Gertrude Ederle, athleteOct. 23, 1906-Nov. 30, 2003
America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle by David A. Adler, illustrated by Terry Widener (Harcourt, 2000, Voyager, 2005 reprint)
It's twenty-one miles across the English Channel and in 1926, an American named Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to successfully swim across it. In the process she beat the men's record by almost two hours.
Sports Illustrated for Women named Ederle one of the Top 100 Women Athletes.
Pele, athlete
Oct. 23, 1940-
Young Pele: Soccer’s First Star by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2007)
Soccer was Pele’s passion from an early age. He played and dreamed and dreamed and played, all the while honing his skills and talent. When he finally had the opportunity to play in a youth soccer tournament, he saw that it would be possible for him, a child from humble means, to achieve his goal.
ESPN posts a biography of the "King of Futbol" on their site.
Victoria Woodhull, politician
Oct. 23, 1838-June 9, 1927
Woman for President: The Story of Virginia Woodhull by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Jane Dyer (Walker, 2006 reprint)
Woodhull's run for president in 1872 is a fascinating part of American history. In this race, women's rights were raised to a new level. Her eclectic background: fortune-teller, newspaper owner and investment business owner, to name only a few of her talents also make Woodhull a woman to be remembered.
"Who is Victoria Woodhull?" offers more information about this political pioneer.
