George Washington Carver
By Todd Pettee
Do you remember what we learned when we studied the Civil War. Try to remember what it was like at that time in our country because it was toward the end of the Civil War that I was born in Missouri. My mother's name was Mary, and she was purchased by Moses Carver in 1855 at the age of thirteen. Moses was a kind man who treated Mary as a family member rather than a slave. Within a few years, my brother Jim was born, then I, George. When I was only an infant something very tragic happened. A group of men called bushwhackers invaded the Carver farm looking for money. Before they reached the farm, Moses had to time to gather Jim and hide, but mother and I were kidnapped by the men. Moses hired a neighbor to search for us. After a couple weeks the neighbor returned with me, but my mother was never found. Mr. and Mrs. Carver adopted us as part of their family.
I was never a very healthy child. Once I had a severe case of whooping cough and several times I had croup. Because I was so frail, Mrs. Carver allowed me to stay near the house and explore rather than work out in the fields with Jim. During these times, I gained a lifelong love for rocks and flowers and a desire to learn. I was not allowed to go to school, but I took lessons from a private tutor until I knew more than he did. As I grew older I moved many times across several states looking for an education. Iowa State University provided a place for me to study, but my education was never completed.
I was offered a position at Tuskegee in 1896. This experience opened many doors for my future. I started teaching seminars for black men in the community to teach the basics of farming. I gave demonstrations on farming techniques I learned from my research. I always wanted to find new ways to improve the lifestyle of the members of my community. People needed to be taught to use the resources of the area to make nutritional meals. Bulletins were published which gave recipes and farming ideas to the people. The three resources I used the most were cow peas, sweet potatoes, and peanuts. The purpose of these bulletins was to help my people improve their lives on their own. That is what drove me throughout my life, contributing to the welfare of the black people.
Summary
George Washington Carver grew up in the time period following the Civil War. George's mother was a slave, and was kidnapped by a band of outlaws when he was very young. So, George was raised by his mother's former owners, the Carver's.
George became a good plant doctor around the Carver's farm, but he eventually became discouraged because he wanted to know more about plants. So, at the age of 13, George set off all by himself, for the only Negro school in the nation at that time- Neosho.
It was then that George got the rest of his name. Negroes only had first names during that time, so when George left for school the Carvers gave him their name. From then on he was known as George Washington Carver.
George studied very hard at Neosho, and at the same time worked to pay his way through school. He lived with a warm hearted Negro lady named Aunt Maria and helped her around the house to pay for his keep. Eventually, George had learned everything his teachers at Neosho could teach him. So, he decided to go to Fort Wayne, Kansas to finish his education.
When George graduated from high school, he was determined to go to college. He applied to Highland College, but was rejected because he was black. After this experience, George gave up hope of ever going to college, and just wandered about from job to job and town to town.
One day, under the suggestion of a Doctor friend of his, George applied to Simpson College in Iowa. He was accepted and spent the next four years studying plants. George worked his way through college by starting his own laundry business. After George graduated he was invited to teach at Simpson, and did so until the day when a letter came from Alabama.
The letter was from Booker T. Washington, the president of Tuskegee Institute. He wanted George to come and teach science. Tuskegee was a very poor school, but George was interested in helping his own people, so he accepted. Within a few years, George taught the students and all the surrounding farmers how to grow more plentiful crops.
When the Boll Weevils came to Alabama and destroyed the cotton crops, George taught the people how to grow peanuts. He also came up with over 300 uses for the massive amounts of peanuts being produced. Factories were built and jobs were created because of his new ideas.
Eventually a museum was built in honor of his achievements, and people came from all around to visit it. Dr. Carver had created a new science. He had found a way to make many different products out of ordinary plants. George Washington Carver died in 1943, but is remembered as one of the most famous black scientists ever.
George Washington Carver
I. George's Childhood Years
A. Time in History
- End of Civil War
- Malice toward blacks
B. Mother of George
- Purchased by Moses Carver
- Loved by Carver's
C. Hatred of Bushwhackers
- Kidnapped George and Mary
- Returned George
II. George's School Years
A. George Had Illnesses
- Kept from working
- Allowed for exploring
B. George Explored Everything
C. George Loved School
D. George Moved Many Times
- Simpson College
- Iowa State University
III. George's Adult Years
A. Working at Tuskegee
B. Teaching for Farmers
- Holding conferences
- Reaching country people
C. Using Available Resources
- Wrote recipes
- Printed bulletins
Ideas for Props: sack of money, peanuts, plants.
A knapsack with his belongings.
A Bible he carried with him.
Textbooks.
Extension Activities
- Write your own recipe using cow peas, sweet potatoes, or peanuts.
- Write a story about teaching people to healthier meals. Include any information you would give them and how you would get them this information.
Sources:
Collins, David R. George Washington Carver. Milford, MI: Mott Media, Inc., 1981.
Elliot, Lawrence. George Washington Carver. Englewood Cliffe, N.F.: Prentice - Hall, 1966.
Epstein, Sam. George Washington Carver. Champaign, Ill.: Garrard Press, 1960.
McMurry, Linda O. George Washington Carver. Oxford University Press: New York, 1981.