author
Smith Burnham
1866–1947
A longtime Michigan educator and historian, he wrote lively history books for young readers and classrooms. His work aimed to make the story of the United States and Pennsylvania clear, vivid, and easy to follow.
1 Audiobook
Hero Tales from History
by Smith Burnham
About the author
Born on August 20, 1866, Smith Burnham was an American educator and historian who spent much of his career teaching in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He became head of the Department of History at Western State Normal School, later Western Michigan University, and was known for helping shape history education there.
Burnham wrote and co-wrote a number of school histories, including A Short History of Pennsylvania, The Making of Our Country, and Hero Tales from History. His books were designed for students, with a straightforward style that brought major events and historical figures to life.
He died on December 13, 1947. Though not a household name today, his work reflects an era when school history books were written to spark curiosity as well as teach facts, and his long connection to teacher education gave his writing a practical, classroom-minded feel.