Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943

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Agricultural scientist, teacher, humanitarian, artist, and Iowa State alumnus (1894, 1896). George Washington Carver was born ca. 1864, the son of slaves on the Moses Carver plantation near Diamond Grove, Missouri. He lost his father in infancy, and at the age of 6 months was stolen along with his mother by raiders, but was later found and traded back to his owner for a $300 race horse. He enrolled in Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa in 1890 studying music and art. Etta Budd, his art instructor whose father was head of the Dept. of Horticulture at Iowa State College, convinced him to give up a career in art and go into scientific agriculture. He came to Ames in 1891 where he was active in the YMCA, Welch Eclectic Society, and college military regiment. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Agriculture in 1894 and 1896 respectively. Carver was not only the first black to enroll as a student at Iowa State, but was also the first black to join the faculty. In 1895 he was the assistant botanist in the Experiment Station and worked there until the following year, when Booker T. Washington asked him to join the staff at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. At Tuskegee Carver organized the Agricultural Department, planned the first agricultural building, taught classes in chemistry and botany and conducted research. He served as Director of Agriculture, the first Director of the Agricultural Research and Experiment Station and Head of the Dept. of Research. His work led to the creation of many products made from native materials. These include over 300 products from peanuts and over 100 products from sweet potatoes. He also developed many products from Alabama clay, cotton, soybeans, pecans, wood shavings and waste materials. During his lifetime Carver received a multitude of honors, including honorary degrees from Simpson College, University of Rochester, and Selma University. A feature film of his life was made in Hollywood in 1938. In 1940, he bequeathed his estate to Tuskegee Institute and established the George Washington Carver Foundation to continue his work. Carver has been called the father of chemurgy.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Moton Family Papers, 1850-1991, (bulk 1930-1940) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Barnett, Claude, 1889-1967. Claude A. Barnett papers, 1918-1967 (bulk 1928-1963). Chicago History Museum
creatorOf George Washington Carver letter to Dana H. Johnson, 1931 University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 1921 - 2008. Audio Recordings. 1945 - 1965. INHERITANCE. No. 40, THE STORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER ; INVITATION TO LEARNING. No. 141 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Austin W. Curtis Papers, 1896-1971 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn McMillan, William C.,. William C. McMillan picture collection, ca. 1920-1945. The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center
referencedIn William and Annette Curtis collection of African Americana and church history materials, circa 1833-2000 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf George Washington Carver collection, 1932-1941 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Curtis, Austin W., 1911-. Austin W. Curtis papers, 1896-1971. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Mint. 1792 - 2007. Correspondence Relating to the Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver Commemorative Coins National Archives at Philadelphia
referencedIn Meek, Fannie Lowe. Papers. 1915-1922, 1939-1956, 1966. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
creatorOf Carver, George Washington - Papers of National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Williams, Ellwoodson. Mine eyes have seen the glory; a black history drama in three acts. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Minorities-Negro-Personalities-Carver, George Washington Harry S. Truman Library
referencedIn American Medical Association. Dept. of Investigation. Records. Skin Diseases, 1903-1974. American Medical Association,James S. Todd Memorial Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Artworks and Mockups for Cartoons Promoting the War Effort and Original Sketches by Charles Alston. 1942 - 1945. GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER - ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT SCIENTISTS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Bacon, Irving R. (Irving Ruben), 1875-1962. Irving R. Bacon papers, ca. 1863-1957 (bulk 1929-1945) The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center
referencedIn Booker T. Washington Papers, 1853-1946, (bulk 1900-1915) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. Letter, 1928. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Alabama. Bureau of Tourism and Travel. Communications Division. Tourism promotional photographs and slides, 1960-1991. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Harris, Julia Collier, b. 1875. Papers, 1921-1955. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Harmon Foundation Collection. 1922 - 1967. Motion Picture Films on Community and Family Life, Education, Religious Beliefs, and the Art and Culture of Minority and Ethnic Groups. 1930 - 1953. GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER AND WALTER (?) CRUMP National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Patterson, Frederick D. (Frederick Douglass), 1901-1988. Frederick D. Patterson papers, 1861-1988 (bulk 1965-1988). Library of Congress
referencedIn Porches and Parlors district records subgroup, circa 1854-ongoing. The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center
referencedIn Black Women Oral History Project. Records, 1976-1997 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute fundraising letter for bust honoring George Washington Carver, 1937 February 10. Southern Methodist University DeGolyer Library
referencedIn Davis, Grace. Grace Davis collection, 1948-1969 Western Michigan University, Dwight B. Waldo Library
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. ALS, 1923 July 2 : to Dr. W.E.B. DuBois. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Ames, Jessie Daniel, 1883-1972. Jessie Daniel Ames papers, 1866-1972. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Hyder, Tom Bullock, b. 1907. Papers, 1921-1982 (bulk 1926-1947). University of North Texas Library, UNT
referencedIn Harmon Foundation Collection. 1922 - 1967. The Harmon Foundation Collection: Kenneth Space Photographs of the Activities of Southern Black Americans National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. Letters from George Washington Carver to Agnes Benson, 1932-1939. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Frederick D. Paterson Papers, 1861-1988, (bulk 1965-1988) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Platte, Claude, 1919-. Oral history interview with Claude Platte, 2006 July 27. University of North Texas Library, UNT
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [JAN. 8] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Sound Recordings Relating to "Studio One" Broadcasts. 1955 - 2003. George Washington Carver National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Simpson family. Papers, 1847-1961. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. LAUNCHING THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (SSBN-656) AT NEWPORT NEWS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Ford, Henry, 1863-1947. General Personal records series, 1823-1984 (bulk 1920-1947) The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. George Washington Carver letter to Dana H. Johnson, 1931 March 28. University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. GEMINI CAPSULE RETRIEVAL ONBOARD USS FORT SNELLING (LSD-30) National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. Letter to Ora Delmer Foster. Tuskegee Institute, AL. 1941 June 11. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Lyons, Minnie Lee. Scrapbooks, 1912-1946. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Moving Image Film Related to George Washington Carver National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Veranus A. Moore papers, 1836-1958 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Dept. Personal for Henry Ford photographs subseries, 1918-1950. The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center
referencedIn Moore, Veranus A. (Veranus Alva), 1859-1931. Veranus A. Moore papers, 1836-1958. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Lincoln University (Pa.). Edward Webb records, 1873-1894. Lincoln University, Langston Hughes Memorial Library, Langston Hughes Memorial Library
referencedIn Anson Phelps Stokes family papers, 1761-1960, 1892-1958 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. [Letters] / Geo. W. Carver. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn George Washington Carver Memorial [1 of 2] Harry S. Truman Library
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. Letter, to George F. Wheeler, Los Angeles, 1933 March 22. Natural History Museum Los Angeles County Foundation, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
referencedIn Interviews of the Black Women Oral History Project, 1976-1981 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Patterson, Frederick D. (Frederick Douglass), 1901-1988. Papers, 1861-1988 (bulk 1965-1988). Library of Congress
referencedIn Julia Collier Harris Papers MS 74., 1921-1955 Sophia Smith Collection
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. Letter. March 5, 1930, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, to A[lbert] A[lexander] Hyde, Wichita, Kansas. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. Papers, 1893-1980. Iowa State University, Parks Library
creatorOf Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892. Walt Whitman Collection, 1846-1965. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. ALS, 1942 March 23, [s.l.], to Mr. Henry Ford. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Oral History Interview of George Washington Carver National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Pammel, L. H. (Louis Hermann), 1862-1931. Papers, 1882-1931. Iowa State University, Parks Library
creatorOf MacClenny, W. E. (Wilbur Earnest), b. 1875. Papers of Wilbur Earnest MacClenny [manuscript], 1789-1949 bulk 1900-1949. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn George Washington Carver National Archives at College Park
referencedIn [Interpretive Planning Div.] George Washington Carver National Monument National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Holt, Rackham. George Washington Carver : an American biography : corrected typescript, 1943. Library of Congress
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Carter Godwin Woodson Papers, 1736-1974, (bulk 1915-1950) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Meredith, Edwin Thomas, 1876-1928. Papers of Edwin T. Meredith, 1898-1949. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Walt Whitman Collection TXRC03-A4., 1846-1965, nd Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Cosby, Forest L., 1864-1933. Forest L. Cosby papers, 1930-1941. Columbus State University, Simon Schwob Memorial Library
creatorOf Sparks, Edwin Erle, 1860-1924. Edwin Erle Sparks papers, 1870-1925. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture. 1794 - 2003. Photographs Used in the Department of Agriculture Publication, After A Hundred Years - The Yearbook of Agriculture 1962 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 1921 - 2008. Audio Recordings. 1945 - 1965. Dr. George Washington Carver National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Mayberry, B. D. Bennie Douglas Mayberry collection on George Washington Carver : records, 1935-1995 / Bennie Douglas Mayberry. National Agricultural Library, NAL
referencedIn Harvard, Claude, 1911-. Oral history interview with Claude Harvard September 13 and 17, 1990. The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center
referencedIn Nickell, Walter P. (Walter Prine), 1910-1973. Papers, 1922,1975. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn Maggio, Graziella, b. ca. 1928. For George Washington Carver : manuscript poem, 1944. Library of Congress
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. Alabama pamphlets collection, 1821-1961. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Isely, Duane, 1918-. Papers, 1935-1994. Iowa State University, Parks Library
referencedIn Ford Motor Company. Dearborn Engineering Library. Engineering Library Vertical File for Henry Ford collection, 1870-1945 (bulk 1935-1944) The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. ALS, 1924 January 25 : Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, to Jim Hardwick. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. ALS, 1937 March 27 : to Mrs. Max Adler, Beverly Hills, California. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Harris, Julian LaRose, 1874-1963. Julian LaRose Harris papers, 1890-1968. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. ALS, [19]34 May 1 : Tuskegee Institute, Alabama to Mr. Davis / G.W. Carver. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Stokes, Anson Phelps, 1874-1958. Anson Phelps Stokes family papers, 1761-1960 (inclusive), 1892-1958 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn George Washington Carver photographs, ca. 1935. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
referencedIn George Washington Carver Memorial [2 of 2] Harry S. Truman Library
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. Correspondence. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn Frank P. and Helen Chisholm family papers, 1846-1994 Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Newman, Wilson L. Wilson L. Newman correspondence with George Washington Carver, 1926-1943 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAY 19] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Alabama Writers' Project. Photographs, 1901-1941. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn George Washington Carver National Monument, 1943-66 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Rickover, Hyman George. TLS, 1966 May 8 : "at sea, North Atlantic," to Seymour Halpern. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. George Washington Carver letter, 1933 Mar. 8. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Curtis, William, 1936-,. William and Annette Curtis collection of African Americana and church history materials. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Lane, John Dewey, 1898-1968. John Dewey Lane papers, 1924-1979; (bulk, 1934-1944). University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn [Interpretive Planning Div.] George Washington Carver National Monument National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Chippey, Arthur Peter, d. ca. 1962. Arthur Peter Chippey papers, 1925-1964 bulk 1925-1948. South Carolina State University, Miller F. Whittak, Miller F. Whittaker Library
referencedIn George Washington Carver National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Meredith, Edwin Thomas, 1876-1928. Papers of Edwin T. Meredith, 1898-1949 [microform]. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915. Papers of Booker T. Washington: series 1-6, 1864-1960 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Sutton, John Wesley, 1897-1978. John Wesley Sutton collection, 1931-1977 (bulk 1976-1977). Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. ALS, 1926 December 6, on Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, letterhead, to Miss Rebecca Caudill, Nashville, Tenn. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Moton family. Papers, 1850-1991 (bulk 1930-1940). Library of Congress
creatorOf Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. George Washington Carver publications from the Tuskegee Institute Bulletin, 1911-1943. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Indiana Medicine, 1993 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. LAUNCHING THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (SSBN-656) AT NEWPORT NEWS National Archives at College Park
creatorOf George Washington Carver collection, 1932-1941. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915. Papers of Booker T. Washington: series 1-4, 1864-1960 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Lucy Cherry Crisp Papers, 1794-1972 East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
referencedIn Caroline Bond Day papers Peabody Museum Archives, Harvard University
referencedIn Carter G. Woodson collection of Negro papers and related documents, 1803-1936 (inclusive), 1830-1927 (bulk), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. LAUNCHING USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (SSBN-656) AT NEWPORT NEWS, VA National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn 1541478 - Paint and Stain and Process of Producing the Same - George Washington Carver National Archives at College Park
referencedIn George Washington Carver, Chemist National Archives at College Park
referencedIn George Washington Carver at Ford Motor Company / Ford World War II Activities National Archives at College Park
referencedIn 1632365 - Process of Producing Paints and Stains - George Washington Carver National Archives at College Park
referencedIn 1522176 - Cosmetic and Process of Producing the Same - George Washington Carver National Archives at College Park
Relation Name
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associatedWith Woodson, Carter Godwin, 1875-1950. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Diamond MO US
United States 00 US
Tuskegee AL US
Subject
African American agriculturists
African American educators
African Americans
African Americans
African Americans
African American scientists
Agricultural education
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculturists
Discrimination in employment
Discrimination in employment
Newspapers
Peanuts
Science
Science
Occupation
African American inventors
African American scientists
Agriculturists
Agriculturists
Educators
Scientists
Activity

Person

Birth 1864

Death 1943-01-05

Male

Americans

English

Information

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