author

Elizabeth Ida Samuel

b. 1860

A writer of early 20th-century books for younger readers, she turned big subjects like metal, industry, and history into clear, approachable stories. Her work reflects a patient, educational style that made practical topics feel like adventures.

1 Audiobook

The story of iron

The story of iron

by Elizabeth Ida Samuel

About the author

Born in 1860, Elizabeth Ida Samuel is best documented today through surviving book records rather than through a widely known personal biography. Catalog and public-domain records identify her as the author of The Story of Iron and The Story of Gold and Silver, books that introduced young readers to industrial and historical subjects in an accessible way.

The Story of Iron was originally published by Penn Publishing Co. in 1914, and modern catalog records list Samuel as "Elizabeth Ida Samuel, 1860-." The book follows a young boy around a foundry while also explaining the importance of iron, showing how Samuel blended storytelling with practical knowledge.

Because readily available sources are sparse, many personal details about her life remain unclear. What can be said with confidence is that she wrote educational, youth-friendly nonfiction and fiction at a time when publishers often used narrative to make science, materials, and everyday industry easier for children to understand.