This book features true stories about the lives and times of nine children and adults whose contributions to their state's history span nearly two centuries, from the early 1800s to the present day. These stories include accounts of family life, school days, chores, games and amusements, employment, escapes from slavery, and immigration. The twentieth-century stories include examples of experiences with racial discrimination and interest in civil rights activities, as well as events in the lives of a recent immigrant from Somalia and his family.