author
Harold L. (Harold Leslie) Peterson
1922–1978
A leading historian of early American arms and armor, he brought military history to life for general readers as well as specialists. His books are known for turning technical subjects like firearms, forts, and body armor into clear, vivid stories.
2 Audiobooks
U.S.S. Cairo: The Story of a Civil War Gunboat Comprising a Narrative of Her Wartime Adventures by Virgil Carrington Jones, and an Account of Her Raising in 1964 by Harold L. Peterson
by Virgil Carrington Jones, Harold L. (Harold Leslie) Peterson
Arms and Armor of the Pilgrims, 1620-1692
by Harold L. (Harold Leslie) Peterson
About the author
Born in Peekskill, New York, on May 22, 1922, Harold Leslie Peterson became one of the best-known American historians of firearms and related military material. He studied at Drew University, served during World War II, and later continued his education at the University of Wisconsin.
Peterson worked as a curator and historian, including important roles connected with the National Park Service and the Smithsonian. He was especially respected for his knowledge of early American weapons, armor, and military life, and his work helped make those subjects accessible to a wide audience.
He wrote many books for both adults and younger readers, including works on firearms, body armor, knives, forts, and colonial arms and armor. Peterson died on January 1, 1978, but his books have remained useful for readers interested in American history, military technology, and the material world of the past.