Learn About The 50 States
Ruby Bridges (1954)close
Ruby Bridges, born in Tylertown, Mississippi, was the first African American child to attend an all-White school in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1960. Because of protests from the parents of other children at William Frantz Elementary School, Ruby had to be escorted to school by U.S. Marshals, and at first, all of the teachers at the school refused to teach her. Ruby's courage was commemorated in Norman Rockwell's painting The Problem We All Live With.
Click on any of the names below to find out more...
Looking for a famous American?
This page presents short biographies of more than 200 famous Americans drawn from our unit, "The 50 States." These personalities are arranged by theme.
Just click a theme at the top of the page to view a selection list for that theme.
African Americans:
Artists:
Business Leaders:
National "Characters":
| Phineas Taylor "P.T." Barnum | Clyde Barrow | John Wilkes Booth |
| Butch Cassidy | William "Buffalo Bill" Cody | Davy Crockett |
| Jesse James | Evel Knievel | Harland David "Colonel" Sanders |
| Jefferson R. "Soapy" Smith |
Cultural Figures:
Inventors:
Pioneers and "Firsts":
Politicians & Activists:
Scientists:
Sports Figures:
Accomplished Women:
Writers & Poets: