Harriet Tubman: Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary

Jean Marie Wiesen is an investigative author and researcher whose work is defined by meticulous primary source methodology, rigorous historical reconstruction, and a commitment to recovering what previous accounts have missed.

Her most significant work, Harriet Tubman: Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary, represents years of deep archival research into military records, Civil War documentation, and first-hand historical sources — producing the most complete and accurate biography of Harriet Tubman ever written. Working alongside Rita Daniels, whose Tubman family background provided access to generations of oral history, Wiesen developed a research framework that uncovered the full scope of Tubman's role as a Union Army scout, spy, and military strategist; traced her ancestral roots to Ghana among the Ashanti people; and corrected long-standing historical omissions that had persisted for over a century.

The book has drawn praise from The New York Times Book Review, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and members of the United States Senate.

Wiesen attended Art Center College of Design in Southern California, majoring in Still Photography and minoring in Creative Writing. She further developed her craft under the mentorship of British author Robert Pollock. She is also the author of Case of the Missing Look Alikes and Case of the Mouse Trap Legend.

Rita Daniels is the great-great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman and one of the primary stewards of her family's living oral history. Harriet Tubman: Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary is the first Tubman biography to draw on direct family memory since Harriet herself was interviewed in 1886.

The stories Rita Daniels brings to this work — passed through generations of the Tubman family — illuminate Harriet Tubman in ways the archival record alone cannot. Her contribution gave this biography access to a category of historical truth unavailable to any other researcher.

Rita Daniels is the President and Founder of the Harriet Tubman Learning Center (HTLC) in Powder Springs, Georgia, dedicated to the education of underserved children. She holds a Master's Degree in Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources (Cum Laude) from Trident University International.

Queen Mother Dr. Delois Blakely is one of America's most distinguished community leaders, educators, and international advocates for youth empowerment, women's advancement, and social equity.

Appointed Community Mayor of Harlem by former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and named Goodwill Ambassador to Africa in 2009, she brings to the foreword of this biography a perspective shaped by decades of frontline community leadership in the living tradition of Harriet Tubman.

Dr. Blakely holds Master of Education degrees from Harvard University, Teachers College, and Columbia University, and a Doctorate of Education from Teachers College. She is a Fulbright Scholar, a Community Fellow at MIT, and an Education Policy Fellow with the International Education Leadership program.

“The retelling of Harriet Tubman’s life put forward by Jean Marie Wiesen and Rita Daniels blends the familiar story of an American hero with generations of oral history to create a vivid historical account. The question Daniels poses regarding her ancestor—what are we doing to continue Tubman’s legacy?—is one I think all Americans would do well to reflect upon. If you are looking for direction in how you should further Tubman’s lifework, this book is a good place to start.”

"Daniels, one of Tubman's descendants, imbues this corrective biography with humanity and family lore while shedding light on Tubman's contributions to the Union Army and her later activism in Auburn, N.Y."

This biography of Harriet Tubman is coauthored by Tubman's great-great-great-grandniece, and Daniels pours her family stories into the work. She and Wiesen also provide fresh insight into the family’s ancestry in Ghana as part of the Ashanti tribe in Accra. Written in a simple, straightforward manner with short chapters, this book is an excellent choice for both adults and teens wanting to learn more about this courageous woman.

"A comprehensive overview of Tubman’s life and work, co-authored by one of her descendants. Wih Daniels—Tubman’s great-great-great-grandniece—as co-author, familiar aspects of Tubman’s story are accentuated and expanded with what she has gleaned from family lore. Character traits and sensibilities, like Tubman’s famed curative skills as an herbalist, are placed within a powerful context, linked not only to an abridged American narrative, but also to a family’s African roots and her descendants’ ongoing work. Having had a front-row seat to the many ways Tubman has been studied, dissected, and honored both in the United States and beyond, Daniels grants both authoritative history and authentic humanity to a story frequently segmented for political expediency or specialized study, leaving readers with a fuller understanding of Tubman's unique bravery, fortitude, and leadership."

“An intriguing, compelling, ambitious and well-researched book that gives insight into a world most of us have not encountered. Daniels and Wiesen go to remarkable depths to tell Harriet Tubman’s true story. It resonated with me to such profound levels that it sometimes moved me to tears.”

“Harriet Tubman takes the reader on a journey to witness the life of Tubman not just as an icon but as a real-life woman who faced very real, unfathomable obstacles. Daniels, a descendant herself, begins with Tubman’s origins and her Ashanti heritage and takes us to her final home in Auburn, NY. This unique approach endeared me to the book at the very start, as I believe it is important for African Americans to connect to their original identity. Harriet Tubman gives us insights into the stock of which Harriet was made and the internal fortitude that propelled her. A great read and a fresh look at the story you thought you knew.”

“In a world sorely lacking for genuine heroes, Harriet Tubman stands out. This book illuminates the origins and personal adversities suffered by Harriet Tubman, bringing her to life for the first time. We are inspired by Harriet’s character and courage. My thanks and appreciation to Rita Daniels and Jean Marie Wiesen for making this contribution to American history.”

“As the first African American Selectman of Weston, it was with great pride that the keynote speaker on Junteenth was Rita Daniels. Jean Marie Wiesen’s extensive research, coupled with Rita’s riveting testimonies, give a different perspective and deeper insight into my hero, the fierce Harriet Tubman.”

"I had the distinct pleasure of personally meeting Rita Daniels, the great, great-great grandniece of Harriet Tubman. I listened intently while she elaborated on oral history passed down through the generations, telling the rich story of one of America’s most beloved iconic figures. At last, she and Jean Marie Wiesen have put these stories on paper, filling in numerous gaps and correcting many longstanding errors from previous biographies. This book should be read by every American to fully appreciate the remarkable legacy of Harriet Tubman."

“At Weston’s inaugural Juneteenth celebration, the vibrant atmosphere created a sense of unity and it became clear that this celebration was more than just a commemoration; it was a catalyst for dialogue about history and progress and fostered a deeper understanding of the significance of freedom and equality.”