Study Like a Boss
Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery in 1813. She was unaware that she was a slave until her mid childhood. Growing up, a doctor, by the name of Norcom would constantly abuse her to the point that she wanted to resist his advances. She had an affair with an attorney named Sawyer and had children. … Read more
Momaday was born February 27, 1934 in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was born in the Kiowa and Comanche Indian Hospital, and was then registered with having seven-eighths Indian blood. N. Scott Momaday was born of having a mix of English, Irish, French, and Cherokee blood while, his father, Alfred Morris Momaday was a full blood Kiowa. … Read more
James Marshall Hendrix aka Jimi Hendrix, was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Jimi Hendrix delighted audiences in the 1960s with his outrageous electric guitar playing skills and his experimental sound. He was widely recognized as one of the most creative and musical talented musicians in the early 20th century. Hendrix was a pioneer genius who … Read more
Ishmael Beah was born on November 23, 1980, in Mogbwemo, Sierra Leone. In his critically acclaimed memoir, “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier”, Beah bases his survival from abduction and terrorism on his recollections as an unwilling child soldier for the Sierra Leone Armed Services during Sierra Leone’s 1991-2002 civil war. They … Read more
By many, poetry is looked upon as being a language of its own. It’s a way of creatively expressing unique emotions, thoughts, and beliefs with the use of many literary devices. American poetry has been the most important form of writing throughout history. Many famous authors, such as Lucille Clifton, used poetry to document the … Read more
Henry S. Truman was born on May eighth, 1884 in the farm town of Lamar, Missouri. As a young man he aspired to go to West Point, but his poor eyesight Page 1 prevented him from that. Instead after college he helped on his family farm and eventually served in the Missouri National Guard. His … Read more
In American literature, Zora Neale Hurston is considered one of the most outstanding and memorable African American writers. While pursuing her work in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance, Hurston was acknowledged as the first modern African American to collect and publish folklore. Along with being a folklorist, she was also an anthropologist, novelist, and … Read more
Joan Sebastian, a Mexican singer, has been an influential figure in the music world with his passionate ranchera songs. His CD, Joan Sebastian con Mariachi, features various songs that deal with the theme of lost and unrequited love. In Peter Manuel’s Popular Music of the Non-Western World. he observes that a large number of Mexican … Read more
Thurgood Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland July 2, 1908 and he grew up in a prosperous home in Baltimore also. Father William Marshall worked as a steward in a all white country club. Mother Norma Marshall worked as a teacher for kindergarteners and his grandfather was a slave who gained freedom from escaping the … Read more
“Well done is better than well said” (Poor Richard’s Almanac). Benjamin Franklin not only thought of quotes to help guide our daily lives, he lived them. Arguably the greatest genius of his time, Franklin was a hard worker, relentless learner, and passionate thinker. From a general perspective Franklin is a man who worked diligently in … Read more
The first female artist, Artemisia Gentileschi was born on July 8th 1593 and would die as the most important woman painter in Early Modern Europe. At a very young age, Artemisia was introduced into the world of painting by her father, Orazio Gentileschi. Orazio was a well-known painter as well, with much of his work … Read more
Tom Knox, also knows as S. K. Tremayne is a british writer born in England of 1963. Tremayne, who has written over twenty novels in his career, is known as a best author in the UK. His novel The Ice Twins, a mystery/thriller novel, published in 2015 is about a married british couple, Angus and … Read more
C. W. McCall Blaine Sederstrom Who is C. W. McCall and what’s the story behind him? C. W. McCall is actually not a real person. C. W. McCall is truly William D. Fries but just goes by Bill Fries. Bill fries was born November 15, 1928 in Audubon lowa. Audubon lowa is a very small … Read more
The influence of Mary Mackillop as the first Australian saint has developed Catholicism through important events and issues. Mary was born on the 15th January 1842 and was the eldest of eight children. Throughout her early life, she experienced several challenges that influenced her pathway to Catholicism. With the guidance and inspiration of church figures … Read more
“Born in El Paso, Texas, on March 26, 1930, Sandra Day O’Connor was elected to two terms in the Arizona state senate. In 1981, Ronald Reagan nominated her to the U. S. Supreme Court. She received unanimous Senate approval, and made history as the first woman justice to serve on the nation’s highest court. O’Connor … Read more
John C. Calhoun was born in Abbeville, South Carolina on March 18th, 1782 and he supported his family whenever his father was ill when he was still a child. In 1807, John became a lawyer and was soon elected to congress in 1810 where he was openly a “war hawk” or someone who wanted to … Read more
Shel Silverstein’s Life and Work To start with, Sheldon Allan Silverstein also known as Shel Silverstein was an author, writer, cartoonist, poet, singer- songwriter, musician, composer, and screenwriter; he was even nominated for an Oscar because of his song “A boy named Sue” performed by Johnny Cash (“Shel Silverstein Biography”). Silverstein started his career in … Read more
Sonia Nazario is an American journalist, born September 8, 196O in Madison Wisconsin to Argentinian-American parents. Nazario has been one of the youngest writers to have worked for the Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal. She primarily writes about social justice issues such as poverty, drugs, immigration, and Latino statistics. She has won … Read more
Rosa Parks, Daisy Bates, and Oprah Winfrey are remarkable names whose lives inspire greatness and motivation to the world. Like these women, Tyra Banks exemplifies strength, ambition, dedication, wisdom, and a never giving up spirit along with feminine charm. Tyra Banks has made her name famous worldwide as a model, actress, singer, author, television host/ … Read more
Fidel Castro was born near Biran, Cuba on August 13, 1926. Biran is located on Cuba’s Eastern Oriente Province. Fidel was the third of six children in his family including his two brothers and three sisters. Hid dad Angel was a wealthy sugar plantation owner who was originally from Spain. His moms name was Lina … Read more
Kymora-Lee Sue Chung Hing is a multitalented, vibrant, thirteen year old. She is outgoing and loves to laugh. She has an exuberant personality. She is gifted in many different talents and hobbies, and she absolutely loves her culture. Although haven’t known her for very long, I have learned quite a bit about her and her … Read more
Peter Paul Rubens was born in 1577 within a quaint German town called Siegen. Peter Paul Rubens was known as a Flemish artist and lived a very successful life in doing so. Peter led a wealthy life, having been raised by a family of spice merchants. His father, Jan Rubens was responsible for much of … Read more
Designer Paper: Betsey Johnson and Elsa Schiaparelli Known for her famous grand finale cart wheel, Betsy Johnson is an edgy ready to wear designer. Johnson was born on August 10, 1942 in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Growing up she was a dancer and an artist, Johnson fell in love with the decked out costumes she wore for … Read more
David LaChapelle was born in in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1963. He is an admired commercial, fashion, and fine art photographer known for his hyper-realistic photographs with clever social messages about popular culture, religion, and history. LaChapelle’s photography career started in the eighties when he began showing his artwork in galleries around New York. Andy Warhol … Read more
Shakespeare (William) was the most distinguished dramatic poet the world has had since the decline of Greece. He was the son of a wealthy woolen merchant at Stratford on the Avon, a market spot in the English. County Warwickshire, probably born on Apr. 23, 1564. His mother was a daughter of Robert of Wellington, and … Read more
Short biography of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is probably the most famous German poet of all times and is considered a universal genius. He has gained recognition with important works not only in literature, but also in art theory and natural sciences. Goethe, for example, developed his own theory of color … Read more
Francis Drake was an experienced and daring seafarer. Among many adventures, the ‘famous voyage’, his successful circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580 ensured that he would be one of the best remembered figures of Tudor England. In his own lifetime, he was thought of with mixed feelings, both at home and abroad. Some … Read more
Gaius Julius Caesar, a patrician and noble, became one of the most powerful men in Ancient Roman history. Caesar was a popular, and eventually became the people’s hero. This wealth of power brought back images of the ruthless Roman monarchy, abolished centuries before, in 510 B. C. Caesar presided over the military, politics and religion; … Read more
The first queen of England is Elizabeth I. She became such a great queen that she gave her name to her time, the Elizabeth Age. However, she was the only surviving child of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She was born in the year 1533, and died in 1603. Ever since she was little, she … Read more
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685 in the town of Thuringia, Germany where he was raised and spent most of his life. Due to a shortage of expenses, he was confined to a very limited geographical space, as was his career. This greatly affected his, in that his music was not as widley known … Read more
Robert Boyle was born on January 25, 1627. He was born in Lismore Castle County Cork, Ireland. (Encyclopedia p. 469) His father was the Earl of Cork. His mother died when he was very young. (Sootin pp. 3-6) Robert was the seventh son of fourteen children and was his father’s favorite. He was very different … Read more
Raised in New York in 1933, Harry Browne grew up in Los Angeles. Although only two weeks in college, he became a popular investment advisor and author. The government has blatantly ignored the ninth and 10th amendments, which restrict its size and strength, believes Harry Browne. He wanted to cut government size significantly and to … Read more
Robert Francis Kennedy was born on November 20, 1925 in Brookline Massachusetts. He was the seventh child, and third son of Rose Fitzgerald and Joe Kennedy . “I was the seventh of nine children,” he later recalled, “and when you come from that far down you have to struggle to survive. “( Alden Whitman, 2001). … Read more
Leonardo da Vinci was born on the fifteenth of April, 1452, near the town of Vinci, not far from Florence. He was the son of a Florentine notary, Piero da Vinci, and a young woman named Caterina. Leonardo spent most of his life in Florence and Milan. In 1469 he was apprenticed to Andrea Verrocchio, … Read more
Throughout history there have been many people who have affected the way we live today. Some of these people have devised laws, created machines, or sculpted artwork. Leonardo DaVinci is one of these people. He was a painter, sculptor, inventor, musician, architect, scientist, and military engineer. Leonardo DaVinci was born on April 15, 1452 in … Read more
Edward Theodore was born on August 27, 1906, to Augusta and George Gein in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Eddie was the 2nd of two children. Eddie’s mother was a fanatically religious women, who was determined to raise the boys according to her strict moral code. Eddie’s mother repeatedly warned her sons of the immorality and looseness … Read more
Carl Sandburg was a great man. His life was one of fame, once he began writing. He inspired many people. He also became an American Marvel. His works still remain read even today, 30 years after his death. His life was an interesting one. His parents immigrated to the US from Sweden. His parents moved … Read more
Henry VIII (born 1491, ruled 1509-1547). The second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York was one of England’s strongest and least popular monarchs. He was born at Greenwich on June 28, 1491. The first English ruler to be educated under the influence of the Renaissance, he was a gifted scholar, linguist, composer, and … Read more
Dr. Daniel J. Boorstin (1914- ) holds many honorable positions and has received numerous awards for his notable work. He is one of America’s most eminent historians, the author of more than fifteen books and numerous articles on the history of the United States, as well as a creator of a television show. His editor-wife, … Read more
Schindler, Oskar (1908-74), German businessman whose fame rests on his remarkable rescue of more than 1,000 Jews during the Nazi Holocaust. Oskar Schindler was born in the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia. He moved to Poland in 1930 and made a fortune in Krakw. He saved 1,200 Polish Jews from the Nazi death camps by employing them at … Read more
What technical information Rembrandt was taught may be discerned by studying the works of his instructors, Jacob Isaacszoon Van Swanenburch and Pieter Lastmann. Such study also immediately shows the genius of Rembrandt by the extent to which he so obviously surpassed them both, and in how early in his career he did so. Nonetheless, his … Read more
The third decade of the twentieth century brought on more explicit writers than ever before, but none were as expressive as Anne Sexton. Her style of writing, her works, the image that she created, and the crazy life that she led are all prime examples of this. Known as one of the most confessional poets … Read more
Shen Kua was born in China in the year 1026. Shen Kua was born to Shen Chou and his wife Hsa. His family had an unbroken tradition of being civil servants. Thus his father was a local administrator of many posts from Szechwan in the west to the international port of Amoy. At Sixteen years … Read more
People do on a day to day basis, many actions without realizing it, and most of the time, they dont know why they do them. Certain reinforcements, some positive, and some negative have conditioned their actions and thoughts. All organisms, including humans, are greatly influenced by the consequences produced by their own behavior. The environment … Read more
French deistic philosopher and author; b. at Geneva June 28, 1712; d. at Ermenonville (28 m. n. e. of Paris) July 2, 1778. His mother died at his birth, and his father, a dissipated and violent-tempered man, paid little attention to the son’s training, and finally deserted him. The latter developed a passion for reading, … Read more
Hugh Williamson was born of Scotch-Irish decent at West Nottingham, PA. on the 5th of December 1735. At the age of sixteen, he entered the College of Philadelphia and received his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1757. In 1759 Hugh Williamson became a licensed Presbyterian preacher, but was never ordained. Around that time, he … Read more
Sir Alexander Fleming was born at Lochfield near Darvel in Ayrshire, Scotland on August 6th, 1881. He attended Louden Moor School, Darvel School, and Kilmarnock Academy before moving to London where he attended the Polytechnic. He spent four years in a shipping office before entering St. Mary’s Medical School, London University. He qualified with distinction … Read more
On April 23, 1858 Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck was born in Kiel, Germany. He was the sixth child of a law professor at the University of Kiel. At the age of nine his interest in physics and mathematics was developed by his teacher Hermann Muller. When he graduated at the age of seventeen he … Read more
Born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan to a lower-middle class Italian-Catholic household, Madonna Louise Ciccone was the third eldest daughter born. Her father Chrysler engineer Sylvio (Tony) Ciccone and French-Canadienne Madonna Fortin, for whom the future superstar was named Veronica was added to her name for confirmation. While at a young age of … Read more
Born in Cederville, Illinois, on September 6, 1860, Jane Addams founded the world famous social settlement of Hull House. From Hull House, where she lived and worked from it’s start in 1889 to her death in 1935, Jane Addams built her reputation as the country’s most prominent women through her writings, settlement work and international … Read more