Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin Historical Society: A Life of Firsts: Brief Biography of Vel Phillips
Born in Milwaukee in 1924, Vel Phillips was a women's and civil rights activist, and the first female African American lawyer in Wisconsin. Her many accomplishments as an African American woman paved the way for others.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Hattie Mc Daniel
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 2006 to commemorate Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American actress to win an Academy Award. With a short biographical passage.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Hattie Mc Daniel
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Hattie McDaniel, an American actress and singer who became the first African-American to be honored with an Academy Award.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Arthur Ashe
This biography summarizes the life and career of American tennis great Arthur Ashe.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Duke Ellington
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1986 to commemorate famous jazz musician Duke Ellington. Includes a short biographical passage.
Other
Who2 Biographies: Booker T. Washington
Who2 offers "famous person basics" on Booker T. Washington, plus a list of four other websites about or related to this famous educator.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: William Grant Still
This resource describes how William Grant Still (1895-1978 CE) started out playing the violin and then began teaching himself to play other string instruments as well as the oboe, clarinet, and saxophone. His most famous work is...
Great Idea Finder
The Great Idea Finder: George Washington Carver
Resource provides biographical material of the famous inventor, George Washington Carver. Content includes links to places for further information, timeline, as well as fun facts about this man.
Other
National Civil Rights Museum
Get a glimpse of what is housed in the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. The interactive tour highlights the struggle and introduces key historical figures such as Sojourner Truth, Nat Turner, Dred Scott, and Frederick...
Curated OER
National Park Service: International Civil Rights Walk of Fame: Thurgood Marshall
This is an informative biography discussing the role Thurgood Marshall had in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Dr. King's Leadership and Character [Pdf]
This lesson plans looks at the leadership and character of Dr. King, and encourages students to draw connections to their lives. More lesson plans from the national parks service on civil rights and Dr. King can be found here:...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. [Pdf]
"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." is a one page, biographical passage about Martin Luther King, Jr. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires students to provide evidence from the story; it includes determining the author's...
Other
Digital Text: My Escape From Slavery
This site provides a narrative of Frederick Douglass' escape from slavery.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Marcus Garvey
Article summarizing the life and work of Marcus Garvey.
Alabama Humanities Foundation
Encyclopedia of Alabama: History: Martin Luther King, Jr.
Learn about the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., with links to many related topics about the struggle for equality in America.
Nobel Media AB
The Nobel Prize: The Nobel Peace Prize 1964
This website from The Nobel Foundation on 1964 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968 ), is organized into the following sections: "Presentation Speech," "Biography," "Nobel Lecture," "Swedish Nobel...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The Massachusetts 54th Regiment: Honoring the Heroes
In this lesson plan, students will consider "The Massachusetts 54th Regiment: Honoring the Heroes." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Arthur Ashe
This brief biography of athlete Arthur Ashe describes his rise to fame in the world of sports, his work as an activist and his diagnosis of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
PBS
Pbs: Jazz: Biographies: Ella Fitzgerald
Learn about the life of Ella Fitzgerald, from her childhood as an orphan to her rise as a successful jazz singer. Includes audio (requires RealPlayer).
Other
The Official John Coltrane Site
Considered to be one of the giants of jazz, John Coltrane is featured on this official website. Featured on this site is a biography, discography and pictures.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Duke Ellington
Biography of Duke Ellington, one of the originators of big band jazz, and a noted composer.
Other
Public Art in Los Angeles: Biddy Mason's Place
Features part of an exhibit at the University of Southern California that provides a chronology of Biddy Mason's life.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Biography of General Colin L. Powell
This site is a biography of Colin Powell. It includes a transcript of an interview with General Colin Powell.
National Women's Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame: Ella Baker
The National Women's Hall of Fame honors Ella Baker for her role in the Civil Rights Movement in America.