Lina Beard

Born Mary Caroline "Lina" Beard in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the daughter of artist James Henry Beard. She wrote with her sister Adelia Belle Beard, and together they became best known for The American Girl's Handy Book, a wide-ranging collection of activities, crafts, games, and skills for girls.

The Beard sisters wrote in an energetic, encouraging style that treated girls as capable makers, explorers, and problem-solvers. Their work stood out for how much practical detail it offered, from amusements and handwork to outdoor pastimes, and it helped shape a more adventurous picture of girlhood in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Lina Beard died in 1933. Even now, her best-known books are remembered for their cheerful mix of creativity, self-reliance, and fun.