George Washington Carver (ca. 1860s – January 5, 1943). Photo taken by Frances Benjamin Johnston in 1906
Martin Luther King Day is a good time to reflect upon the contributions of George Washington Carver, a groundbreaking agricultural scientist, plant pathologist and inventor. He was a pioneer in education, research, and agricultural extension. He developed innovative uses for peanuts and other crops, and he promoted cultural practices such as crop rotation.
Born into slavery, George Washington Carver overcame tremendous obstacles to become the first black graduate of Iowa State. He would go onn to become a preeminent scientist and educator at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
(this is a modifed repost from previous Martin Luther King holidays)
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The Little Plant Doctor: A Story About George Washington Carver (Holiday House)
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