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George Washington Carver was born to slave parents in Diamond Grove, Missouri, during the early 1860's. His exact birth date cannot be confirmed. His mother was kidnapped and taken to the Deep South during George's infancy. George, along with an older brother named Jim, was then reared by his mother's former owners, Moses and Susan Carver. As a young child, George was enthralled by nature; locals referred to him as the "Plant Doctor." Being sickly as a youngster allowed him to avoid participation in the hard, time-consuming chores of the farm. He spent his free time learning to crochet, cook, and do housework. Susan Carver taught George to read and spell, while Moses Carver helped him with simple mathematics. Education was important to George Washington Carver. Thus, he left the Carvers' home to attend school in a town about eight miles away. From there, he moved to various places across the Midwest seeking education and employment. Finally, at the urging of friends in Minneapolis, Kansas, Carver applied to Highland College, a Presbyterian college in Highland, Kansas. He was accepted in 1885, but, upon his arrival on campus, the offer of admission was revoked because of his race. Discouraged, Carver's travels eventually took him to Iowa, where he was encouraged to apply to Simpson College in Indianola. He was accepted and began classes on September 9, 1890. Recognizing Carver's many talents, especially those in the sciences, Etta M. Budd, an art teacher, urged Carver to transfer to Iowa State College at Ames, which he did in May, 1891. At Iowa State, Carver earned a bachelor of science degree in 1894 and a master of science degree in agriculture and bacterial botany in 1896. In 1896, Booker T. Washington offered him a teaching position at Tuskegee Institute, where Carver would remain an instructor until his death. He taught classes in chemistry and botany and initiated a popular Bible study class. INSET: George Washington Carver. |
