Featured Manuscript: Booker T. Washington Letter

Washington letter to Manning 1915

In honor of Black History Month our featured manuscript is a May, 1915 letter from Booker T. Washington to newspaper publisher James H. Manning. Five months after this letter Dr. Washington would die of congestive heart failure. This and eighteen other letters from him demonstrate the variety of unique manuscripts that can be found in the Lloyd W. Smith Collection housed at the Museum of the Morristown National Historical Park.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Washington was arguably the most famous African American  in the United States. He was born enslaved and grew up to be a successful educator and spokesman for African Americans. He graduated from Hampton Institute and beginning in 1881 he headed the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, now called Tuskegee Institute. Under his leadership Tuskegee aimed to equip its students with teaching diplomas and useful skills in agricultural, domestic and mechanical work.

Washington photograph 1909

When he became President Theodore Roosevelt was convinced that the nation's growth required African-Americans to take a fuller role in national affairs. He began to consult with Washington on a regular basis. On October 16, 1901 President Theodore Roosevelt invited Washington to dinner at the White House.The time was one of immense progress and widespread bigotry. The dinner, when publicized, set off a national scandal accompanied by lynchings and other racial persecutions.

Until his death Dr. Washington worked tirelessly on behalf of Tuskegee, and the Smith Collection includes a variety of letters signed by him to promote expansion efforts at the school.


Washington letter 1900

Washington Letter 1896













 

Sources:

LWS Collection (LWS 4974)

Danzer, Gerald A. et al., The Americans, McDougal Littell, 2003


Davis, Deborah, Guest of Honor, Atria Publishing, 2012



Blog Post by Michael P. Collins, Volunteer, Cultural Resources, MNHP