Vol. 11, Issue 2 Dr. Jeanne Ramirez Mather, Ed. March 2009

Who was called “The Elizabeth Keckley, Confidante to Mary Todd Lady Edison?” It was rare enough to be a How would a child born a ter’s son as a wedding gift. While well known for her self- woman inventor in the 1800s, slave in Virginia grow up to Liz suffered various episodes of centeredness and unstable tem- but combine that with only an become the confidante to Mary abuse as a young slave, it was perament, but unlike most Liz elementary school education, Todd Lincoln? Since 2009 is between age fourteen and twenty- could see past all of this. Ap- and starting a career of inventing the bicentennial of Abraham four that she bore the brunt of both parently Liz recognized that as a child, and it becomes obvi- Lincoln’s birth, it seems appro- physical and sexual abuse, result- Mary’s life as a child was any- ous how Margaret Knight even- priate to introduce the reader to ing in her one and only child, a thing but perfect, and that they tually would be referred to as the child born Elizabeth son. shared an unhappy childhood. “The Lady Edison.” Born in Hobbs. Eventually she went back to Liz eventually would be in 1838 in Maine, Mattie was At her birth, Liz was con- live with her master’s widow and charge of caring for the Lincoln raised with her two older broth- sidered the daughter of literate children, and develop into ers by her mother. While Mattie slave parents, although biologi- Mary’s confidante. She was did not have much time with her cally her father was Armistead there to console Mary against father before he died, she did Burwell, master of the planta- the accusations that Mary was a develop his interest and ability in tion. Elizabeth’s parents were Southern sympathizer as her using tools and making things. owned by different masters, siblings lived in the South and While many girls keep journals lived on separate plantations, her brother even fought for the when they are young, Mattie’s and when Elizabeth was very Confederacy. Liz was there journal was a bit different. Her young her father’s master when the Lincoln’s son Willie journal was filled with sketches moved leaving Elizabeth and family in St. Louis . During her died, most likely of typhoid. and ideas for possible inven- her mother to fend for them- childhood Liz had learned to sew, She was there as Mary dealt tions. She loved making toys for selves. Elizabeth’s mother was a skill that led to a large clientele with the loss of three of her half her older brothers, as well as a house servant serving as a of notable women. With the sup- brothers, who were killed while useful things like a foot warmer seamstress. port of these women, Liz was able fighting for the South. And she for her mother, and even made Slaves were expected to to buy her freedom, and move to was there for Mary when her and sold specially designed sleds start work at a young age, as Washington, D. C. husband was assassinated. Liz to neighborhood children to help seen by Elizabeth’s attending Her clients were prominent, even helped Mary move to Chi- supplement the meager family the mistress of the plantation such as Mrs. and cago and stayed with her a short income. by the age of four, and by age Mrs. Robert E. Lee. With the while, until Mary was unable to When Mattie was eleven, her five or six, depending on the help of one of her clients, Liz was continue to pay Liz a wage. mother and brothers went to source, serving as nursemaid to given the opportunity to meet After this Liz went back to work in the textile mill. Since the mistress’s infant child. Her , and after Washington to open her dress the minimum age to work at the immaturity was severely pun- proving her skill with a needle, Liz shop. mill was twelve, Mattie was too ished after she tried to pick up became Mary’s seamstress. But What happened to Liz’s son? young, so she spent her days in the baby, whose cradle had Mary and Liz were more than Liz was able to send him to a school, and playing in the mill fallen over, with a fireplace employer and employee, they be- black school, Wilberton Univer- after school while she waited for shovel. When she turned four- came close friends. Not an easy sity in Ohio. During the war her family to finish their 15 hour teen Liz was given to her mas- feat considering Mary Lincoln was (Continued on page 4) work days. When she turned twelve, she too went to work in Table of Contents the mill. After witnessing a girl hit in the head with an out of Elizabeth Keckley, Confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln; The Lady Edison 1 control loom shuttle, Mattie What Do You Know about Dominoes? 2 worked on a stop-motion metal shuttle guard device. Since Literature Connection; Native American Baseball Player Makes History 3 (Continued on page 3) Submarine 4

USAO’s Classroom Spice What Do You Know about Dominoes ? Did you know that a set of dominoes was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen (dated at approximately 1355 B.C.)? Did you know that the first World Domino Tournament, held in Las Vegas in 2005, featured players from more than forty countries? Did you know that the world record for the most dominoes set up and toppled involve 4,002,136 dominoes?

Dominoes may be played differently in various parts of the world, but there is no question that they are popular in many countries. Perhaps they are most popular in Latin American Countries.

Dominoes are small tiles originally made of bone or ivory, with “pips,” or spots, drilled and either painted or filled with ebony. The word domino is believed to have come from 1) the French word for a priest’s black and white winter hood, 2) a hooded masquerade costume, or 3) the Latin word dominus meaning “lord master of the house.”

China is usually given credit for inventing the “game” of dominoes, Mah-jongg, with the oldest domino sets dating back to 1120 A.D. Chinese dominoes, however, differ from those found in much of the modern world, and include both red and white pips, with each tile representing one of the twenty-one outcomes of throwing two dice, and often involve a military aspect to the game.

Dominoes Around the World by Mary D. Lankford, ISBN 0-688-14051-3 is a great collec- tion of domino games from eight different countries. One of the games is Matador, a game played in Spain, but very similar to the game of Russian Dominoes. In Matator, a set of double sixes is used with the goal to connect dominoes so that the ends touching total seven. Tiles whose total is already seven, such as three and four, are called matators, as is the double blank. Matadors are wild, and thus may be played at any time, and are usually played crosswise, but if it is played off a blank it may be played end to end or crosswise, as the player wishes. To start, the tiles are shuffled face down. With 2 play- ers, each draws 7 tiles, with 3 players each draws 6 tiles, and with 4 players each draws 5 tiles. The rest are left in the boneyard, or draw pile. If a player cannot play, they must pick one tile and play if possible. The end of a hand occurs when one player plays out all his dominoes or when the game is blocked and no one can play. Points are scored, one per pip, and the one with the fewest points, wins the points of all the others. The game is usu- ally played to 100 or 200 points. Variations can include: 1) drawing until a player can play, instead of having players only draw one tile; 2) playing off all four edges of the first double; 3) using a double nine set, targeting “ten” instead of “seven,” adjusting the mata- dors accordingly; and similarly, 4) using a double twelve set and targeting “thirteen” in- stead of “seven,” adjusting matadors accordingly. Not only is this a fun game, but a great way to practice addition fact families!

2 USAO’s Classroom Spice (Lady Edison—cont’d from page 1) Mattie was a girl, she was not able to The Literature Connection obtain a patent, but her invention became standard equipment on looms, saving Since March is Women’s History Month, but for any reader, which provides information many, many lives, and is used in cotton the first two books to be reviewed deal with on contests, inventor organizations, and how to mills even today. women. The first book is Girls Think of Eve- obtain a patent. In 1868 Mattie found a job at a paper rything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by The second book, Remember the Ladies: bag factory. But the bags at that time Women, by Catherine Thimmesh, ISBN 0- 100 Great American Women, authored and were like envelopes, and not easy to fill. 618-19563-7. This book is ideal for students illustrated by Cheryl Harness, ISBN 0-06- Mattie, along with many other inventors, aged middle school and up. It provides an 443869-4, provides a chronological presenta- worked independently on making a ma- initial narrative discussing how inventions tion of notable females from Virginia Dare, the chine that would make a better paper bag. may develop through meeting a need, by first baby born to an English colonist in what Mattie was the first to successfully design accident, or simply because someone wonder would become known as America through a machine to make square bottomed pa- “what if?” It acknowledges the injustices Ruth J. Simmons, the first black woman to per bags. Charles Annan, an unscrupu- that women suffered throughout serve as president over Smith Col- lous inventor, tried to take the credit, but much of history, as men and soci- lege. The notable list includes Native witnesses were able to discredit him, and ety refused to acknowledge the Americans, African Americans, His- Mattie, at the age of 30, finally received inventions of women and/or stole panic Americans, Asian Americans, her first patent. She went on to found the them. While the author discusses as well as Caucasian American Eastern Paper Bag Company. the discovery of silk by a 14 year women. Occupations include doc- Mattie lived during the industrial revo- old girl in China in 3000 B.C, the tors, scientists, politicians, writers, lution and fought her whole life against women inventors timeline essentially covers soldiers, suffragists, social activists, educators, the idea that a woman’s place was in the the time period from 1715 through 1995, and athletes, actresses, musicians, inventors, and home, that girls interested in building includes over a hundred women and their more. At the end is a summary of the 100 things were unfeminine, and that girls inventions. It covers medical, automotive, women, a glossary for important vocabulary, a and women were unable to understand and technological inventions, as well as list of a few historic sites and organizations neither the mechanics nor complexity of much more. It talks about inventors who had related to women, and some recommendations machinery. While Margaret would even- to obtain patents in their husband’s name for additional readings. A great book for stu- tually be credited with over twenty pat- since it was illegal to get a patent as a dents in middle school or higher. ents and an estimated ninety original woman; how it took until 1809 for the first Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story form inventions, she never got rich. Her in- woman to get a patent in America; and how the , by Ellen Levine, ventions included a dress and skirt shield, in 1974, a 12 year old girl became the young- ISBN 978-0-545-05740-0, is an elementary a clasp for robes, a numbering machine, a est female to receive a patent. This is a fasci- level book about one of the most famous run- spit, a window and frame sash, a rotary nating and inspiring book, not just for girls (Continued on page 4) engine, improvements to the automobile combustion engine, a shoe sole cutting machine, and a spinning or sewing ma- chine. Native American Baseball Player Makes History For more information check the fol- lowing references: Margaret Knight Girl Joba Chamberlain was the second highest Harlan encouraged him to take a detour and Inventor by Marlene Tag Brill, Women drafted Native American in baseball history, be in school musicals. He also made sure Invent: Two Centuries of Discoveries drafted 41st in the first round by the New York Joba understood and embraced his Native That Have Shaped Our World by Susan Yankees in 2006. This would be impressive American culture. Eventually Joba got to Casey, Mothers and Daughters of Inven- for anyone, but given Joba’s history it could play on the varsity team as a senior, but still tion by Autumn Stanley, or Marvelous very well be described as miraculous. did not get picked by the University of Ne- Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became Joba, born Justin, is Winnebago Indian, braska, and had to get a job for the Parks an Inventor by Emily Arnold McCully. from Lincoln, Nebraska. His parents separated Department to help with family bills. In when he was one. When he was two he went 2004, a new Huskers’ coach was desperate to live with his father, Harlan, who had polio for pitchers and spied Joba at a baseball as a child, suffered from hearing loss in one camp throwing 84 mph pitches. Joba eventu- ear, paralysis in his left arm and leg, and a ally helped take the Huskers to the College sunken shoulder, and eventually would be put World Series. In 2007, ESPN featured Joba into a scooter due to post polio syndrome. But on their cover as the “Next” most likely this did not stop Harlan from having Joba, sports star. In time Joba was drafted by the from the age of five, practice pitching day after Yankees and makes a leap, thanks to his day for hours. Adolescence was not kind to 100mph pitches, from farm team to bull pen Joba. He was shorter and much heavier than in record time. Joba is scheduled as a starter his peers, and did not make the JV team. for New York Yankees for the 2009 season. 3 University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Multicultural Resource Center 1727 W. Alabama Chickasha, OK 73018

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In This Issue... Elizabeth Keckley; Margaret Knight; Dominoes; Literature Connection; Joba Chamberlain (Lit. Connection—Cont’d from page 3) (Keckley—Cont’d from page 1) eldest Lincoln son had the book Who built the sub- George, who appeared white, removed from publication. away slaves of the Underground Railroad. Henry Brown was marine on which was able to enlist in a white Un- Elizabeth was an important ion regiment, and died in action member of the Lincoln house- separated from his family at a Jules Vernes based in 1861, at the age of 22. hold, but she is worthy of note young age, given away to his the Nautilus? Mary Lincoln and Elizabeth for other reasons as well. She master’s son, and grew up to Keckley did not have an easy was socially active and founded marry and have a family of his Narciso Monturiol, a relationship. On one hand Mary the Contraband Relief Organiza- own. Unfortunately his wife and Catalonian physicist and shared many cherished family tion to help emancipated slaves. children were sold, and he never inventor, is sometimes secrets with Liz. She even gave She started a school for young saw them again. In time Henry credited with building the her the cloak and clothes that black girls to teach them sewing decided he must take the risk of first submarine. While Mary wore the night Lincoln and etiquette. She was a sewing running away. With the help of this is not true, in1856 was assassinated, along with instructor at Wilberforce Univer- a white abolitionist, Henry de- he did build one of the other family memorabilia. But sity, and represented the Univer- vised a plan. He would mail most sophisticated sub- when Liz wrote (or some sity at the 1893 World’s Exhibi- himself to freedom and friends marines of its time, the sources imply collaborated with tion in Chicago. A quilt she of the abolitionist. Henry was “Ictineo,” to assist Span- someone to write) a book, Be- made from pieces of Mary Lin- then nailed into a wooden box, ish Coral divers in their hind the Scenes: Thirty Years a coln’s dresses can be seen at the loaded on a train, and rode from dangerous work. Later Slave, Four Years in the White Kent State Museum, go to http:// Virginia to Philadelphia, 350 he offered to sell it to House, with heavy emphasis on www.quilters-world.com/ miles and twenty-seven hours to the Confederacy to Mary Todd Lincoln’s life during webbonuses/pdfs/ freedom, earning his middle break the Union Block- the years in the White House, elizabeth_keckley_mary.pdf. name of “Box.” This Caldecott ade, but was turned the Lincoln family, including Unfortunately, her life ended Honor Book has wonderful illus- down. Jules Verne based Mary, became very angry. Sup- much as it began, as she died in trations, a powerful true story, his submarine the Nauti- posedly Liz wrote the book in 2007, a resident of the National and a very infor- lus in 20,000 Leagues hopes of giving some of the Home for Destitute Colored mative author’s under the Sea on it. proceeds to Mary who was in Women and Children in Wash- note at the end desperate need of money, but the ington, D.C. of the book. 4