George Washington Carver Gifts
George Washington Carver was born into slavery on July 12, 1864. Everyone in his family died, save for him, who, miraculously, only contracted a respiratory disease. Though this illness would permanently weaken his constitution, it paved the way for his passion. Because of his weakened lungs, he was unable to work on the farm, and spent his time wandering through the fields studying wild plants. He came to be known as “the Plant Doctor.” He was determined to be educated, and his hard work paid off: he was able to attend high school and even started up a laundry business, and he was the first black student to study the piano and arts. After many attempts, he was finally accepted into Highland College in Kansas, but he was sent home when they discovered that he was African American. In the mid-1880s, Carver ended up in Winterset, Iowa, where he met the Milhollands, a white couple who treated him as an equal, and whom he credited as the ones who encouraged him to pursue higher education. Finally, he was accepted into Simpson College in Iowa, and later transferred to Iowa State Agricultural College to pursue botany. Carver is most widely recognized for his scientific contributions regarding the peanut, and went on to invent the time-honored nummy treat, peanut butter! He died on January 05, 1943, but George Washington Carver Recognition Day is celebrated on this very day.
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