George Washington Carver: Chemist, Teacher, Symbol
Death of food chemist George Washington Carver, who discovered hundreds of new uses for crops such as the peanuts.
Credit: iStock
There is the popular image of George Washington Carver known to every schoolchild in the United States: he was born a slave, worked hard to gain an education and become a scientist, taught at Tuskegee Institute, became the Peanut Man who discovered myriad uses for the lowly legume, and, late in life, served as a racial symbol for blacks and whites. For African Americans, before the civil rights movement, Carver was a role model to emulate. For whites, he was proof that America was a land of opportunity for everyone.
Of course, the story is not that simple. Carver’s origins are shrouded in mystery, his role at Tuskegee one of frequent conflict, especially with the famed founder of the Institute, Booker T. Washington, and his accomplishments as a scientist frequently maligned. And the image of Carver as a racial role model has changed with the times.
Yet, there is no denying Carver’s role in developing new uses for Southern agricultural crops such as peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. In addition, Carver taught poor Southern farmers methods of soil improvement.
The American Chemical Society designated the agricultural research of George Washington Carver as a National Historic Chemical Landmark at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, on January 27, 2005.
Visit National Historic Chemical Landmarks to learn more about George Washington Carver.
Excerpted with permission, National Historic Chemical Landmarks Program
www.acs.org/landmarks