Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard

Adelia Belle Beard was an American author and artist born in 1857. She wrote books for young readers, especially books that treated girls as capable, curious, and ready for hands-on fun rather than passive entertainment.

She is best known for working with her sister Lina Beard on popular guides such as The American Girl's Handy Book and On the Trail, books filled with projects, pastimes, and outdoor advice. Their work helped open up space for girls in activities that were often presented at the time as more suitable for boys.

Adelia Beard is also associated with the early history of Camp Fire Girls, where she is credited as one of the people involved in its beginnings. She died in 1920, but her books still give a vivid picture of an era when creativity, self-reliance, and outdoor play were becoming part of modern girlhood.