1875-1950
Historian and Publisher

Foremost African American Historian.

Carter Godwin Woodson is widely known as the father of African American studies in the United States. As an educator he encouraged blacks and other Americans to learn more about African American contributions to the history of the United States. During his lifetime he did more to advance this field of study than any other person, producing seminal works in the field. In addition, through his efforts as a publisher he provided other scholars in the field with the means to disseminate their research.

Difficult Background.

Woodson's parents were former slaves, and he was one of nine children who grew up on a farm near New Canton, Virginia. Work on the farm frequently required the children to miss school, which hampered Woodson's academic progress. In 1895, at the age of twenty, he finally entered high school, graduating two...