Learn About American History Through Selected Works by Russell Freedman
created by Martha Reagan, Belmont High School
December 2006
Russell Freedman is a prolific writer of informational books for children and young adults. He has focused much of his work on biographies of Americans and on aspects of American history. He weaves primary source documents including archival photographs into his narratives to give the reader a feeling of first-hand accounts. His books are well-researched with a great deal of documentation including chapter notes, and annotated bibliographies. Many of his books have been winners of the Orbis Pictus Award, sponsored by the NCTE for “promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.” Adults also will gain a great deal of information from his books through his clear accurate presentations.
SELECTED WORKS:
Freedom Walkers; The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, by Russell Freeman is an excellent account of the yearlong bus boycott in Montgomery Alabama. He focuses on the 1965 incident in which Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat for a white person.
Russell gives real feeling for this civil rights movement incident by setting the tone with an introduction about “Jim Crow” laws and then a personal account by a lesser known person, Jo Ann Robinson who described her humiliating experience as a black person on a public bus in Montgomery. Freedman integrates dramatic photos of the time into his text to portray the tension of the time.
In Defense of Liberty; The Story of America’s Bill of Rights, by Russell Freedman is a very informative presentation of the first ten amendments, how they evolved, and when they were signed at the first session of the U.S. Congress in l789. He points out the significance of these amendments as a bill of rights for the new United States, giving interesting incidents from history in which a right or liberty was abused.. He also shows controversies around the amendments. This book is lively account that explains to young people how they are protected today with laws created more than 200 years ago that are still vital. Great use of photos and archival pictures to illustrate comments about the amendments.
Voice that challenged A Nation; Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights, by Russell Freedman is an informative biography about Marian Anderson and her place in African American achievement of equal rights. Freedman begins this biography with her concert in 1939 on the steps of the Lincoln memorial when she began to break the color barrier for African American artists. Freedman develops this biography as a personal story of Marion blending in earl y her childhood as well as her pursuit of a vocal career ranging from church choir to world tours. Freedman also provides a view of social conditions in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s with his focus on the way Marion as an African American had to endure barriers of segregation and Jim Crow laws. Freedman uses primary source material of photographs and Marion’s personal accounts to support this biography.
The Life And Death of Crazy Horse, by Russell Freedman depicts the life of the Sioux tribe through the life of one member , Crazy Horse. Freedman focuses on the conflict of whites encroaching on Native American land and retaliation by the tribes. Crazy Horse who becomes the leading warrior of the tribe fiercely resists the white invasion of the Native American hunting lands, winning many victories the most famous of which is the one against General Custer at the battle of the bighorn in 1876. Freedman provides a lively narration of life in the Nebraska in the 19 th c., drawing much information from primary sources especially interviews of Crazy Horse’s relatives. To authenticate his biography of Crazy Horse, Freedman integrates Sioux pictographs with the text.
Children of the Great Depression , by Russell Freedman is an excellent overview of living conditions during the depression of 1928. Freedman clearly presents his material through interesting informative chapters about a cross section of children’s lives (urban, suburban, school, boxcar children, etc.). Using diaries and letters of children which provide first -hand details, Freedman focuses on the daily existence of children during this time of economic deprivation. This perspective is very appealing to children and is informative to young adults and adults because it is a perspective of the depression, about which very little has been written. In addition to the primary sources of diaries, and letters, Freedman amply fills the pages with archival photographs of children taken by photographers of the Farm Security Administration.
Eleanor Roosevelt; A Life of Discovery, by Russell Freedman develops a personal story of Eleanor growing up as a shy girl through her life and position as First Lady for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency as well as her prominent life after his death working for social causes . Freedman draws on numerous primary source material from the Eleanor Roosevelt manuscript collection to present Eleanor’s inner thoughts as well as her influence on Franklin during his political career and presidency. Freedman provides a perceptive account about the accomplishments of a woman who moved from a reserved domestic role to being an outwardly assured articulate social activist recognized worldwide.