Professor Mike Martinez's Congressional Pathfinders: “First” Members of Congress and How They Shaped American History is a unique and important contribution to our understanding of Congress. He writes intriguing profiles of 'famous first' members of Congress, such as the first woman in Congress, the first black member, the first openly gay member as well as many other important firsts. These members are often forgotten, but they have played key roles in the history of Congress. His study of congressional firsts is the most comprehensive of this topic to date. This is third excellent study of famous members of Congress throughout American history by Martinez. They fill a crucial gap in our understanding of the evolution of Congress.

James A. Thurber, Distinguished Professor, American University

Mike Martinez’s Congressional Pathfinders is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn more about the remarkable “firsts” in the United States Congress. This volume is full of context and history about the ways unlikely people made their way—and their mark—in Congress. I would recommend this book to students and researchers, but also to anyone who has an interest in Congressional history. This is an excellent addition to Martinez’s trilogy on Congressional history.

J. Benjamin Taylor, Kennesaw State University