George Washington Carver, portrait, 1906, historic photo
An historic photo of George Washington Carver taken in 1906. Carver was born as a slave during the Civil War at Diamond Grove, west of the current town of Diamond in Newton County, Missouri. His actual birth date is unknown with estimates ranging from sometime in 1861 to 1864. A week after his birth, Carver along with his mother and a sister were kidnapped by slave traders who took them to Kentucky where they were sold. His owner, Moses Carver, sent out men to try and recover them but were only able to locate George and return him to Missouri. Moses Carver and his wife Susan then raised George and an older brother as their own sons. At an early age, George showed much interest in learning and he was encouraged to further his education first at Neosho, Missouri and then a succession of other schools until finally graduating with a Masters Degree from Iowa State Agricultural College in Ames, Iowa. Widely recognized for his genius in working with plants, he was persuaded by Booker T. Washington to remove to Alabama to head the Agriculture Department at Tuskegee Institute. Here he lived for the remainder of his life. While his interests were wide ranging, he was particularly focused on the development of an immense variety of uses for sweet potatoes and peanuts. These were to be of particular importance in restoring the condition of the soils in the South after many years of growing cotton. His talents also were noted as a painter and on the piano. George died January 5, 1943 at Tuskegee, Alabama and is buried beside Booker T. Washington on the grounds of the Tuskegee Institute.
Since George Washington Carver did not know his actual birth date, he celebrated it each year on January 1. He was about 82 to 85 years old when he died in 1943.
The location of George Washington Carver's birth is now a national park known as George Washington Carver National Monument located in Newton County, just west of Diamond, Missouri.
This photo is by Frances Benjamin Johnston, 1906.
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