With a story for every day of black history month, this. When robert peary searched the north pole in 1909, he was accompanied by his closest companion matthew henson. The conquest of the north pole was an elusive, almost impossible goal at the beginning of the last century. In this regard, henson again shows his greatness because while it is obvious that he was subjected to abuse and humiliation, and while it is further evident that he was proud to have stood at the north pole not only as an american, but also as a black man, henson did not let his book become anything other than an account of an arctic expedition. The biography is a wonderful look at the life of an amazing, creative genius. Peary in his daring journey to reach the north pole in 1909. Henson is believed to be the first human to actually reach the pole, some 45 minutes ahead of peary, on april 6, 1909. Although peary was credited with the discovery, students will learn it was henson who first stepped foot on the farthest point north on our globe. I love a book where you come away with knowledge of someone or something you had absolutely no idea existed. Matthew alexander henson, african american explorer who accompanied robert e. For over two decades, they explored the arctic, as well as on april 6, 1909, peary, henson as well as the remainder of the team made history, becoming the very first individuals to attain the north poleor at least they promised to have. Henson was an africanamerican, whose parents had been born free. Also, between two earlier tries, the crew acquired three meteorites and sold them to the american museum of natural history. In amazing adventure students will read about matthew henson an africanamerican who accompanied admiral robert e.
This book contains biographies, related activities, and lots of extras to help teachers integrate interesting facts and inspiring human interest stories throughout the. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this matthew henson study guide and get instant access to the following critical essays. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. Henson was born in charles county, maryland, south of washington, d. A photobiography of africanamerican polar explorer. A superreadable book and printed in a dyslexiafriendly format. Matthew henson library, books on matthew henson, about. May 01, 2001 in this regard, henson again shows his greatness because while it is obvious that he was subjected to abuse and humiliation, and while it is further evident that he was proud to have stood at the north pole not only as an american, but also as a black man, henson did not let his book become anything other than an account of an arctic expedition. Matthew henson biography famous people biographies. The first chapter was really interesting because it talked. Matthew alexander henson american explorer britannica.
Henson, an african american, had been born in rural maryland just after the civil war. Matthew henson was the first africanamerican to explore the north pole. Since the museum had such a good relationship with the crew, they hired henson to help out with the arctic exhibits. This book talked about the exploration of the north pole and the people that helped get to that goal. The achievement of henson was more recognized since the end of the twentieth century.
It is very understandable, but does not talk down to them, either. Keep on the story of matthew henson, codiscoverer of. Jim henson broke into television with a fiveminute puppetry segment when he was only a freshman in college. No amount of fear, cold, hunger, or injustice could keep him from tasting adventure and exploring the world. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes. Quia quiz on matthew henson at the top of the world. Matthew henson was survived by an only son, anauakaq, whose mother was an inuit woman named akatingwah.
In june 1965, 28yearold jim henson started a written log of his activities in what became known as the red book. Join facebook to connect with matthew henson and others you may know. Matthew henson started as valet to explorer robert edwin peary, and ended up as one of the first men to reach the north pole with peary in 1909. Matthew henson was not meant to lead an ordinary life. Henson demonstrated great courage during his arctic exploration and in his daily life as an african american. The book documents not only the struggle the ex pedition made to overcome almost in human conditions, but also the difficul ties henson had back home after the expedition, when pearys selfishness, cooks claim that he was the first on the pole, and bigotry undermined hen son s chances of gaining recognition for his accomplishments. Matthew henson biography birthday, trivia american. In between is a story about a young boy running way from home to a new life and eventually reaching the north pole. Orphaned as a youth, henson went to sea at the age of 12 as a cabin boy on the sailing ship katie hines. For more information about matthew henson, also read kirk ward robinsons founding courage. Matthew henson explorer bio, facts, family famous birthdays. This stunning picture book offers a riveting account of africanamerican e.
The biography, on the days leading up to and including jims death. He created puppets like none ever seen before, with expressive fabric faces and rodcontrolled arms. Matthew henson was an africanamerican explorer who discovered the north pole with robert e. Robert peary, the lieutenant of the crew, went on lecture tours and received many donations. For almost 23 years, he participated in the seven voyages of robert peary as his associate. Life without social media part 1 december 24, 2018 7. I, matthew henson by carole boston weatherford scholastic. Many of my thoughts about jesus come to me in small groups of souls whose purpose is talking about him and his ways. Im posting below perhaps for only a limited time an excerpt from the chapter just one person, from jim henson. Discount prices on books by jim henson, including titles like jim hensons fraggle rock.
Matthew henson was an explorer he visited places such as china japan the philippines france africa and southern russia. Explore the concept of courage with your class by reading a biography about matthew henson, an africanamerican explorer who overcame hardships and obstacles to accomplished something no one else had done before. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. Immediately download the matthew henson summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching matthew henson. Frisby, flies over the north pole and drops a steel box containing a u. Matthew alexander henson august 8, 1866 march 9, 1955 was an american explorer who accompanied robert peary on seven voyages to the arctic over a period of nearly 23 years. They spent a total of 18 years on expeditions together. In recognition of matthew hensons achievement, another black marylander and explorer, herbert m.
The book had many interesting facts that would blow my mind. He learned to survive in the arctic wilderness, and he stood by. In 1912 henson published a memoir about his arctic explorations, a negro explorer at the north pole. Keep on the story of matthew henson, codiscoverer of the north. The story is inspirational and talks about how matthew henson and robert peary. Peary on most of his expeditions, including that to the north pole in 1909. Aug 05, 2017 a negro explorer at the north pole was a memoir written by henson. Deborah hopkinson gives us a matthew henson who is instrumental to the success of the expedition, completely likable, and brilliant at getting the work done. These later revelations render a negro explorer at the north pole virtually unusable as a primary reference beyond dates and times.
When henson was only about he went to work on a sailing ship. Polar explorer weatherford, carole boston, velasquez, eric on. Henson at the north pole dover books on travel, adventure. Polar explorer, i learned about matthew henson, who together with robert peary became the first men to reach the north pole. I was 14 years of age when i first read dark companion, and it set the course of my life. Unusually in this book the illustrations run across the lower margins of the pages. Matthew henson biography childhood, life achievements. Matthew henson was born on august 8th 1866 in nanjemoy,maryland,usa. Henson died in nyc on march 5, 1955, and was buried in woodlawn cemetery. Oct 01, 20 when robert peary searched the north pole in 1909, he was accompanied by his closest companion matthew henson. Matthew henson was an africanamerican explorer who accompanied the famous american explorer robert peary on his 1909 expedition to greenland and. They took him from the port of baltimore, around the world, and north to the pole.
Henson and peary had been attempting to reach the pole for the past 18 years. He reached the pole as a member of an expedition to the arctic led by the explorer robert e. Matthew henson was an accomplished africanamerican explorer who, along with robert peary, was one the first men to reach the north pole. Discovering my superhuman powers february 5, 2019 11. His muppets became worldrenowned celebrities and formed the backbone of a media empire. A biography of matthew henson, an africanamerican explorer, with related activities. Matthew alexander henson was born in maryland on august 8, 1866. In this, he describes himself as a general assistant, skilled craftsperson, interpreter he had learned an inuit language, and laborer. In recognition of matthew henson s achievement, another black marylander and explorer, herbert m. May 16, 2015 im posting below perhaps for only a limited time an excerpt from the chapter just one person, from jim henson. Matthew henson research project notes flashcards quizlet. It was only 30 years after matthews death that people began to talk about his.
Peary, and a son of sharecroppers, matthew henson, shared a dream of conquering the unconquered north pole and were brave enough to risk their lives numerous times before they finally succeeded. Explore books by adam henson with our selection at. It was the first southern state to so honor any black citizen. Henson give the interesting information about the first african american arctic explorer who was born on 8 august 1866. I, matthew henson is written by carole boston weatherford and illustrated by eric velasquez. Jim henson was one of those exceedingly rare individuals with the drive, creativity and singular vision to change the world. State of maryland places a plaque at its statehouse in honor of henson. Photograph of henson in civilian clothing, taken from his 1912 book a negro explorer at the north pole. Stay tuned to complex for new content from matthew henson.
According to henson, he was the first of the group to reach the north pole. Matthew henson worked closely with bradley robinson in 1946 47 to write what has become the only official henson biography. He is best known for his participation in the 19081909 expedition that claimed to have reached the geographic. Matthew henson, an africanamerican, ran away from home at the age of 11 and went to sea as a cabin boy. This reimagined pulp novel follows the doc savagestyle adventures of the first black man to reach the north pole.
Henson failed to play a part in his sons breeding, though in 1987 anauakaq reunited with peary descendants in america as recorded in the novel north pole legacy. After that he got married in 1906 her name was lucy ross. Still, the book is written in matthew henson s voice, and is worth reading if only to know him better. This is a nonfiction picture book that tells matthew hensons story.
Now, the authors son has added 200 photos and maps, a chapter by chapter index, a 9page condensed version, and the polar aftermath. Write a biography for kids by thinking about what a child would enjoy learning about a person, covering important achievements, creating an outline and getting help from a. Henson 18661955 always accompanied robert peary on his arctic explorations. The book gives a good biography of young matthew henson, and then showcases his contributions to pearys arctic exploration. As a result, he was part of the first expedition to reach the north pole. Their goal was to be the first people to reach the north pole successfully. Matthew henson and the ice temple of harlem is the first in a new exciting retro rollicking adventure series. Explain to students that in 1908, matthew henson joined commander robert e. Though it is inarguable that both men were valiant and gifted explorers, there is currently much controversy surrounding the discovery of the north pole, and who, in fact, reached first.
Well begin on saturday, may 12, 1990, with jim and his daughter cheryl flying to north carolina to visit his father paul and stepmother bobby. He noted down what had happened up until that point deemed ancient history and then recorded anything that he felt was worth recording as single line journal entries until the end of 1988. He is best known for his participation in the 19081909 expedition that claimed to have reached the geographic north pole on april 6, 1909. The top 10 quotes from live big by ajit nawalkha december 10, 2018 7. Help our website financially by purchasing directly from us. In 1909, matthew henson was the first american to reach the north pole. Comparisons are often made as they are in this book with walt disney, and rightly so. In 1988 hensons body was moved to arlington national cemetery where he was interred near the place where robert peary was buried. Matthew henson may have been the first person to stand at the north pole. Anauakaq once visited his fathers family and the site where henson was buried.
737 230 125 1520 235 1406 171 1129 983 1573 1173 299 1381 363 1452 41 456 260 370 1095 1044 605 362 240 1205 751 1184 494 212 71 48 313 1405 656 1358 509 1488 1001