J. Harold (John Harold) Putman

John Harold Putman, usually published as J. Harold Putman, was born in 1866 and died in 1940. Surviving catalog records and public-domain editions show him as the author of works including Britain and the Empire: A History for Public Schools and Egerton Ryerson and Education in Upper Canada.

His books suggest a writer deeply interested in history, citizenship, and education. Britain and the Empire was written for school use, with a plain, practical approach for younger readers, while Egerton Ryerson and Education in Upper Canada takes a more focused historical look at the development of Ontario's school system and the legacy of one of its key reformers.

Although detailed biographical information is limited in the sources available here, Putman stands out as a teacherly kind of author: organized, informative, and intent on making big historical subjects understandable. His work is especially appealing to listeners interested in Canadian educational history and older styles of public-school history writing.