Short Biographies
“Profiles of Freedom” highlights 19 famous and not-so-famous figures who played an important role in shaping the United States. Every biography describes the challenges, failures, and successes that each subject experienced, whether he or she was a public servant, inventor, explorer, scientist, or entrepreneur.The profiles are presented chronologically, beginning with American explorer Thomas Dermer (1590–1620) and concluding with quality control pioneer W. Edwards Deming (1900–93). Higbie’s book is a patchwork quilt of historical figures that includes intriguing details about how each complements the next. For example, gunsmith Samuel Colt used the armory built by cotton gin founder Eli Whitney to fulfill the Texas Rangers’ order of 1,000 Walker Colts in just three months. Colt utilized Whitney’s system of using interchangeable parts to make his production quota. Likewise, telegraph inventor Samuel Morse tapped Colt’s experience with waterproof wire to make the telegraph a reality.
Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906) was an active member of the New York abolition movement who became lifelong friends with social reformer and statesman Frederick Douglass, despite protestations of many in the suffragette movement. Anthony spoke at Douglass’s funeral, and the pair are even buried in the same New York cemetery.
William Penn (1644–1718) is featured. Penn was a Quaker who helped establish religious freedom and democracy in the Pennsylvania colony. As governor, Penn wanted every resident to enjoy equal rights. He created a democratic system in the colony that offered freedom of religion, fair trials, free elections, elected representation, and separation of powers. Other colonies copied Pennsylvania’s model, and it eventually became a blueprint for several state constitutions. Decades later, those same democratic principles became part of the U.S. Constitution.
Another historical figure discussed is Noah Webster (1758–1843). Often referred to as the “forgotten Founding Father,” Webster was a school teacher irked that he was teaching proper British English to children whose fathers fought to free the colonies from England’s tyranny. Webster understood the importance of his country’s having a distinctive identity apart from Britain, and this understanding led him to create “The American Spelling Book,” which has been used to teach thousands of students American English. His spelling book sold millions of copies and was used for decades in schools nationwide. Years later, Webster also created the world’s largest English dictionary, with more than 65,000 words.
A Unique Approach
Higbie’s book may remind older readers of the children’s biographical “Childhood of Famous Americans“ series published by Bobbs-Merrill. Higbie’s narrative is written in a similar casual, conversational style that includes fascinating anecdotes. He includes personal comments on each subject’s extraordinary achievements and short chapters with personal questions the author would ask the subjects were they alive today. He also includes prominent quotations, such as:“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”—Frederick Douglass
“To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.”—Benjamin Franklin
“I ask Him daily and often momently to give me wisdom, understanding, and bodily strength to do His will; hence, I am asking and receiving all the time.”—George Washington Carver
With profiles of figures from pilgrim William Bradford (1590–1657) to U.S. steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919), Higbie helps readers young and old connect the dots between the nation’s founding, the principles that made the country great, and the importance of learning from the experiences of the men and women who helped shape American exceptionalism.
