Scott Joplin was born in Texas in 1867. His father (who was a slave) and his mother (who was not) were both musical people. His mother cleaned houses for a living, and one of the homeowners that hired her also allowed Joplin to play the piano in her home. That’s how Scott Joplin taught himself … Continue reading Scott Joplin
Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) was born in Illinois. As he grew into an adult, he worked many odd jobs before he entered the Spanish-American War as an Infantryman. By 1913, he was living in Chicago, writing for the Chicago Daily News. His first book of poetry was published shortly afterward. Sandburg wrote free verse poems of … Continue reading Carl Sandburg
Mary Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania in 1844. She became a well-known Impressionist at a time in which female painters were not widely recognized. She studied in Pennsylvania, in Paris, and in Italy. She was greatly influenced by Edgar Degas, who taught Cassatt how to use pastels. Cassatt produced many works portraying realistic scenes of … Continue reading Mary Cassatt
John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) was one of 10 children going to a family of Portuguese and German immigrants in Washington DC in 1854. His father played the trombone in the US Marine band and was Sousa’s role model in music study. Sousa learned the violin when he was six. During Sousa’s lifetime, he spent 20 … Continue reading John Philip Sousa
James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916) was a poet who was born in Indiana countryside in the mid-nineteenth century. He wasn’t a very good student because he preferred to be outside reading books he chose creating rhymes and walking in his neighborhood. He quit school when he was 20 and did all sorts of strange charms from … Continue reading James Whitcomb Riley
James Abbott McNeil Whistler (1834-1903) was an American artist who first developed an interest in art as a child living in Russia. Whistler was born in Massachusetts, but his family moved to Russia when he was eight years old. He returned to the United States in 1849 after his father died. Since his art career … Continue reading James Abbott McNeil Whistler
Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) was born in West Africa and came to the New World on a slave ship. She was both purchased and eventually freed by Boston commercialist John Wheatley. Phillis was part of a group of refugee slaves who were too young or frail for rigorous labor. She did housework for the Wheatleys. They … Continue reading Phillis Wheatley
During the colonial period, there was a lot of work to do everywhere, and people worked very long hours every day, though most tried to rest on Sunday. Even on the day of rest, there was still the work of feeding both people and animals. Justin Morgan’s life was no different. He was born in … Continue reading Justin Morgan and Isaac Watts
George Gershwin, 1898-1937, was one of the most well-known pianists in history. He turned out an enormous amount of music before his life was cut short by a brain tumor. Lucky for us, he was one of the first musicians for whom we have recorded video of him playing. While you can probably find better … Continue reading George Gershwin
Langston Hughes (1902-1967) is a poet of the Harlem Renaissance who portrayed the lives of ordinary, working-class African Americans. He was the first African American poet to earn his entire living from his writing and speaking. He has all sorts of poems depicting life in his time. You can read more about Langston Hughes here: … Continue reading Langston Hughes
