Millicent Barton Rex (1905-1966) was born in Pennsylvania, USA, and educated at Wellesley College where she graduated with honours. Later from Columbia University she obtained MA and PhD degrees. English History, Local American history, and education had been her chief interests and she had contributed articles and reviews to American historical and educational journals and a study of Sir Charles Firth to Some Modern Histories of Britain. The awarding of the grant of the Vassie James Hill Fellowship by the American Association of University Women for the year 1945-6 enabled her to start on the fundamental research for this present book. At the time of original publication, she was Head of the History Department at the Madeira School, one of the top college preparatory schools in America.