And A Child Shall Lead Them--
The Youngest John Brown Lecturer in the World?

Young Philip makes for a striking "Osawatomie" Brown
   

A very proud mother from the State of Nevada was kind enough to write to me, sharing about her son, Philip, who last year--at the age of nine--became probably the youngest researcher, lecturer, and educational impersonator of John Brown in the world.  The young man, who is now ten-years-old, was doubtlessly inspired by John Hendrix's wonderful illustrated book for young people, John Brown: His Fight for Freedom.  I'm also happy to say that Philip also found some inspiration and assistance from this blog.  His work on Brown was part of his participation in a program called "Young Chautauqua," in which children studied a historical personality and then wrote and performed in their own one-person show about their chosen subject.  Using Hendrix and other sources, he not only prepared his presentation, but also memorized John Brown's address to the court when he was sentenced to death.  According to Philip's mom, he performed his John Brown program in a number of places, including all the classes in his school from kindergarten through 8th grade.  "For the rest of the year," she writes, "kids would come up to him and talk to him about what they had just learned about John Brown."

That's excellent, Philip.  By all accounts, you make an excellent John Brown.  Keep up the research, too.  Another generation of John Brown scholars rising!