"Boy Carver" Statue marks the birthplace of George Washington Carver near Diamond, in Southwest Missouri.
This National Monument honors the black Missourian considered by many to be the "father of the science of
synthetics."
By
Dr. Lorenzo J. Greene, Antonio F. Holland and Gary Kremer
Missouri owes its greatness to many diverse races, nationalities and creeds. In our state people from all backgrounds have mixed their heritage, blood, brawn and brains to create a home for themselves and their children.
For too long the contributions of blacks to the development of Missouri have been ignored. Textbooks, written history and popular accounts have omitted, distorted or stereotyped black Americans.
It is hoped that this article will help all Missourians to regard blacks as human beings who, under the most disheartening conditions, have contributed much to make Missouri the great state it is today.
By closing some of the gaps in the history of our state, this article should help replace error with truth and myth with reality. It should give to black people a sense of identity with Missouri's history, a feeling of pride in their accomplishments and a heightened satisfaction in their self-image.
Special mention has to be made for the efforts of the entire reference staff of the Missouri State Library, Jefferson City; James W. Goodrich, Mrs. Alma F. Vaughan and Mrs. Goldena B. Howard of the State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia; Mrs. Jane Leonard of the Thomas Jefferson Library, Jefferson City; the staff of the Page Library, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, especially Mrs. Freddye Ashford, Mrs. Mary Turner, Mrs. Harriett Robinson, Mrs. Faye Carter, Mrs. Willie Greene and Miss Kathy Wojciehowski; Special Services Division, Lincoln University, in particular James Saunders and Mrs. Mary Mitchell; also Lincoln's Cooperative Extension and Research Program; Charles E. Robinson of NAACP; John W. DeShields III of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and Rory Ellinger of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare; and Dr. Willis Byrd, head of the Chemistry Department; Dr. William Brooks, acting vice president; and Dr. James Frank, President of Lincoln University.