Peter Burchard (March 1, 1921 – July 3, 2004) was an

author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...

, free-lance designer, and

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicate ...

. He wrote the book '' One Gallant Rush'' (1965), about Colonel

Robert Gould Shaw Robert Gould Shaw (October 10, 1837 – July 18, 1863) was an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Born into an Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist family from the Boston Brahmin, Boston upper class, he ...

and the

54th Massachusetts Regiment The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was the second African-American regiment, following the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantr ...

, the first African-American unit in the Union Army. It was adapted for the 1989 film '' Glory,'' which won numerous awards.

World War II

Burchard served on

convoys A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

in the North Atlantic during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. During this time, his drawings were published by ''

Yank The term ''Yankee'' and its contracted form ''Yank'' have several interrelated meanings, all referring to people from the United States. Their various meanings depend on the context, and may refer to New Englanders, the Northeastern United State ...

'' magazine.

Books

Burchard primarily wrote children's books about

slavery Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...

abolitionism Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world. The first country to fully outlaw slavery was France in 1315, but it was later used in its colonies. ...

, and the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. He wrote 26 books and illustrated over 100. His book '' One Gallant Rush: Robert Gould Shaw and His Brave Black Regiment'', was the basis for the Oscar-winning 1989 film '' Glory''. His works include:

Adult

*''One Gallant Rush: Robert Gould Shaw and His Brave Black Regiment'' (1965/reprint 1990)

Juvenile

*''Balloons: From Paper Bags to Skyhooks'' *''Jed'' *''North by Night'' *''Stranded'' *''Bimby'' *''Chito'' *''Pioneers of Flight'' *''Rat Hell'' *''Frederick Douglass'' *''Lincoln and Slavery'' *''Digger''

Honors

Burchard became a

Guggenheim Fellow Guggenheim Fellowships are grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, endowed by the late Simon and Olga Hirsh Guggenheim. These awards are bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated d ...

in 1966.

References

External links

* * 1921 births 2004 deaths Historians of the American Civil War American children's writers American military personnel of World War II {{US-child-writer-stub