April Russo is the teacher
of this delightful 3rd grade
class. That's right—third
graders!
While these are the youngest
kids yet to send in artwork and
essays their efforts are just as
heart warming. And I was
surprised at how well written
are some of the Henson
biographies.
More
Click on the picture to learn more about
these Henson motivated 3rd graders
Will our next President be as nice a
person as Matthew Henson was?
Barack Obama is almost as
handsome as young Matthew Henson
was. If Barack is as nice a
person as Henson was, well
then—America will be fortunate
to have him serve as President.
Wouldn't that be wonderful!
Matthew Henson's
direct descendants all live in Greenland
Aviaq Henson is studying
to be a teacher.
She lives with her family in Nuuk, Greenland.
Aviaq is traveling to Qaanaaq in north
western Greenland. This is the area
where Henson & Peary collected men &
supplies for their expeditions 100 years
ago. Your class can
send
email or even mail letters to Aviaq
Henson. More...
2007—Alene Davis submitted
student artwork last year (see below), and has
blessed us again this year with 16 new ones (see
at right): "I moved to Texarkana ISD School to start a
new job. I am teaching 8th grade technology
applications and of course I took them to the
North Pole with Peary and Henson. They loved it
and had never heard of him before. I have 140+
students here and after the 68 question virtual
field trip, I had them create a Paint about
their experience. I selected the best of show
and have sent them to you." More...
Matthew Henson by Sophia
2006—Trey is a student of Technology/Computer
teacher Alene Davis at Mae Luster Stephens Junior High
School in Texas. Trey's charming update of the 1986 Henson &
Peary 22 cent stamp is the first artwork generated by
computer ever donated to Matt's website. Student artwork contests More...
Your purchases help to pay all expenses related to running these
educational, commercial free websites—thank you!
The High Point of 19th Century Exploration: Henson
is a charming, earthy writer who takes you with him across the
Arctic Ocean to the North Pole.
Josephine Peary—the first woman arctic explorer. She was a
delightful writer whose intelligence, wit and cultural sensitivity make
this an enduring classic.
We publish Matt's biography because it is such a marvelous read.
The only official biography; written with Henson in 1947.
The 1-oz. sterling silver proof commemorative Henson Medal. This is the
5th medal issued by The American Negro Commemorative Society. Sculptured by
Dudley Moore Blakely
"...Alvin travels from Washington, D.C. towards Baffin Island in
Canada. His goal is to follow the trail of his hero, African-American
Arctic explorer Matthew Henson. Alvin doesn't have Henson's knowledge
of the dangers of the Arctic, but he does have bravery, brains and a
lot of luck.
He is rescued from a near-death experience by an Inuk man and ends up
traveling across the Canadian Arctic in a dog sledge, eventually
coming to live with a man named Idlouk Tana. Idlouk teaches Alvin how
to live in the Arctic, complete with bear-fat cookies! Alvin returns
home the following spring with a new sense of independence and
appreciation for adventure.
Get ready for a cold, thrilling journey that takes Alvin to places
where the sun only shines for an hour a day in the winter and seals
are essential to survival. Life in the Arctic is harsh and even
deadly, and Donna Jo Napoli makes it come to life with simple imagery
that perfectly portrays, in Matthew Henson's words, the "fierce
beauty" of the land there. -- Carlie Webber
The "Tenderfoot" from Yale
wrote this letter to dad...
"Dear Dad, Peary has been
just great. This expedition from start to
finish is a picnic compared to what
sufferings most Arctic expeditions go
through...Nares,
the leader of the English expedition of
1875-6, says the men can't face a wind in a
temperature of -30 degrees, but we did
that and a darn sight lower, in the wind. He
also says, "Only for life or death must a
man go out in the fearful cold of March." We
went out all winter, and the English didn't start from the boat till April 2.
Just one example of the advantage of dog
power instead of man power. Beaumont, a man
of indomitable energy, of the English
expedition, went to his furthest on the
Greenland coast at thirty marches, which
"Mac" and I covered in spite of two short
ones on account of smashed sledges. He and
his men were dead at the end, but we were
going at a canter. We did it, coming back from the
northern expedition, with ridiculous ease.
Just a picnic from start to finish. This is
not blowing my horn, but simply to state a
few facts that will speak for themselves."
This remarkable 10-page
letter from Borup to his father was
first published by the New York Times in
1909. We have restored it for you to
enjoy as a PDF download. It offers a
unique insight into the 1909 expedition
from an angle not revealed by
any other writer. Borup was one
hell of an athlete who just had way too
much fun!
(right)
Matthew Henson had a
son named Anaukaq with his Inuit girlfriend Akatingwah.
More...
2008
Kids Art & Literature
contest 
Matthew Henson's
direct descendants all live in Greenland
Peary & Henson
