It has been estimated that approximately four hundred women disguised themselves as men to join the Buffalo soldiers; however, only one case has been documented. Cathy Williams enlisted as William Cathay and served for two years before anyone discovered she was a woman. To this day, the former slave is the first documented woman to serve in the United States Military.
Cathy spent seventeen years as a slave and then became a contraband cook for the Union army. Upon release, she was determined to find a new kind of life for herself. She was unskilled and uneducated, with few opportunities to earn a decent wage. So she tried something else. Her goals were not lofty, and the only recognition she ever sought was government pension for her service (which she was denied). Her story is one of achieving the American dream: earning a way in the world. Because of her resolve, she will forever be an example to women, young and old alike, who are determined to better their lives.
About the Author
Sharon Solomon is a retired elementary reading specialist with more than thirty-five years of educational experience. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a member of a local writing critique group. She received her MA in education from Temple University. Solomon resides in Lansdowne, Virginia.
About the Illustrator
Doreen Lorenzetti works with teens as an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital. Her previous experience has included advertising, portraits, murals, illustrations in newspapers and magazines, textiles, and set design. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a graduate of Monmouth University. Lorenzetti resides in Hillsborough, New Jersey.
CATHY WILLIAMS, BUFFALO SOLDIER
By Sharon Solomon
Illustrated by Doreen Lorenzetti
JUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / African American
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Women
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Cultural Heritage
JUVENILE NONFICTION / History / United States / 19th Century
32 pp. 8 1/2 x 11
31 color illus. Biblio. Timeline
ISBN: 9781589808010