author
Gertrude Van Duyn Southworth
b. 1874
A prolific early-20th-century writer of history textbooks and supplementary readers, she helped turn American and world history into clear, story-driven reading for students. Her books range from ancient history to New York State and South America, showing a strong gift for making big subjects approachable.
1 Audiobook
Great Cities of the United States Historical, Descriptive, Commercial, Industrial
by Gertrude Van Duyn Southworth, Stephen Elliott Kramer
About the author
Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1874, Gertrude Van Duyn Southworth wrote a substantial body of educational history books for young readers and schools. Records of her publications show works on American history, ancient history, New York State, and South America, many issued in the early decades of the 20th century.
She was closely connected with the Iroquois Publishing Company of Syracuse. Contemporary memorial information reports that after the death of her husband, Edward Franklin Southworth, who founded the company in 1915, she became its president in 1946.
Southworth appears to have focused on making history readable and memorable for students, often using story form, study guides, and supplementary reading. She died in 1966 at the age of 92, leaving behind a catalog that reflects a practical, classroom-centered approach to history writing.