Shoes for Everyone: A Story about Jan Matzeliger

At the age of 19, machinist Jan Matzeliger immigrated to from Suriname to Philidelphia. If American arms weren't so welcoming to individuals of mixed heritage, they were even less welcoming of a foreigner. Caucasian machinists refused to work along side brown-skinned workers. In addition to this difficulty, Jan spoke very little English, as Dutch was his first language. Jan was not one to give up and soon he was apprenticing under a shoe-maker. The shoe maker saw Jan's drive and skill, so he encouraged Jan to move to Lynn, Massachusetts. Once in Lynn, Jan experienced even more resistance based upon his skin color. But he was not one to be discouraged. There were 170 shoe factories in Lynn, and he knew his skill on the McKay machine would open doors and it did. Jan wasn't happy just to sew shoes all day. His mind was always working and after a time he started formulating a machine that could connect the upper part of the shoe the inner part of the sole. This was a process that many had tried and failed to automate. The desire to put his ideas to work and actually create a prototype lit a fire in Jan's mind. He did create a viable machine against great odds and resistance. He had to make some compromises along the way. The company that wanted to use his invention did not have the money to invest in making machines from the prototype. The George Brown of Wheeler Wilson Sewing Company offered to provide the money under the condition that Jan sell them his patent. In return Jan received a large block of stock in the company that would make the "lasting machine". Before Jan Matzeliger's machine, few could afford shoes. Jan's machine changed this for everyone. With the advent of the lasting machine the shoe industry boomed and the price of shoes dropped. Workers had been afraid that the invention would take their jobs away. Instead it brought more work to milling towns & thus many more job opportunities for those already employed in the industry. Jan died of tuberculosis at 37. It was caused by poor eating habits (he spend almost all his money on making his machine) and hunching over at machines in the factory. This a wonderful book about a man who worked for his dream in spite of great obstacles. He would not let anyone tell him he couldn't achieve his goals for any reason. The opinions and attitudes of others had no power over his actions, confidence, and self-worth. If he thought he could do something, he found a way to make it happen. This is a great historical book, but it is an even better as a model for young men and women the world over who want to accomplish goals that others say they cannot. It shows that, if you have and/or seek out the knowledge, drive and skill to back up your dreams, you can make them happen no matter what others around you think or say. Every elementary age student should have the chance to hear and be inspired by Jan's story.