George Washington Carver was one of many children born to Mary and Giles, an
enslaved couple owned by Moses Carver. He was born during the Civil War years,
most likely in 1864. A week after his birth, George was kidnapped along with his
sister and mother from the Carver farm by raiders from the neighboring state of
Arkansas. The three were sold in Kentucky, and among them only the infant George
was located by an agent of Moses Carver and returned to Missouri.
The
conclusion of the Civil War in 1865 brought the end of slavery in Missouri.
Moses Carver and his wife, Susan, decided to keep George and his brother James
at their home after that time, raising and educating the two boys. Susan Carver
taught George to read and write, since no local school would accept black
students at the time.
The search for knowledge would remain a driving
force for the rest of George’s life. As a young man, he left the Carver home to
travel to a school for black children 10 miles away. It was at this point that
the boy, who had always identified himself as “Carver’s George” first came to be
known as “George Carver.” Carver attended a series of schools before receiving
his diploma at Minneapolis High School in Minneapolis, Kansas.
Accepted
to Highland College in Highland, Kansas, Carver was denied admittance once
college administrators learned of his race. Instead of attending classes, he
homesteaded a claim, where he conducted biological experiments and compiled a
geological collection. While interested in science, Carver was also interested
in the arts. In 1890, he began studying art and music at Simpson College in
Iowa, developing his painting and drawing skills through sketches of botanical
samples. His obvious aptitude for drawing the natural world prompted a teacher
to suggest that Carver enroll in the botany program at the Iowa State
Agricultural College. Carver moved to Ames and began his botanical studies the
following year as the first black student at Iowa State.
George
Washington Carver excelled in his studies. Upon completion of his Bachelor of
Science degree, Carver’s professors Joseph Budd and Louis Pammel persuaded him
to stay on for a master’s degree. His graduate studies included intensive work
in plant pathology at the Iowa Experiment Station. In these years, Carver
established his reputation as a brilliant botanist and began the work that he
would pursue for the remainder of his career.
enslaved couple owned by Moses Carver. He was born during the Civil War years,
most likely in 1864. A week after his birth, George was kidnapped along with his
sister and mother from the Carver farm by raiders from the neighboring state of
Arkansas. The three were sold in Kentucky, and among them only the infant George
was located by an agent of Moses Carver and returned to Missouri.
The
conclusion of the Civil War in 1865 brought the end of slavery in Missouri.
Moses Carver and his wife, Susan, decided to keep George and his brother James
at their home after that time, raising and educating the two boys. Susan Carver
taught George to read and write, since no local school would accept black
students at the time.
The search for knowledge would remain a driving
force for the rest of George’s life. As a young man, he left the Carver home to
travel to a school for black children 10 miles away. It was at this point that
the boy, who had always identified himself as “Carver’s George” first came to be
known as “George Carver.” Carver attended a series of schools before receiving
his diploma at Minneapolis High School in Minneapolis, Kansas.
Accepted
to Highland College in Highland, Kansas, Carver was denied admittance once
college administrators learned of his race. Instead of attending classes, he
homesteaded a claim, where he conducted biological experiments and compiled a
geological collection. While interested in science, Carver was also interested
in the arts. In 1890, he began studying art and music at Simpson College in
Iowa, developing his painting and drawing skills through sketches of botanical
samples. His obvious aptitude for drawing the natural world prompted a teacher
to suggest that Carver enroll in the botany program at the Iowa State
Agricultural College. Carver moved to Ames and began his botanical studies the
following year as the first black student at Iowa State.
George
Washington Carver excelled in his studies. Upon completion of his Bachelor of
Science degree, Carver’s professors Joseph Budd and Louis Pammel persuaded him
to stay on for a master’s degree. His graduate studies included intensive work
in plant pathology at the Iowa Experiment Station. In these years, Carver
established his reputation as a brilliant botanist and began the work that he
would pursue for the remainder of his career.