Dr. Carter G. Woodson
Father of Black History
1875 - 1950
- Born on December 19, 1875 in New Canton, Virginia.
- Worked in the coal mines as a young child instead of attending school.
- Family moved to Fayette, Virginia when Carter was 20 years old; he was able to attend Douglas High School.
- Graduated from Douglas High School on one and a half years, then attended Bera College in Kentucky.
- Returned to Douglas High School in Fayette, Virginia as a teacher and subsequently became a principal.
received a bachelors degree from the University of Chicago in 1907, and a masters degree in 1908.
- Supervised schools in the Philippines from 1903 to 1906; traveled throughout Asia, Northern Africa and Europe.
- Taught English, French, History and Spanish at Dunbar High School in Washington, DC from 1909 - 1918.
- Earned a Ph.D. from Howard University in 1912.
- Started the "Journal of Negro History" and established the Association for the Study of Negro Life while teaching at Dunbar High School.
- Served three years as Dean of the West Virginia Collegiate Institute where he organized the Associated Publishers, one of the most famous black publishing companies ever.
- Published a book "The Negro In Our History," which became one of the most popular textbooks in high schools and colleges.
- In 1926, Dr. Woodson started Negro History Week, which included the birthday of Frederick Douglass.
- Dr. Woodson received the NAACP Spingarn Awards in 1926.
- In 1976, Negro History Week became Black History Month.
- Dr. Carter G. Woodson died of a heart attack on April 3, 1950 at his home in Washington, DC.