George Washington Carver

Dr. George Washington Carver (c. 1864-5 – January 5, 1943) was an African-American botanist who worked in agricultural extension in the southern United States. He taught former slaves farming techniques for self-sufficiency and is known for suggesting hundreds of uses for the peanut and other plants to increase the profitability of farming.

Later years

In 1896, he was recruited to Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (today: Tuskegee University) by Booker T. Washington in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Related Topics:
1896 - Tuskegee University - Booker T. Washington - Tuskegee, Alabama

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He remained there for 47 years until his death in 1943.

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Taking an interest in the plight of poor Southern farmers working with soil depleted by repeated crops of cotton, Carver advocated employing the nitrogen cycle by alternating cotton crops with legume planting, such as peanuts, to restore nitrogen to the soil.

Related Topics:
Cotton - Nitrogen cycle - Legume - Peanut - Nitrogen

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Thus, the cotton crop was improved and new cash crops added.

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He developed an agricultural extension system in Alabama to train farmers in raising these crops and an industrial research laboratory to develop uses for them.

Related Topics:
Agricultural extension - Alabama - Industrial research laboratory

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In order to make these new crops profitable, Carver devised numerous uses, several of which were unique, for the new crops, including more than 300 uses for the peanut ranging from glue to printer's ink; however, contrary to popular belief, this list does not include peanut butter.

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He made similar investigations into uses for plants such as sweet potatoes and pecans.

Related Topics:
Sweet potato - Pecan

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Until 1915, Carver was not widely known for his agricultural research.

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However he became one of the best-known African Americans of his era following the funeral of Booker T. Washington when he was praised by Theodore Roosevelt.

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Following that he was approached by a peanut growers' association to serve as a spokesperson.

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He represented the peanut growers at a sitting of the United States Congress to explain his ideas.

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They said that he had only ten minutes, as he was an African American.

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Carver started his report, and by the time those ten minutes were up, Carver had intrigued the men so much that the head congressman said, "Go on, brother. Your time is unlimited".

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In 1923, Carver received the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP.

Related Topics:
1923 - Spingarn Medal - NAACP

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The NAACP awards this medal annually for outstanding achievement.

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In 1928, Simpson College bestowed Carver with an honorary doctorate.

Related Topics:
1928 - Simpson College

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In 1940, Carver established the George Washington Carver Foundation at Tuskegee University.

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In 1941, the George Washington Carver Museum was dedicated at the Tuskegee Institute.

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In 1942, Carver received the Roosevelt Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Southern Agriculture.

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On July 14, 1943 {{ref|3}}, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated $30,000 for the national monument west-south-west of Diamond, Missouri of the area of his childhood as a park.

Related Topics:
July 14 - 1943

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This dedication marks the first national monument dedicated to an African-American.

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At this 210 acre national monument, there is a bust of Carver, a 3/4 mile nature trail, a museum, the Moses Carver house, and the Carver cemetery.

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