In 1855, Letitia Carson made history as the first known Black woman to win a lawsuit in Oregon Territory. She then went on to become the only known Black woman to successfully make a land claim in Oregon under the Homestead Act of 1862.

Despite this rich history, very few children’s books are available for teachers to bring this history into the classroom. As the Curator of Education at the Benton County Historical Society, I saw a need for a picture book with primary sources including maps, historic photos, and court documents from the 1850s. While a ton of research has been done, mostly of it is published online in lengthy articles, and not very kid-friendly.

I had no idea what a long process it is to publish a book! I wrote the text for the book last year, based on the research done by Bob Zybach and numerous historians before me. We hired local illustrator, Luzena Donell, whose watercolor illustrations will help illuminate Letitia Carson’s life. There are no known existing photographs of Letitia Carson, so the artist’s imagination is an important part of the process for bringing history to life for student readers. The book designer, Jessica Urey, is also a local Corvallis resident. Her expertise in graphic design and layout brings the words and pictures together for cohesive storytelling.

Partnership with historians including Charlotte Epps and Larry Landis from the Letitia Carson Legacy Project has been invaluable during the editing process! Numerous people have given their time and expertise to help refine the narrative and make it more accessible for a grade school audience. The final book will be release in early Spring 2027.

Donations are welcome to help offset the printing costs and can be made through the Historical Society’s website. Please select “Allocate to Fund: Letitia Carson Book Project” The fundraising goal is $3,000, to provide copies of the book for every 4th grade classroom and school library in Benton County.