George Washington Carver The Peanut Wizard

Is the “peanut wizard” a man, or a legend? George Washington Carver, who was a man, was nicknamed the “peanut wizard” because of his discovery of the copious ways to use peanuts. Because of Carver’s extensive research, he was able to develop over 145 products from the peanut. He also analyzed other crops. Since he was fortunate enough to gain an education, Carver was able to get a career in which he undeniably achieved many things.
Since Carver was educated in his youth, he was able to have academic success later in his life. Carver’s academic life commenced at a school called the Lincoln School for African American children in Neesho, Iowa. Instead of dropping out and becoming a house painter like his brother, Carver persevered and attended
this school until he was age 17. Then he finished high school. After the completion of high school, Carver applied to Iowa State College, but unfortunately, because of his African heritage, he was jilted. Fortunately, he was accepted into Simpson College in 1890, where he would work for his art major. However, in 1891, he transferred to Iowa State College, where he would work for his agriculture major. Participating in many extra curricular activities, Carver was able to fabricate a sumptuous academic record. In fact, because of his numerous, and useful abilities, some people even nicknamed him “Doctor”. Before Carver received his master’s degree, he was appointed to be the assistant in botany at Iowa State. Soon after that, in 1896 he received his master’s degree in agriculture, which allowed him to stay at Iowa State and teach freshmen. George Washington Carver’s education led to his academic success. Because Carver had a unique career, he was able to influence the agricultural industry in a myriad amount of ways.
Planning to stay and teach for only four years at Tuskgee Institute, Carver ended up devoting the remaining 46 years of his life to the imparting of knowledge to the next generation of students attending Tuskgee Institute. For the first half of this time, he diligently spent long hours researching, teaching and administrating work that mirrored the needs of the constituents, but not his own interests. Carver’s task was to transform people from poverty and ignominy, into full manhood. In addition to this, he managed the Agricultural Experiment Station and he established a movable school in 1906, which he used to teach agricultural methods. Frequently, he would also try to persuade farmers to not plant cotton, and instead plant crops like peanuts, vegetables or soybeans, which are much better for the soil. Because of his vast agricultural knowledge, Carver was also able to solve debt problems of small-scale farmers, and landless sharecroppers. In 1910, Carver was appointed the head of a new research department, where he was given the title of “consulting chemist”. Carver fancied this position more. In his position, Carver did a lot more experimental work. However, he did not have a proper lab, so he had to make most of his equipment, which did in fact led to many of his inventions. Carver’s contribution to agriculture can be attributed to his unique
career. Since Carver contributions to agriculture were superlative, he received many awards. Carver was elected a member of Great Britain’s Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts in 1916. One of his most famous acts was his testimony, which promoted a tariff that would protect the peanut industry. This led to more fame. Consequently, his work became more avowed and in 1923 he won the Spingarn Medal of the NAACP. By starting and naming the Carver Products Company after George Carver, businessmen further increased his recognition. Carver continually won awards, including the Roosevelt Medal in 1939 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Rochester. Earning the award for “outstanding service to the welfare of the South” from the Catholic Conference of the South, Carver was the first person to ever earn such an award. Near the end of Carver’s life, in 1942, Ford built a commemorative cabinet and a nutritional laboratory at Dearborn Michigan’s Greenfield Village, because of Carver’s contributions to agriculture. Carver received many awards throughout his life. Because Carver diligently gained an education, Carver had many unique careers in which he accomplished much. Because Carver had consummate knowledge of agriculture, he was able to improve, and persuade many parts of agriculture. Being one of his principles, Carver lived by the saying, “It has always been the one great ideal if my life to be of the greatest good to the greatest number of my people” (“George,” Scientists 144). Carver undeniably accomplished a lot of good for his people, but the question is, how will you?
Works Cited
“George Washington Carver.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. 1998 ed. Print.
“George Washington Carver.” Scientists: The Lives and Works of 150 Scientists. 1996 ed. Print.
McMurry, Linda O. “Carver, George Washington.” Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History. 1996 ed. Print.