Extension Communications Extension 4-H Youth Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3630 (515) 294-9915

2/19/04

Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu

Reiman's Pick for the week of Feb. 16, 2004

George Washington Carver: Botanist, Scientist and an Inspiration

By Linda Naeve
Extension Coordinator
Reiman Gardens

Over the course of time, there have been many things, including plants, which have had an impact on humankind and agriculture. Some plants that come to mind are the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" from the biblical story of The Garden of Eden, the 'Red Delicious' apple, originally from a small farm in Peru, Iowa, and hybrid corn and wheat.

Many individuals have also had a positive, significant impact on the lives of people and agriculture. This week's Reiman's Pick is a tribute to Iowa State graduate, George Washington Carver, whose life mission and contributions are a legacy and inspiration.

George Washington Carver is most recognized and identified for his work with peanuts and other crops, such as sweet potatoes and soybeans. However, his service and message of hope he brought people of all races should be celebrated and emphasized.

While at Iowa State Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Iowa State University), Carver was a leader in and out of the classroom. He was the student commander of the "ROTC" unit and was a leader in campus organizations, such the YMCA. While he was working on his masters of science degree and teaching classes at Iowa State, he recognized the importance of "hands-on" teaching and the concept of bringing the classroom to the field to help the farmers.
After earning his masters degree at Iowa State in 1896, he accepted a position at the newly-founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Although slavery had been abolished, he saw widespread "economic slavery" among Southern farmers. Besides classroom teaching, he traveled around the countryside talking to individual farmers and groups about ways to improve their soil, crop yields, income, and diet. He taught farmers to rotate their crops and encouraged them to plant legumes to replace nitrogen depleted from years of continuously growing cotton. Carver also emphasized planting crops in gardens would improve the health and diet of their families.

Farmers soon listened and produced an abundant peanut crop, which lead to the question of what to do with all the peanuts! To solve this problem, Dr. Carver became a "chemergist" and discovered over 300 uses for peanuts, such as face cream, shampoo, shaving cream, wood stains, mock meat, mayonnaise, buttermilk, plastics, and wood filler. He also found over 100 uses for sweet potatoes.

George Washington Carver became known as the "Peanut Man" and a spokesperson for the peanut industry after his testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee in 1921. Carver's testimony in favor of a protective tariff on the peanut "humanized scientific agriculture" and showed the important role a scientist plays in our society.

With all these inventions or discoveries, Dr. Carver only has three patents - because acquiring patents was not the goal or purpose of his research. He said, "The primary idea in all of my works was to help the farmer and fill the poor man's empty dinner pail … my idea is to help the man farthest down, this is why I have made every process just as simple as I could to put it within his reach."

Carver was active in the Commission on Interracial Cooperation (CIC). He frequently spoke to groups of young people on the importance of racial understanding during the 1930s. He emphasized the importance of using one's individual talents and skills and believed greatness could be achieved by anyone.

George Washington Carver was an inspirational teacher and mentor. A letter in the Tuskegee archives, written to Dr. Carver from a former student, eloquently defines Carver's legacy. In the letter, Johnnie Pickle wrote, "You have shown me the one race, the human race. Color of skin, or form of hair mean nothing to me now, but length and width and breadth of soul and loving kindness mean everything."

This is the perfect time of year to recognize Carver's scientific contributions and humanitarianism efforts. Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University is celebrating the life of George Washington Carver at Super Sunday, Feb. 29, 2 to 4 p.m. This special event for families will have several hands-on stations about peanuts, soybeans, Carver's artistic talents, and much more. For more information, call (515) 294-2710 or visit the Web site at www.reimangardens.iastate.edu.

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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 72K. Caption: George Washington Carver. 1894. Taken while he was a student at Iowa State Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Iowa State University) Credit: George Washington Carver National Monument.

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