Legends of Laurel Hill Cemetery

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Laurel Hill Cemetery, located in Saco, Maine, is the final home to some of Maine’s most well-known leaders, many of whom led interesting lives. In celebration of the release of Laurel Hill Cemetery of Saco, Maine, we’re featuring three of the cemetery’s most notable residents.

Frank Cutter Deering

Frank Cutter Deering in his natty attire. Reprinted from Laurel Hill Cemetery of Saco, Maine by Leslie Rounds and Emory Rounds courtesy of the Collection of Dyer Library/Saco Museum (pg. 33, The History Press, 2018).
Frank Cutter Deering in his natty attire. Reprinted from Laurel Hill Cemetery of Saco, Maine by Leslie Rounds and Emory Rounds courtesy of the Collection of Dyer Library/Saco Museum (pg. 33, The History Press, 2018).

After inheriting a variety of successful businesses from his father, Frank Cutter Deering grew the family’s lumber business so well that he was considered a “lumber baron” within Saco. Married twice, Deering had two children: Annie Katherine Deering, and Joseph “Joe” Deering. He had a multitude of interests outside of his lumber company, and was heavily involved with the local Dyer Library, even serving on the board of trustees. After his death, his son Joe took over many of his interests, including the J.G. Deering and Son Lumber Company, the Saco River Driving Company, the York National Bank, the Mutual Insurance Company, and an inn in Biddeford. Frank also held several philanthropic interests, including the York Institute (now known as the Saco Museum), the Laurel Hill Cemetery Association, and Thornton Academy, a private school in the area. The family’s devotion to their charitable endeavors was evidenced again when Joe bequeathed Frank’s family home to the Dyer Library upon his own death.

Sarah Fairfield Hamilton

An image of Sarah Fairfield Hamilton surrounded by books. Reprinted from Laurel Hill Cemetery of Saco, Maine by Leslie Rounds and Emory Rounds courtesy of the Collection of Dyler Library/Saco Museum (pg. 89, The History Press, 2018).

Born in 1831 to a family of nine children, Sarah Fairfield Hamilton was the daughter of John Fairfield, who served as a Representative, Senator, and Governor for the state of Maine. Her father was a progressive politician, and Sarah was subsequently raised in a busy and intellectual household. She later married Benjamin F. Hamilton in 1853, who was also a forward-thinking man for 1850s society, even letting young women run his small general store. Sarah’s progressiveness was also showcased after a trip to Boston, where she met women’s rights activist Abby Morton Diaz. Diaz encouraged Hamilton to found the Saco Women’s Educational and Industrial Union, which implemented many measures to improve the lives of women and children in 19th century Saco, such as constructing sidewalks, establishing the first kindergarten, and forming a public park. Hamilton served as the president each year of the society for several years until her death in 1909.

Thomas and Elizabeth Cutts

Full-portraits of Thomas and Elizabeth Cutts. Reprinted from Laurel Hill Cemetery of Saco, Maine by Leslie Rounds and Emory Rounds courtesy of the Collection of Saco Museum (pg. 71, The History Press, 2018).
Full-portraits of Thomas and Elizabeth Cutts. Reprinted from Laurel Hill Cemetery of Saco, Maine by Leslie Rounds and Emory Rounds courtesy of the Collection of Saco Museum (pg. 71, The History Press, 2018).

The ninth of ten children in a wealthy family from Kittery, Maine, Thomas Cutts enjoyed a rather luxurious upbringing, before being given a generous loan of $100 USD from his father in 1758, an amount of over $3,000 USD today. Described as having a “good head for business,” Cutts used the money from his father to move to what is now called Cutts Island near Saco, Maine. Once there, he built a small store and house on the southern part of the island. Cutts married Elizabeth Scammon in 1762, and the two raised eight children together. Thomas had many successful business ventures during his career, including helping to found Saco Bank and the Saco Iron Works company. In addition, he was a large landowner in the area, owning most of the island and other tracts of land. Besides his business ventures, Cutts also served as the town treasurer, a representative to the General Court, and an officer in the Revolutionary War.

To read more about the intriguing people buried at Laurel Hill, check out Laurel Hill Cemetery of Saco, Maine by Leslie and Emory Rounds.

7 Surprising Ways the Dutch Influenced Modern America

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While the Dutch only colonized the North American New World for a period of approximately forty years before the English conquered their territory, their influence can still be felt throughout a great deal of US culture. Here are seven surprising ways the Dutch still affect today’s American society.

The Declaration of Independence was most likely based in-part on a 16th century Dutch document.

While we commonly think of the Declaration of Independence being based on the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke (who wrote about “self-evident” truths), some experts believe that the Declaration was based at least in part on the Dutch Plakkaat van Verlatinge, or Act of Abjuration. The Act of Abjuration was written in 1581 to assert Dutch independence from Spanish rule, and contains several parallels with the Declaration of Independence, including the famous preamble which asserts the right of citizens to revolt against tyrannical rule. Both documents also present both a catalog of concerns and grievances to prove oppression by either Spanish or British rule respectively, and a record of attempts to mediate these concerns within already existing legal or civic channels.

New York was once called New Netherland.

A 17th century map of the East Coast of North America, including the area of New Netherlands. Reprinted from Food, Drink, and Celebrations of the Hudson Valley Dutch by Peter G. Rose courtesy of the collection of Joep de Koning and Foundation for Historic New Amsterdam (pg. 20, The History Press, 2009).

Although it may be common knowledge that New York was a Dutch colony prior to the Anglo-Dutch wars, the Dutch colony of New Netherland encompassed far more than the Hudson River Valley. In fact, the Dutch claimed land as far south as the Delmarva Peninsula near Maryland and Delaware, and extended up to the southwestern outskirts of Cape Cod. The majority of the Netherland’s colony comprised sections of present-day New York, Delaware, New Jersey, and Connecticut. After losing the last of the three Anglo-Dutch wars, the Dutch seceded their claim in the New World to the British, at which point New Netherland was broken into its various succeeding colonies.

The Dutch language had a profound impact on the development of modern English.

Modern English includes a litany of words adopted from other languages, but the Dutch language has contributed to the abundance of English words that are used in day-to-day life. For example, the city of Brooklyn can thank the Dutch town of Breukelen for its name. Words such as “bundle,” “cashier,” and “bamboo” can all be traced to Dutch roots as well.

In total, words either in Dutch or with a Dutch origin account for 1% of the modern English language – this might not sound like a lot, but with only 750,000 words in the English lexicon, the English language can thank the Dutch for approximately 7,500 words in total.

New York City’s classic architecture has strong Dutch roots.

Despite their minimal presence in North America, several buildings from the Dutch “New Amsterdam” remain in modern New York City. For examples, sites such as the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum in Brooklyn or Richmond Town in Staten Island date back to the colonial Dutch period, and serve today as popular tourist destinations. The classical Dutch style also saw another heyday during the turn of the 20th century, when Americans began to develop nostalgia for their colonial roots. As a result, there are several buildings throughout New York City and the Hudson River Valley that include Dutch architectural staples, such as gambrel roofs and curved eaves.

The Dutch may have unintentionally influenced the US Constitution.

While the Declaration of Independence may have been modeled after the Dutch Act of Abjuration, the Dutch government served as a point of reference and critique during the formation of the US Constitution. In Federalist No. 20, James Madison critically examines the government of the Dutch Republic. At the time, the US was governed according to the Articles of Confederation, an agreement formed by the original 13 colonies after the Revolutionary War. Both the Articles of Confederation and the contemporaneous Dutch Republic focused on having a weak, decentralized federal government, a choice that Madison argued was insensible for the Union as it began to accrue more states. He also claimed that the Dutch Republic’s decentralized government was to blame for the country’s “war and uprising” (although the Dutch were involved in no active conflict at the time of Federalist No.20’s publication). When the US Constitution eventually replaced the Articles of Confederation, it focused on building a stronger and more centralized federal government to oversee the growing number of states.

The flag of New York City still showcases the metropolis’ Dutch heritage.

The current flag of New York City, which was adopted in 1915, pays homage to the history of Dutch colonization in the area. The tri-colored white, blue, and orange design is meant to replicate the colors of the Dutch Prince’s Flag, which was the official flag of the Dutch Republic until 1630. Consequently, the Prince’s Flag would have been flown in the original colonial city of New Amsterdam when the city was founded in 1609. Today, the flag of New York City is raised by all city-owned buildings, and in the city’s public parks. The Prince’s Flag has since fallen into disuse in the Netherlands after developing socialist and Nazi connections during World War II.

The Dutch contributed to the American understanding of freedom of religion.

Although freedom of religion is now considered an inalienable right within the United States, many of the people who first voyaged to the New World were attempting to escape religious persecution. The colony of New Netherland subsequently became a safe haven for those seeking freedom to practice the religion of their choice. However, people came to New Netherland from more than just Europe – those seeking to escape the confines of Puritanical society in New England regions like Boston and Rhode Island also came to New Netherland. As a result, the colony was one of the first to hold a truly cosmopolitan and blended society in the New World, setting the foundations for one of the leading tenets of modern American society.

To learn more about the Dutch colony in America, check out Peter Rose’s Food, Drink, and Celebrations of the Hudson Valley Dutch.

Our Lingering Fascination with True Crime

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The 10-part true crime documentary, The Making of a Murderer, had America completely enthralled when it debuted on Netflix in December 2015. Not only were people unable to look away from the fascinating story of convicted criminal, Steven Avery, but they also found themselves still immersed in the storyline even after they turned off the television. As a result, social media blew up for months on end with conversation and debate.

Avery’s personal predicament wasn’t the only thing that captured people’s attention, either. Many headline-making crime stories, like the O.J. Simpson trial, the Manson murders and the Ted Bundy killings, evoked a similar response.

But what is it about true crime that continues to captivate us? What does this interest say about us, and what does studying crime cases teach us about humanity?

Why Does Crime Fascinate So Many People?

Although it’s tempting to think that topics like murder and crime are fascinating simply because people have a morbid curiosity, humanity is actually much more complex than that. The following are just a few of the many reasons we can’t look away in the face of the macabre, the seedy, and the untoward.

True crime delivers an adrenaline jolt.

We all know someone who loves to skydive, race motorcycles at top speeds, or otherwise seek out their thrills by engaging with something dangerous. He’s an adrenaline junkie, someone that can’t get enough of the powerful thrill that comes with taking chances.

Engaging with stories about true crime actually delivers a similar jolt of adrenaline as a reward. Eagerly binge-watching an entire season of Forensic Files in one sitting is capable of delivering the same adrenaline you’d get jumping out of a plane, even if you feel morally and psychologically sickened by the subject matter.

True crime provides a safe way to flirt with fear.

Many emotions have the power to motivate a human being, but fear is by far the most powerful one. Fear gets your blood pumping and heightens the senses. It can make you feel like you’re firing on all cylinders. However, there are very few situations in life that allow you to safely experience fear. Even jumping out of a plane with a parachute comes attached to some degree of risk!

Shows, movies or books about true crime allow you to flirt with fear in a safe, controlled environment. It’s exciting to watch documentaries about the Jack the Ripper murders or to read about a horrific historical figure like Madame LaLaurie, especially when they are not a threat anymore. You can simply turn off the TV or put your book down.

True crime challenges your mind.

It’s not just the horror of the crime itself that fascinates people. The investigative process is often just as fascinating, if not more so.

Just think back to the last time you watched a psychological thriller or read a mystery. Part of the fun was whether or not you could figure out what really happened before you arrived at the big reveal.

Following a real-life investigation as it unfolds can be even more exciting. It gives people the chance to play armchair investigator, seeing if they can ascertain “who did it” before the real investigators do. The human mind loves a puzzle, and true crime comes along with plenty of them.

True crime often addresses taboo topics that aren’t typically open to discussion.

There are some topics you just don’t talk about at the dinner table or in polite company, and true crime focuses on quite a few of them. It provides people with an acceptable context in which to think about these topics and even discuss them with other people.

For example, take the case of Casey Anthony, the woman accused of killing her own child in 2008. Polite society and popular culture tend to portray all women as natural mothers and born nurturers, when in reality, there are many that feel trapped by motherhood. Stories like Anthony’s allow us to confront and contemplate such issues, whether or not they’ve affected us personally.

True crime invites you to better understand your fellow man.

As social animals, it’s normal for human beings to try to relate to one another. We want to understand why one of our own might snap. What makes a group of lost hippie girls join the Manson family and participate in horrific crime? What drove Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer or John Wayne Gacy to murder not once, but repeatedly?

Even when we know all the theories, we may continue to ponder human nature. We love to know what makes other people tick. We also become curious whether we are vulnerable to acting similarly. When we understand what drives another person, we also gain new insight into what drives us.

Although it’s not necessarily for everyone, the study of true crime is something that fascinates an astonishing number of people. For some, it’s something of a guilty pleasure. For others, it’s a field of serious study or interest. For all, it’s a topic that challenges the mind and invites the exploration of one’s deepest, darkest fears. 

Who’s Most Interested in True Crime?

It’s a common misconception that most criminology enthusiasts are men. In fact, according to a 2010 study in Social Psychological and Personality Science, more women are true crime fans by a landslide.

For instance, Michael Boudet says a whopping 70% of the people that listen to his true crime podcast, Sword and Scale, are women ages 25-45. What about true crime appeals so strongly to women in particular? The following are some possibilities.

They can relate to the victims.

It’s not just a fascination with the criminal mind that draws people to true crime. It’s that the victims are almost always relatable people. You’ve probably looked at a victim many times and thought, “They’re so normal. This could happen to me.”

Women are often more empathetic with crime victims than men. The greater the empathy, the more riveting the true crime will be.

It’s a learning experience.

Women are significantly more likely to become victims of sexual violence than men. In fact, one out of every six American women is a rape victim or has experienced an attempted rape. Plus, 70% of the victims of serial killers are women.

What’s more, every woman is aware of these statistics. In fact, many female true crime fans say the genre teaches them how to spot potential warning signs of violence in people, as well as how they could escape if they ever found themselves in a bad situation. Forewarned is prepared!

It’s a way to face their fears.

For women, true crime isn’t just about exploring fear from the comfort of a safe space. While most men don’t spend much time and energy worrying that something unsafe could happen to them, unfortunately it is a real possibility for women. True crime can be a therapeutic and empowering way for a woman to confront and deal with that fear.

It’s a way to face their fantasies as well.

Although no woman wants anything to happen to her without her consent, she may, nevertheless, have fantasies related to violence or rape. However, such fantasies are incredibly taboo – nothing that most women want to share with the rest of the world. For such women, true crime is just as much about confronting their darkest fantasies as it is dealing with their worst fears.

5 Riveting True Crime Subtopics to Explore

True crime isn’t just about serial killers and mass murderers. History is full of fascinating stories, unbelievable events, and riveting tales that explore the darker side of society and humanity from a variety of angles.

Now that you have a better understanding of why you were so taken by The Jinx, it’s time to discover some new subtopics to explore. The following are just a few excellent places to start. Which ones have your attention?

Local True Crime History

It’s one thing to read about a sensational case that took place in another state or country. It’s quite another to learn about one that happened right where you live or in an area you’re very familiar with from personal experience.

Browsing books and media related to true crimes that happened close to home comes with many benefits. It’s an interesting way to learn more about your local community from an unusual angle. It’s also a great way to take the flirtation with fear to the next level.

Prisons and Penitentiaries

Once authorities have solved a crime, caught the perpetrator and sent him to prison, that’s only part of the story. The prison system and everything that happens within it is also part of the equation – one that’s well worth studying if you’re a true crime enthusiast.

What turned noteworthy penitentiaries like Sing Sing, Alcatraz or Fort Leavenworth into household names? How have punishments and penalties for various crimes changed over the course of history and why? What fascinating crime stories haven’t you heard yet? A study of prison history, especially on a regional level, can answer all your burning questions.

Gunslingers and Outlaws

The days of the Wild West may be long gone, but the stories remain just as fascinating as ever. Gunslingers like Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok and Wyatt Earp aren’t just inspirations for a good western film. They were also among the deadliest killers and most famous lawmen in all of American history.

You can explore how lawmakers handled incidents like stagecoach robberies, gunfights and assassination attempts back in the day. Trace the evolution of law enforcement and investigation from America’s earliest days to today. Soon, you’ll be lost in an entirely new set of engrossing tales to contemplate.

American Gangs and Organized Crime

Street gangs and organized crime entities like the Mafia offer an endless array of true crime stories with strong connections to law enforcement, big business, and politics throughout history.

Explore the legacy of criminal empires like the one Galveston Maceo ran in the early 20th century. Learn all about the connection between organized crime and the bootlegging industry of the Jazz Age. Get to know crime bosses, gang members and criminals, both famous and obscure.

Lesser Known Crimes

Sooner or later, a true crime enthusiast can reach a point where it seems like they have heard it all. If that sounds like you, it’s time to seek out some enigmatic cases and stories for your intellectual enjoyment.

Volumes like those in the Murder & Mayhem series offer serious criminology lovers and history buffs alike a chance to dig deeper into some of America’s lesser-known incidents. Explore the details of some of our nation’s most exciting forgotten cases. Look into the criminal past of individual towns and cities across America. Even look into specific sub-niches like railroad crime or bank robbery.

To study true crime, especially its history through the ages, is to learn what really makes humanity tick. Get started on your next great learning adventure today!

Who Were the 100 Most Influential People in American History and Why?

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American history is filled with influential people, from military leaders and presidents to visionaries and writers, activists and entrepreneurs. But it’s one thing to deem a given historical figure influential. It’s another to define what it means to be influential. What makes a given person worthy of a spot on a Top 100 list? Is it really possible for one person on such a list to matter more than another? How much do changing societal values affect who’s considered noteworthy and who is not?

Here we’ll take a closer look at the concept of influence itself, as well as introduce the list of people considered by modern historians to be the most influential when it comes to American history. Did your favorites make the list?

What Makes a Person Influential?

Influence is a tough concept to pin down. Every last one of us knows it when we see it, but most of us would struggle to define it. Although accomplishments absolutely do factor into the picture, true influence is about a lot more than that. It’s also about how strongly the figure in question helped to shape our nation and society as we know it today.

While ‘influence’ is often positive, it’s important to note that it doesn’t necessarily have to be. Factors that can determine a person’s level of influence include the power of pop culture, the nature of the person’s achievements, and the values that drove the figure to make the decisions that they did as far as their life’s work.

American History’s 100 Most Influential People

Although several publications and historical authorities have attempted to compile a list of history’s most influential figures, the most definitive one is the one established by The Atlantic. In order to determine who made the cut, a panel of ten prominent modern historians was asked to collectively weigh in. Did your favorites make the cut? 

Abraham Lincoln

“Four score and seven years ago…” begins Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech. Born in Indiana, the 16th president is profoundly famous for his legendary influence on American history. Quite notably, he ended slavery and ushered in our nation’s second founding after the Civil War. 

George Washington

George Washington, the father of our country, was born in Virgina and was integral to the founding of the nation. Washington’s Farewell Address infamously foreshadowed—and warned against—America’s two-party system, while he also set the precedent for presidents serving only two terms. 

Thomas Jefferson

President Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal,” an idea at the root of his profound influence on history and society. 

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Among many of President Roosevelt’s accomplishments as president, he passed the New Deal which helped the USA recover from the Great Depression and established Medicare and Medicaid. 

Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton’s legacy as a political scientist, soldier, and banker would eventually lead to America’s indisputable establishment as a major industrial force.

Benjamin Franklin

Perhaps best known for “discovering electricity” with a kite experiment in 1792, Franklin is considered the father of multiple American trades, including science, writing, invention, and many more. Benjamin Franklin is printed on the one-hundred dollar bill for his accomplishments.

John Marshall

A famous federalist who believed in strong government action, John Marshall strengthened the Supreme court by bringing the judicial branch into equality with the other two federal branches.

Martin Luther King

King, the author of the famous “I Have A Dream” speech is largely considered to be one of American history’s most important fighters for racial equality. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is located on the National Mall in Washington D.C. 

Thomas Edison

Although his invention of the lightbulb would have been reason enough for him to be present on this list, Edison was responsible for numerous inventions that would change history forever.

Woodrow Wilson

President Woodrow Wilson is credited with setting the stage for a foreign policy of American interventionism.

John D. Rockefeller

Rockefeller is known as the first major modern tycoon. He made a fortune with Standard Oil in Cleveland, and then became a philanthropist who invested in public education, public health, and more. You can still visit his massive, sprawling estate today!

Ulysses S. Grant

Not only was Grant one of American history’s greatest generals, but he was also the author of one of our nation’s most noteworthy political memoirs.

James Madison

James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, wrote the Bill of Rights, an undoubtedly important part of American history.

Henry Ford

America never would have had a chance to fall in love with the automobile if it weren’t for Ford’s Model T. Ford also revolutionized labor in America, popularizing the 40-hour, 5-day work week.

Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt’s efforts and accomplishments, including his work in conservation, set the stage for 20th-century America as we knew it.

Mark Twain

Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Beckett, is a great American author whose novels influenced generations of American writers.

Ronald Reagan

Truman may have led us into the Cold War, but Reagan led us out of it. He is also the much loved force behind conservative realignment.

Andrew Jackson

President Jackson, whose face is on the twenty dollar bill, is directly responsible for taking America from a republic to the democracy it is today.

Thomas Paine

Paine was America’s first noteworthy radical, as well as the definitive voice of the American Revolution.

Carnegie

Carnegie is largely considered to be the very first self-made American. His influence is directly responsible for America’s eventual industrial identity.

Harry S. Truman

Truman is the president responsible for bringing us into both the Atomic Age and the Cold War.

Walt Whitman

Often called the father of free verse, Walt Whitman’s poetry, essays, and journals, many written during the Civil War, would come to have a lasting influence on how we saw ourselves as countrymen.

Orville and Wilbur Wright

The Wright Brothers, originally from Ohio, changed modern transportation forever when they invented flight on the shores of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Alexander Graham Bell

When Bell invented the telephone, he would change the way humans communicate in profoundly lasting ways.

John Adams

Adams and his leadership were directly responsible for not only the American Revolution, but its eventual success.

Walt Disney

Another man that needs no introduction, Disney’s influence over the childhood of generations of Americans is undisputed.

Eli Whitney

When Whitney invented the cotton gin, he ushered in the era of cotton – an era which would eventually also be categorized by slavery.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Before he was the 34th president of the United States, Eisenhower was a Supreme Commander who led Allied forces to victory during World War II. He also signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Earl Warren

Earl Warren and the Supreme Court of his day would eventually be responsible for transforming our society at large.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Stanton’s tireless fighting for female voting rights and American social reform make her a major feminist icon.

Henry Clay

Clay’s penchant for oration and legislation was at the root of the compromises that held off the American civil war for many years.

Albert Einstein

Einstein is influential both for his game-changing scientific work and for his contagious humanity.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson taught a nation how to be self-reliant, making him the father of American individualism.

Jonas Salk

Jonas Salk’s groundbreaking polio vaccine is responsible for ridding society of one of history’s most debilitating plagues.

Jackie Robinson

Robinson is known not only for being one of baseball’s greatest, but for breaking the color barrier that was present in the sport previously.

William Jennings Bryan

Bryan ran for president three times and lost each time, but his populism is the real source of his lasting influence. He is best known for his “Cross of Gold” speech.

J.P. Morgan

J.P. Morgan was an investment banker who became the driving force behind the wave of industrial consolidation in the United States.

Susan B. Anthony

Anthony became the voice of women’s equality during the Suffrage Movement. She infamously voted illegally as a political protest.

Rachel Carson

Carson’s Silent Spring is largely credited with eventually ushering in the environmental movement of today.

John Dewey

Dewey worked tirelessly to turn the public school system into adequate training for democratic life.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

When Stowe penned Uncle Tom’s Cabin, she would spark inspiration for the generation of abolitionists behind the Civil War.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Roosevelt is well known for positively leveraging her position as the first lady, as well as the media of the time.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Du Bois devoted his life’s effort to addressing the “problem of the color line.” He coined the term “double consciousness” to describe racism in America.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Johnson is equally responsible for bringing history the Vietnam War, as well as important civil rights laws.

Samuel F.B. Morse

Morse is, of course, responsible for developing Morse code.

William Lloyd Garrison

Garrison, along with his newspaper The Garrison, would go down in history as one of abolition’s most noteworthy voices.

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass escaped to freedom in 1838. Douglass’s writings on American slavery remain influential and important to this day.

Robert Oppenheimer

Largely known as the father of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer ushered us into the nuclear era.

Frederick Law Olmsted

Olmstead not only gave us New York City’s beautiful Central Park, but showed us the importance of urban parks in general.

James K. Polk

Polk was only in office for one term, but he is responsible for making California, Texas, and the American Southwest permanent parts of our nation.

Margaret Sanger

Sanger’s championship of birth control would open the door to American sexual freedom as we know it today.

Joseph Smith

Smith was the founding father of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

A Supreme Court judge, Holmes stated the concept of “clear and present danger” as the only basis for limited the First Amendment, or the right of freedom to speech.  

Bill Gates

Bill Gates is widely considered to be one of America’s greatest innovators, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists.

John Quincy Adams

Adams is the author of the Monroe Doctrine, a major influence on American diplomacy throughout history.

Horace Mann

Mann was an advocate for public schooling, making him the father of American education as we know it.

Robert E. Lee

General Robert E. Lee’s composure as a general and as a great American symbol of conciliation make him influential to this day.

John C. Calhoun

Calhoun goes down in history as slavery’s most outspoken and influential defender. He is largely considered the definitive voice of the antebellum South.

Louis Sullivan

American architecture would never be the same once Sullivan introduced us to an urban staple – the skyscraper.

William Faulkner

Faulkner’s depictions of the American South have created a lasting fascination with the region that endures to this day.

Samuel Gompers

A cigar maker, Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor and ushered in the age of the union with his organization efforts.

William James

Often called the “father of American pyschology,” William James is also known for being the first great American pragmatist, a school of philosophy.

George Marshall

Marshall is responsible for both rebuilding Western Europe, as well as organizing America’s efforts during WWII.

Jane Addams

Sociologist Jane Addams is the founder of Hull House, a major influence when it comes to American social work. She is also the second woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau and his writings, such as Walden, have inspired multiple generations to “find themselves.”

Elvis Presley

Presley barely needs an introduction, as his musical influence on what we know as rock and roll is known by every American.

P.T. Barnum

The original inventor of the circus, Barnum changed the face of American entertainment forever, thanks to his penchant for spectacle and propaganda.

James D. Watson

Watson is the co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, a revelation that revolutionized medicine.

James Gordon Bennett

Bennett is considered to be the inventor of the modern-day American newspaper, thanks to his founding of The New York Herald.

Meriwether Lewis and William

The Lewis and Clark expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, mapped the western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase.

Noah Webster

Webster’s dictionary is still America’s go-to tome when it comes to defining the English language.

Sam Walton

The man behind corporate giant Wal-Mart, Walton changed the face of retail forever.

Cyrus McCormick

McCormick was the brain behind the mechanical reaper, an invention that made industrial agriculture possible.

Brigham Young

Young is responsible for helping dispossessed Mormons regain their lands, carrying on the work of Joseph Smith.

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth was the beginning of a culture that celebrates athletes as celebrities, thanks to the role he played in redeeming baseball after the Black Sox scandal.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Wright is widely considered to be our nation’s most important and influential architect. Frank Lloyd Wright houses are known for their distinctive ‘prairie style.’

Betty Friedan

Friedan directly addressed the plight of the American housewife and got society thinking about the validity of established gender roles.

John Brown

Although society never quite agreed on whether or not he was a hero or simply a fanatic, Brown is almost universally credited with sparking the Civil War.

Louis Armstrong

Born in New Orleans, Louis Armstrong was a musician who became influential in the jazz movement.

William Randolph Hearst

Hearst is credited with perfecting yellow journalism, as well as with helping to launch the Spanish-American War.

Margaret Mead

Mead’s anthropological work and writings included the idea that children learn from watching their parents. She also advocated for women’s rights and sexual freedom during the 1960s sexual revolution.

George Gallup

George Horace Gallup was the inventor of the Gallup poll, a successful statistical method of survey sampling for measuring public opinion

James Fenimore Cooper

Cooper’s novels are known the world over for their depictions of the American frontier.

Thurgood Marshall

Marshall’s legal work and presence as a Supreme Court justice was a critical element in the civil rights revolution.

Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway’s succinct but powerful writing style and adventurous life is still influencing Americans from all walks of life today. His love of the Florida Keys and fishing is well-documented.

Mary Baker Eddy

Mary Baker Eddy founded a popular religious movement during the 19th century, Christian Science.

Benjamin Spock

American Pediatrician Benjamin Spock’s book, Baby and Child Care, is one of the best-selling books of the twentieth century and revolutionized parental upbringing in the United States.

Enrico Fermi

Fermi’s unparalleled understanding of physics is behind both quantum theory and eventually the atomic bomb as well.

Walter Lippmann

Proof of the mighty power of the pen, Lippmann was capable of swinging entire elections with the newspaper columns he wrote.

Jonathan Edwards

Edwards is largely considered to be among America’s most important and noteworthy theologians.

Lyman Beecher

Beecher was a major evangelist and abolitionist. He is also the father of Harriet Beecher Stowe.

John Steinbeck

Steinbeck’s body of work is known for the unique way it accurately recorded life during the Depression era.

Nat Turner

Turner is considered by multiple historical authorities to have been the most successful of American history’s rebel slaves.

George Eastman

Eastman is the brilliant mind responsible for Kodak and its profound influence on the way we take photos.

Samuel Goldwyn

Goldwyn is largely considered to be the very first major Hollywood mogul and is responsible for producing more than four decades’ worth of movies. Samuel Goldwyn films include ‘The Pride of the Yankees,’ ‘Guys and Dolls,’ ‘The Best Years of Our Lives,’ and ‘The Bishop’s Wife.’

Ralph Nader

Nader played a critical role in making George W. Bush president. He is also known for helping to make modern automobiles much safer.

Stephen Foster

Largely considered to be our country’s first major songwriter, Foster brought us classics that are still well known today. “O! Susanna” is just one example.

Booker T. Washington

Washington worked tirelessly to help Black America rise up from slavery. He was also an early believer in self-help.

Richard Nixon

The scandals that characterized Nixon’s presidency are still not so fondly remembered by the American people.

Herman Melville

Although Moby Dick was a massive flop at the time of its publication, Herman Melville and his work would go on to change the face of American fiction forever.

Learn more about the contributions and influence of not only these great Americans, but countless others when you supplement your studies of American history with regional interest books on America’s most noteworthy people, cities, movements, and events. Explore the possibilities today!

The End of the Space Race: The Moon Landing

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At the height of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, another competition was born between the warring countries. The technological advances post-World War II allowed for both countries to begin experimenting with the possibility of launching into space, thus the race to become the first country in space was born. Today, the Cold War and Space Race is an equally frightening and exciting time in American history. Here, we’re looking at the events that led up to Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong’s legendary first walk on Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor.

Soviet and American Rocket Development

At the end of World War II, the Soviet Union still occupied a small region of eastern Germany. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin sent the country’s best rocket engineers to the area to uncover what they could use to build advanced weapon systems. The hunt was led by Sergei Korolev, who became the chief rocket and spacecraft engineer of the USSR after the war. With the scraps recovered from eastern Germany, Korolev and his team began the initial stages of rocket construction. 

Meanwhile, Robert H. Goddard, an American professor, was busy developing the technology for solid-propellant rockets, a rocket that is pushed by fuel. He also began working on liquid-propellant rockets in 1921, but his efforts were still being dismissed by the science community. Little did he know it at the time, but Goddard’s early work would become the framework for future launches. In 1945, the United States Army’s White Sands Proving Ground began constructing V2s, small rockets with photographic capability, and launching them into space. These rockets provided some of the first pictures from outer space. 

The Cold War and Space Race Begins

When Americans developed the first atomic bomb, they had full control of the weapon’s technology. However, soon after the war, the Americans received word that the Soviets had detonated an atomic weapon of their own. For the first time, Americans realized they didn’t have complete reign over such a potentially devastating weapon. The possibility of attack by both sides led to tense political relations and loose threats from both sides. Both the American and Soviet public feared an atomic bombing any day. 

The main members of the Apollo 11: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin. Reprinted from NASA Kennedy Space Center by Mark A. Chambers, courtesy of NASA (pg. 43, Arcadia Publishing, 2016).

With the development of atomic weapons on both sides, the Cold War in part evolved into a competition to see which country could develop the most advanced pieces of technology. By 1955, both countries had ballistic missiles that could reach space. In August of this year, Korolev got the Soviet Academy of Sciences to state its intent to beat the Americans into space. This declaration is considered the start of the Space Race. 

Information surrounding the development of space rocket projects was considered top secret. On September 20, 1956, Americans used a research-only missile to launch Jupiter-C into space. The flight was brief, v and it served as merely a test, but Korolev heard of the Americans progress and opted to speed work on his end. In August and September of that year, Korolev successfully launched two R-7 rockets, which helped him fine-tune the technology that would be used to send Sputnik into space. 

On October 4, 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik 1 into orbit. At first, the crew was met with silence. When the satellite’s beeping came through, the Soviets rejoiced, knowing they were the first country to have a satellite make a full orbit around Earth. Four months later, America launched its first successful rocket. However, in response to the USSR’s victory, President Eisenhower asked that a program be created and dedicated to nonmilitary space exploration. As a result, in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established. 

In 1961, the USSR again shocked the world when it sent the first man into space. Yuri Gargarin completed one orbit around Earth in Vostok 1 before returning safely to the planet’s surface. Gargarin became a national hero after his 108 minutes in space. There was some debate about whether the flight counted as the first man in space, as the capsule was guided by engineers on the ground. Regardless of the technicalities, it was regarded globally as a monumental success.

Sights Are Set On the Moon

Before Gargarin made his orbit, President John F. Kennedy was not a full supporter of the American space program. After seeing what it would cost the government to put a man on the moon, Kennedy rejected it simply for the reason that it was too expensive. However, after the Soviets’ accomplishment, Kennedy was prompted to action. He made a daring statement, and promised to have an American on the Moon by the end of the 1960s. With this statement, the famous Apollo Program was born.

The Apollo 11 rocket. Reprinted from NASA Kennedy Space Center by Mark A. Chambers, courtesy of NASA (pg. 45, Arcadia Publishing, 2016).

A year after the Soviets put a man in space, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth. NASA replicated this flight three more times, each time extending the orbit and testing the boundaries of their technology. Between 1965 and 1966, NASA launched the Gemini program, a series of manned space missions in which Americans accomplished the longest spaceflight, successfully docked two orbiting stations, and proved it was possible for an astronaut to work outside the spacecraft. 

Tragedy struck the NASA Apollo program about a month before its scheduled launch for the Moon. During a grounded practice test, the Apollo 1 interior caught on fire while the crew was trapped inside. The entire crew perished. Apollo 4, 5, and 6 were all unmanned launches, wary to avoid such tragedies again. Apollo 7 and 8, manned Earth orbits, were both complete successes, and reaffirmed confidence in the Apollo technology. Apollo 10 delivered a Lunar Module to the Moon’s surface, and the stage was finally set. 

The goal of Apollo 11 was to land three men in the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon. On July 16, 1969, the three men launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39. In all, the trip to the Moon took three days. When they finally arrived, Neil Armstrong was the first to step foot on the lunar surface. Buzz Aldrin joined him 20 minutes later. 

It’s estimated that about 723 million people watched the Moon landing live. Eight days after the astronauts took off, they safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean thus making America the victor in the race for the Moon. After this, competition between the two countries began to wane. The three Americans who manned Apollo 11 became international heroes. Their accomplishment marked the beginning of a new era of space science in countries around the world. They had proven the impossible, possible and made history. 

Murder in Speedway: The Victims of the Burger Chef Murders

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This past November marked the 40th anniversary of the Burger Chef Murders, a series of killings in Speedway, Indiana. The victims, all under the age of 21, saw their lives cut short during what should have been a normal work shift. But what truly happened at the Burger Chef restaurant that night? In The Burger Chef Murders of Indiana, author Julie Young explores the case, and the tragic victims caught in the crosshairs. Read on to meet the victims, and learn about their last known moments at the Burger Chef.

The evening of November 17, 1978, was just like any other Friday night for the four young crew members closing the Burger Chef Restaurant at 5725 Crawfordsville Road in Speedway, Indiana. After serving up Big Shefs, Funmeals and other signature fare to their customers, the employees locked the doors at 11:00 p.m. and began to clean the store in preparation for the following day. Nothing seemed amiss as Daniel Davis, sixteen, changed out of his brown and orange uniform shirt in the restroom while his assistant manager, Jayne Friedt, twenty, took the cash from the register drawers and placed it in the safe located in the manager’s office.

Jayne’s career with the fast-food franchise began when she was a seventeen-year- old student at Avon High School. She started working for Burger Chef at the 38th Street and Lafayette Road location before transferring to the Speedway store in the spring of 1978. Everyone who encountered the longhaired dimpled young lady known as “Sweet Jayne” said she was a happy person who was always ready to tell or laugh at a joke.

Illustration from a Burger Chef employee hygiene manual depicting nightly cleaning procedures. This literature was distributed to crew members in the 1970s. Reprinted from The Burger Chef Murders in Indiana by Julie Young, courtesy of the author (pg. 17, The History Press, 2019).

“She had a zany smile that always reminded me of Lily Tomlin because when she smiled, her eyes would crinkle up into these crescent moon shapes,” said Lori Shufflebarger, who was a year behind Jayne in high school and frequently ate lunch with her at the same table in the cafeteria.

Jayne was a well-rounded individual who was involved in a number of activities while holding down her part-time job. She was involved with her school’s yearbook staff, concert band, choir, pep club, drama, gymnastics and more. She also served as a teacher’s aide and library assistant—supervisory positions that no doubt helped her succeed in the workplace. And although she took her managerial job seriously, she was a professional who had the ability to get beyond the small stuff in order to get her work done.

Like Jayne, Ruth Ellen Shelton, seventeen, was a poised and professional young lady who was in the fall of her junior year at Northwest High School. When she wasn’t clearing the “Works Bar” or wiping down Formica tables in the Burger Chef dining room after hours, she was an honor student who took the STEM-related classes that girls in the late 1970s typically shied away from. But Ruth Ellen was far from a typical teenager. That November, she was pursuing a double major in business and math in hopes that her heavy course load would help her get into a good college, where she planned to earn a degree in the emerging field of computer science.
Classmates said Ruth Ellen was a quiet, studious and creative girl, and when she was not working, hitting the books or engaging in her latest macramé project, she studied voice at Indiana Central University (today the University of Indianapolis) and was active in a variety of youth ministries at the Westside Church of the Nazarene.

“She often talked about how much fun she was having with her fellowship group,” Ruth Ellen’s mother, Rachel Shelton, said. “They were studying the Book of Revelation, and she was really fascinated by that.” Like other girls her age, Ruth Ellen alternately teased and mentored her younger siblings and kept a diary filled with the details of her life. The entry for December 25, 1977, recounted all of the gifts she received but concluded with the realization that she “learned how much she loved her mom and dad.”

When Rachel dropped Ruth Ellen off at the store on Friday afternoon, she paused in the parking lot to admire her little girl, who was growing into a beautiful young woman with her whole life in front of her. What a great time to be alive, she thought to herself, putting the car in reverse and pulling away.

Illustration from a Burger Chef employee hygiene manual that was distributed to crew members in the 1970s. By the time of the murders, the employee uniform had changed in terms of color and design. Reprinted from The Burger Chef Murders in Indiana by Julie Young, courtesy of the author (pg. 19, The History Press, 2019).

Near the back of the store, Mark Flemmonds, sixteen, was cleaning the grill and hanging up his spatulas for the night. The youngest of seven children born to Robert and Blondell Flemmonds, Mark was raised in a devout Jehovah’s Witness household. Although Mark had some trouble adjusting to the rigors of high school and struggled throughout his freshman year, he rallied during the first months of the fall semester and was succeeding as a sophomore. Speedway High School officials were convinced that the friendly boy who took pride in his appearance would make it after all. His father was also encouraged by Mark’s scholastic improvement and allowed him to take a job at the Burger Chef, which was close enough to home that Mark could walk back and forth to work.

Daniel returned from the restroom and got to work bagging up the garbage before taking it out to the dumpster. He was a junior at Decatur Central High School who loved to laugh, tell jokes and have a good time. He was relatively new to the Friday night shift, having been moved to the closing crew after Speedway High School senior Diana Dillon left her position the week before.

Daniel had a passion for photography and often developed his pictures at home in his own darkroom. He was also fascinated with aviation and planned to enlist in the U.S. Air Force after high school. Like the other three, he was a model employee who never gave Gilyeat any trouble. In fact, the manager said all three of the students easily worked between twenty and thirty hours each week while maintaining their grades, and they had earned his trust. When he thought about it, he could not remember a time that any of them had been late for their shifts. They were truly an exceptional crew.

“They were kids who were out there trying to take responsibility,” Cherne said.

But that night, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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