John Bakeless was a scholar and an author who worked in journalism, was a university teacher and researcher, served in the military for over 30 years, and was a consultant to the CIA in the early post-World War II years. His wife Katherine was a writer and musician and collaborated with him on several books, especially those designed for students. It is rare to find a husband-wife team who have done so well in the production of good books. Just about anything they together, or he separately, have written is worth reading, including books on Lewis and Clark, American Civil War and Revolution spies, and a biography of George Rogers Clark, a hero of the American Revolution and brother of William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame.
They Saw America First tells the story of the discovery of America. Explorers are fascinating men, as they dare to go into danger that the vast majority of people would never dream of approaching. But it is such brave men that have pushed the boundaries of our modern world. Where would Western civilization be without explorers? There are many books about the explorers of the New World in your library, including Landmark books and Step Up books. As one reads books at higher and higher reading levels, more important details of these explorers and explorations come to light that deepen our understanding. Who found what played a crucial role in our early colonial history and even has implications for present US social geography. High school students previously prepared by StepUp and Landmark books will complete their education in the discovery of America by reading They Saw America First.