have to have lived a long life to have lived a great one. In Patricia Majher's new book Great Girls in Michigan History, the Michigan historian writes about 20 girls younger than 20 who have made a mark on history.--Zinta Aistars "WMUK" (7/31/2015 12:00:00 AM)

From the Publisher

‘I’m where I want to be. . . I’m who I want to be.’ Those words spoken by teenager Fannie Baker (‘Girl Diver of the Great Lakes’) early in the first chapter of Great Girls in Michigan History alert even the most casual reader to the fact that the young women profiled in this book have a grit and gumption not found in many people of any age or gender. Author Patricia Majher has created concise biographies of some amazing young women: an enslaved seven-year-old girl who escaped to freedom in Michigan, the youngest woman in American history to earn a private pilot’s license, and the teenager who became the first known American Indian writer. Thanks to author Majher, the accomplishments of these and other ‘great girls’ will not fall into obscurity but, rather, ably serve to inspire and encourage.

author of Who’s Jim Hines? (Wayne State University Press, 2008) and The Colored Car (Wayne State University Pr - Jean Alicia Elster