Jan Matzeliger Jan Matzeliger

By Thomas SarverBy Thomas Sarver

ChildhoodChildhood

Jan was born in a South American Jan was born in a South American Dutch Dutch

Colony where people were treated the Colony where people were treated the same.same.

Jan loved machines and shoes but he Jan loved machines and shoes but he didn’t have a pair.didn’t have a pair.

His family loved him vary much and His family loved him vary much and supported himsupported him

Early adulthoodEarly adulthood

Jan went out on his own and started Jan went out on his own and started working with machines on a boatworking with machines on a boat

When he saw Philadelphia he saw a When he saw Philadelphia he saw a land of machines and jobs. land of machines and jobs.

He left his job as in engineer and He left his job as in engineer and went out for a new job.went out for a new job.

AdulthoodAdulthood

Jan got a job as a shoe maker Jan got a job as a shoe maker because no one would heir him because no one would heir him because he was black.because he was black.

He wanted to make shoe making He wanted to make shoe making easy so he started working on a easy so he started working on a machine that would make it possible.machine that would make it possible.

At the end of his life he had done it At the end of his life he had done it and he gave his money away to the and he gave his money away to the people how needed it.people how needed it.