{"product_id":"henry-boyd-s-freedom-bed","title":"Henry Boyd’s Freedom Bed","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e A children’s book written and illustrated by Whitney L.B. Miller\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eYou can download an excerpt from this book \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/blog.lostartpress.live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Henry-Boyd-excerpt.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Henry Boyd’s Freedom Bed” is the true story of an enslaved Kentucky man who purchases his freedom and becomes one of the most innovative and important furniture makers in 19th-century Cincinnati.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this children’s picture book, appropriate for ages 3-8, you can follow young Boyd as he learns to farm hemp. There he became fascinated by the wooden tools used on the Kentucky farm. From there Boyd is sent to work in the dangerous salt mines in West Virginia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEventually Boyd purchases his freedom and moves to Cincinnati to start a successful furniture-making business, thwarting the overt racism of the time. There Boyd invents a clever bed frame that is patented and becomes so famous it is known all over as \"The “Boyd Bed.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this book you'll learn that Boyd was far more than a furniture maker. He used his woodworking skills to become an important station on the famous Underground Railroad for people who are trying to start a new life in Canada or the Free States.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Henry Boyd’s Freedom Bed” is the first book dedicated entirely to the deeds of this incredible citizen and is backed up by original historical research. While Boyd’s life has been written about in newspaper articles or as footnotes in books, many of these earlier accounts were incomplete or incorrect.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book is written to inspire a new generation of young woodworkers and show how simple things made from wood can lead to a successful, creative and important life.\u003cbr\u003eThe book is written and illustrated by Whitney L.B. Miller, a television journalist, woodworker and maker.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn addition to the illustrated story of Boyd, “Henry Boyd’s Freedom Bed” also features three pages of historical facts about Boyd, including a complete timeline of his life based on historical documents.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Henry Boyd’s Freedom Bed” is a 36-page hardback book, printed on heavy paper and produced and printed entirely in the United States. The binding is sewn so it will outlast many decades (and multiple young ones).\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/deluxe-edition-stickers-and-signed-bookplate-IMG_0916_480x480.jpg?v=1667775150\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Deluxe Edition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe are also offering 440 copies of a \"deluxe\" edition of this book. The deluxe edition contains the hardback book, plus a letterpress signature plate signed by Whitney LB Miller. It also includes three 100-percent vinyl stickers made from artwork from the book. Finally, you also will receive (at checkout) a lovely video featuring Whitney reading the entire book aloud, which is animated with illustrations from the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe video is entirely free of DRM (digital rights management) so you can feel free to load it onto any device to play for kids or grandkids (have Whitney baby sit your young ones...).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have only 440 copies of the stickers and signature plates, so once those are exhausted, the deluxe edition will not be offered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/Whitey-author-drawing_480x480.webp?v=1691607321\" style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaughter to Jamaican immigrants, Houston native Whitney L.B. Miller learned at a very young age that the future is as bright as you make it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlongside being a professional journalist, Whitney considers herself a \"maker.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether it be sewing, cooking, DIY decor, arts and crafts or digital illustration, Whitney will try her hand at any project that will create something beautiful. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a three-day woodworking class she learned about the story of Henry Boyd. His perseverance and determination inspired her to dive into the deep end with no life jacket to write and illustrate a story that will hopefully inspire you to use your hands and try something new.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhitney is also the star of a Lost Art Press video: \"\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.live\/collections\/dvds\/products\/make-a-swedish-tool-chest-with-whitney-miller\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eMake a Swedish Tool Chest by Whitney Miller.\u003c\/a\u003e\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRead more about Whitney in our two-part author profile: Click \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/blog.lostartpress.live\/2023\/01\/15\/meet-the-author-whitney-miller-part-1\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere for part 1\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/blog.lostartpress.live\/2023\/01\/22\/meet-the-author-whitney-miller-part-2\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere for part 2\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lost Art Press","offers":[{"title":"Book","offer_id":39881295822911,"sku":"BK-BOYD BED","price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Deluxe version (Book + signature + stickers + video)","offer_id":39881295855679,"sku":"BK-BOYD BED KIT","price":42.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/IMG_7446.jpg?v=1747164547","url":"https:\/\/lostartpress.live\/products\/henry-boyd-s-freedom-bed","provider":"Lost Art Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}