Patience Wright: America’s first sculpture and revolutionary spy by Pegi-Deitz Shea; Bethanne Anderson ill. New York: Henry Holt 2007.

 ISBN: 978-0805067705

The biography of one of America’s first woman wax sculptors, who also spied on the British by sending her secret messages in the heads of hollow busts, during the Revolution.

Media: Gouache and pastel on Arches buff paper.

4Q/4P

Curriculum Connection

7^th-9^th Historical Interpretation/Women’s Studies/Biography Genre /Language arts

D. Guhl Summer 2009

Shea, P. D. (2007). Patience Wright : America's first sculptor and revolutionary spy. Illustrated by Bethanne Andersen. New York:  Holt.

Artwork:  Gouache and pastel

ISBN-13: 978-0-8050-6770-5

An independent woman and successful wax sculptor of pre-Revolutionary War days, Quaker Patience Wright acted on the courage of her convictions.  After opening an art studio in London and unsuccessfully lobbying King George not to wage war on the colonies, Wright gleaned secret intelligence through her association with members of Parliament and military officers, then stuffed secret messages into busts and sent them home to help the colonists’ efforts.

Curricular connection:  Revolutionary War/History-Social Science Grades 5 and 11   

Subjects: Sculptors; Revolutionary War; Spies

Theme:  At times, the best man for the job is a woman.

Category: Non-fiction 730

Age Level Recommendation: Upper Elementary

Rating: 4Q/3P

AAS 5-4-08