George Washington Carver was born in Diamond, Missouri around 1865 as a slave child on Moses and Susan’s farm. He was raised by his mother Mary, who took care of him despite his constant struggle with whooping cough. One cold night, a group of raiders or slave robbers abducted Mary and George from their home. In an effort to locate them, the Carvers enlisted the help of their neighbor John Bentley. Upon his return, John could only bring back George, as he was unable to find his mother. This event marked the beginning of George Washington Carver’s life.
George, who was an ill child, found joy in gardening and household chores. In his free time, he explored the woods and streams with a particular interest in reptiles and insects. He collected frogs and geological discoveries, observing their progress secretly. George even had a nursery in the forest where he learned how to care for sick plants, earning him the nickname “plant doctor” among his friendly neighbors. Despite being a person of color, George formed strong relationships with his white parents and playmates, maintaining those connections even after leaving his hometown. Alongside his brother, George would occasionally venture out at night to explore while the elders slept. During these nighttime adventures, he observed plants and enjoyed riding sheep until he faced punishment from his parents.
George’s exceptional talent allowed him to excel rapidly in every endeavor he pursued. His diverse upbringing enabled him to recognize his abilities before considering the color of his skin. Thanks to the acceptance from his white friends and parents, George was welcomed by everyone he encountered. Additionally, despite not having an official religion, George attended a small Locust Grove Church driven by a strong religious faith. At this church, he received teachings from various circuit preachers belonging to Methodist Baptist Campbellite Presbyterian groupsHis unconventional and non-denominational faith had a lasting impact on his beliefs. A crucial aspect of this faith was his deep conviction that “the creator” would reveal himself to him. As he gained more knowledge, George became increasingly aware of racial prejudice. He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and had exhausted all available resources in the Carvers’ old blue-back speller. Because of this, he enrolled in a public school at his church during weekdays, thanks to the 1865 constitution which mandated education for black individuals under specific conditions. However, George’s county did not meet these criteria, so he had to attend a white school instead. This decision angered the white community and resulted in a ban on George’s presence at the church on weekdays. This rejection exposed him to racial prejudice and hindered his pursuit of a better education. Despite this setback, George expressed his desire to learn about everything around him—stones, flowers, insects, birds, and animals—but there was no one available to provide him with answers. Nonetheless, he managed to learn how to read and write although he couldn’t recall the exact method used.
According to Linda O. McMurry’s book “George Washington Carver Scientist & Symbol,” he credited his education to the teachings of the Carvers and their beloved Webster’s Elementary Spelling Book, which he had memorized. However, despite his extensive knowledge of the spelling book, it did not provide him with the answers he was seeking.
A young educated man named Steven Slane served as George’s private tutor, and at the age of 12, he relocated to Neosho to pursue a better education.
In Neosho, George moved into a house with Mariah and Andrew Watkins in exchange for helping with the chores. He was eager to work hard for a good education. When he entered a one room school house and met his teacher Stephan Frost, he finally encountered someone who knew more than him. However, this arrangement didn’t last long because George was such a quick and proficient learner that he had to seek knowledge elsewhere. He relocated to Fort Scott and lived with Felix Payne while attending school. Unfortunately, an incident occurred in Fort Scott where a black man committed a crime against a white girl, leading to escalating racial prejudice. George had to hastily leave town to escape the turmoil. After some time, he continued his education in Minneapolis, Kansas, where he attended a predominantly white high school. There, he made many friends who supported his pursuit of knowledge. In addition to nurturing plants, George developed an interest in painting and music. Subsequently, he applied for admission to Highland College and was accepted, but upon arriving for registration, he was denied entry. A few years later, George found himself at Simpson College in Indianola, Indiana. However, since there were no science courses available, he enrolled in painting classes instead. Although his paintings mostly featured flowers and plants, he still maintained an interest in agriculture. Eventually, George decided to transfer to Iowa State University because it offered excellent agricultural courses that aligned with his favorite subject of study.Despite facing prejudice and racial slurs, George remained steadfast at his college. He actively participated in clubs and activities that enhanced his presence. Eventually, he received offers from multiple agricultural institutes but decided to attend Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. At Tuskegee, George acquired skills in carriage-building and shoe-making, but it was agriculture that truly captivated him. George took on numerous responsibilities such as overseeing the agriculture department, directing the agriculture experiment station, teaching classes, managing Tuskegee’s agricultural extension efforts, and overseeing the institute’s two farms. Over the next two decades, George’s knowledge of agriculture grew extensively. He developed innovative methods to replenish nutrients in the soil, including crop rotation, organic fertilizers, and cultivation of various crops such as velvet beans, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, peanuts, alfalfa, and soybeans. Despite facing challenges and contemplating leaving Tuskegee at times, George’s work caught the attention of the United States government. They sought his expertise to develop new methods of food supply for troops during World War I. Although his assistance was not ultimately required due to the war ending prematurely, his contributions were still recognized.George was offered a job opportunity by an inventor named Thomas Edison, but he declined because he believed that the South had better agricultural experiments for him. Despite turning down the offer, George was content at Tuskegee University and went on to invent numerous uses for peanuts. One of his noteworthy inventions was a process for making “peanut milk,” which not only had high nutritional value but could also be utilized in cooking and baking. George continued to invent various practical ways to use peanuts and even contributed to the development of synthetic products, including those mentioned below.
The George Washington Carver Museum in Tuskegee, Alabama houses a wide range of items developed and contributed by George Washington Carver. These include adhesives, axle grease, bleach, buttermilk, cheese, chili sauce, cream, creosote, dyes, flour, fuel briquettes, ink, instant coffee, insulating board, linoleum, mayonnaise meal meat tenderizer metal polish milk flakes mucilage paper rubbing oils salve soil conditioner shampoo shoe polish shaving cream sugar synthetic marble synthetic rubber talcum powder vanishing cream wood stains wood filler Worcestershire sauce. Carver’s significant impact on our lives and his accomplishments have greatly influenced the world we live in today. On January 5th 1943 at 7:30 P.M., George passed away and was laid to rest next to Booker T. Washington’s grave. Before his death he established the George Washington Carver Foundation with Henry Ford as the trustee. The museum now stands as a testament to his enduring legacy.
