George Washington Carver (1865-1943)

Born in Newton County, Missouri shortly after the Civil War, Carver pursued his basic education in several states eventually settling down at the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. He quickly distinguished himself academically with extraordinary skill in raising, cross-fertilizing and grafting plants. After receiving his Master’s degree in 1896, he accepted a faculty position at the Tuskegee Institute where he was to spend his next 47 years. Aside from teaching, Carver donated a substantial amount of time to experimental science focusing on projects aimed at improving the lives of southern farmers: analyzing water, feed, soil, and fertilizers. Throughout his life he received several prestigious accolades including the Roosevelt Medal, the NAACP Spingarn Medal and a number of honorary doctorates and was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Toward the end of his life, Carver established a foundation in Tuskeegee to continue his work and preserve his legacy.