George Washington Carver Autograph Document Collection.

CARVER, George Washington.

Item Number: 95083

Rare collection of autograph documents signed by African American agricultural scientist George Washington Carver to his white botany student Ford Davis, who became his close friend. The collection consists of a Tuskegee Institute Chapel Bulletin dated September 24, 1933 on page two of which Carver has annotated, “This is what you mean to me,” over the poem ‘This is Friendship’ and drawn a line along the first four stanzas beginning “I love you not only for what you are….”; a gelatin silver photographic print of Carver in a suit and hat which is singed by him, “G.W. Carver”: and two autograph letters signed on Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute Research and Experiment Station letterhead to Ford Davis, the earlier of which is dated June 25th, 1932 and reads in part, “My dear boy, Mr. Davis: – Any subject which discusses how to prolong life and its usefulness will command 99% of the peoples attention. This is quite in keeping with the lines of our discussion…Bones of very old people often become so weak that the person walks with difficulty. There is no subject more important than the study of foods and their relation to health and longevity. I am certainly proud of my boy. Very sincerely yours. G.W. Carver.” The second letter, dated July 16th, 1933 reads, in part, “My beloved boy Mr. David: – My mind keeps telling me that the time is now ripe for a trip even in parts of the South where we could be together unmolested. What I want most is to take my precious boy ‘Ford’ on a real lecture tour where I give demonstrations…and it hurts my very soul to think I cannot have the very one that God has endowed me with..the spirit and personality to fit into this great work, simply because of spirit and nationality.” Carver is referring to the Jim Crow laws which enforced racial segregation in public facilities including public schools in many states in the south including Alabama between 1896 and 1965. In near fine condition. A rare and unique insight into this era of American history.

American agricultural scientist and inventor George Washington Carver received numerous awards for his work in improving agricultural methods. While a professor at Tuskegee Institute, Carver developed techniques to improve soils depleted by repeated cotton plantings in an effort to help impoverished farmers. He was also a leader in promoting environmentalism and was widely recognized for his achievements in an era of very high racial polarization.