Modern Americans A Biographical School Reader for the Upper Grades

"Modern Americans" by Chester M. Sanford is a biographical reader crafted for older elementary students in the early 1900s, offering portraits of prominent Americans to excite young minds about the possibilities within their own generation. The book aims to inspire youthful readers by sharing stories that highlight contemporary people from varied industries. Instead of focusing only on historical figures, the book argues that studying role models who contribute to modern society promotes civic engagement. Sanford and Owen introduce their method for choosing the people they profile, hoping their stories will spark lively conversations and reveal the formative events from childhood that guided the lives of these extraordinary individuals.