G.W. Carver Letters

TUSKEGEE NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE

Founded by Booker T. Washington

FOR THE TRAINING OF COLORED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN

RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENT STATION

George W. Carver, Director

Tuskegee Institute, Alabama

Mr. Steffen Thomas

1209 Williams Street

Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Mr. Thomas:

How happy I am to get your splendid letter which in itself is an inspiration. Your letterhead is interesting and significant.

I regret to state that I have not had time to finish setting up my [pottery] wheel. I have made a little progress with it, but my time has been drawn so heavily upon that I have been obliged to let it go.

Last night I appeared before the Woman's Club—the first number of the anniversary program. I did not know that it was going to take on such large proportions. I understand that the end is not yet. With all this demand on my time, I do not know when I shall get to the wheel and the study of clay.

I wish so much that you could have been here last night, as I gave to the Woman's Club a demonstration on the history of art from the very beginning up to the present time. I showed how art was an expression of the soul, and how it began with the simplest of knots and then on and on to the various classifications which we have today. I showed a few of my paintings and most of my needlework.

I am so glad that you are making another wheel. You have such a remarkable power of adaptation and utilization of native products that you will never lack for things to work with, for if a way does not present itself you will make one.

I wish so much that I could get some more of the blue [clay] myself, but I have been trying for more than two years and have not been able to get any. I am indeed anxious to get some to do some work with, as it is the strangest clay that I have ever gotten hold of and I am very certain that it would be very valuable in ceramic work. I understand that there is a deposit of this kind in New Jersey and in California. If I can find out just where they are I would be willing to pay a reasonable price for four or five pounds and maybe more. Certainly enough to run a number of tests. Of course, I have you in mind in all of it.

I am going to let my secretary and assistant answer you in their own way. They are lovely young people and capable of getting much out of the inspiration and information that you will give them, and they are constantly talking about you and the work that you are doing.

Very sincerely yours,

G. W. Carver, Director

Research and Experiment Station

RESEARCH AND ACHIEVEMENT OF

GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER

1896 – 1936

CARVER FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY

February 16, 1937

Mr. Steffen Thomas

1209 William Street

Atlanta, Georgia

My beloved friend, Mr. Thomas:

This is just to extend to you and Mrs. Thomas greetings, and to thank you most sincerely for the autographed booklet. It is really a treasure. The pictures of yourself came out quite as splendidly as the marvelous samples of your work. I wish you knew how much I prize this fine booklet. I have been trying to dictate this letter for some time, but you will notice how very disjointed it is, because I am reading and enjoying the booklet instead of dictating the letter, so you will have to take the will for the deed.

Very sincerely yours,

G. W. Carver, Director

Research and Experiment Station

Tuskegee Institute, Alabama

September 25, 1937

Mr. Steffen Thomas

1209 Williams Street

Atlanta, Georgia

My esteemed friend, Mr. Thomas:

How happy I am to get your splendid letter.

I regret to say that I have not been at all well since the unveiling of the bust. In fact, I have been so far down that they would not permit people to see me, except those who looked after my needs. I am pleased to say, however, that I feel that I am on the upward trend now, and that I am going to be myself again.

The young man whose letter you send me is quite interesting. He is at an age now when he ought to know what he wants. He should write to the Institute for a catalog and such information as they send out to those wishing to enter. He has waited rather long now, as we are pretty well crowded out, so I hear, as we have about 1300 or 1400 students already on the grounds, and they are still coming in.

I am so glad that you can make the investigations you are making in pottery. My other work and lack of physical strength will not permit me to do any work with clays. I have, however, done some work in cement that is rather interesting, and I believe, has some striking possibilities. I will show you them when you come down. I can just imagine the beautiful things that you are turning out.

You have made some very warm friends here, and they send to you their greetings, and of course, you know very definitely what I think.

With kindest regards to Mrs. Thomas, I am

Very sincerely yours,

G. W. Carver, Director

Research and Experiment Station

Tuskegee Institute, Alabama

February 26, 1940

Mr. Steffen Thomas

Federal Security Agency

10 Forsyth Street Building

Atlanta, Georgia

My esteemed friend, Mr. Thomas:

Thank you so much for your letter which I am compelled to answer very briefly as I have been rather seriously ill for a little more than two years and this last attack five months ago was unusually severe. I was not expected to recover from it, but strange to say I am able to walk a little now but the doctor does not permit me to see visitors yet except occasionally for about five minutes if the heart is working. My heart is so very weak that they are trying to give it rest.

With very best wishes, I am

Very sincerely yours,

G. W. Carver, Director

Agricultural Research

and Experiment Station