Henry W. Bragdon

Henry Bragdon (1906 – 1980) was an American historian and high school history teacher. He authored the American history textbook History of a Free People in 1954 (with Samuel McCutchen) which was widely used throughout high schools in the United States for over 25 years. His biography of Woodrow Wilson's early life and academic career at Princeton University was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1968.

Biography Bragdon was born in Rochester, New York on 6 September 1906. His father Claude was an architect and draftsman. His mother Charlotte Wilkinson Bragdon was employed by the Henry Street Settlement providing social services in New York City. She later became the national secretary and president of the National League of Women Workers.

Bragdon graduated high school from the Kent School in Connecticut; he then obtained a degree in history from Harvard University. Frederick Allis Jr. noted in the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society that the biography was one of the most complete works regarding Wilson's academic career.