Little is known about Dr. Carver's early life. Even his own recollections are sketchy and not supported by fact. The following two articles are meant to provide a general overview of Dr. Carver's life and should not be used as the definitive sources on his life.

1897 OR THEREABOUTS - GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER'S
OWN BRIEF HISTORY OF HIS LIFE

        As nearly as I can trace my history, I was about two weeks old when the war closed. My parents were both slaves. Father was killed shortly after my birth while hauling wood to town on an ox wagon.
        I had three sisters and one brother. Two sisters and my brother, I know to be dead only as history tells me, yet I do not doubt it, as they are buried in the family burying ground.
        My sister, mother and myself were kuckluckled, and sold in Arkansas, and there are now so many conflicting reports concerning them, I dare not say if they are dead or alive. Mr. Carver, the gentleman who owned my mother, sent a man for us, but only I was brought back, nearly dead with whooping cough, with the report that mother and sister was dead, although some say they saw them afterwards going north with the soldiers.
        My home was near Neosho, Newton County, Missouri, where I remained until I was about 9 years old. My body was very feeble and it was a constant warfare between life and death to see who would gain the mastery.
        From a child, I had an inordinate desire for knowledge, and especially music, painting, flowers, and the sciences, algebra being one of my favorite studies.
        Day after day I spent in the woods alone in order to collect my floral beauties, and put them in my little garden I had hidden in brush not far from the house, as it was considered foolishness in the neighborhood to waste time on flowers.
And many are the tears I had shed because I would break the roots or flowers of some of my pets while removing them from the ground, and strange to say all sorts of vegetation seemed to thrive under my touch until I was styled the plant doctor, and plants from all over the country would be brought to me for treatment.
        At this time I had never heard of botany and could scarcely read. Rocks had an equal fascination for me and many are the basketful that I have been compelled to remove from the outside chimney corner of the old log house, with the injunction to throw them downhill, I obeyed but picked up the choicest ones and hid them in another place, and somehow the same chimney corner would, in a few days or weeks, be running over again to suffer the same fate. I have some of the specimens in my collection now and consider them the choices of the lot. Mr. and Mrs. Carver were very kind to me and I thank them so much for my home training. They encouraged me to secure knowledge, helping me all they could, but this was quite limited. As we lived in the country, no colored schools were available. So I was permitted to go 8 miles to a school at town (Neosho). This simply sharpened my appetite for more knowledge. I managed to secure all my meager wardrobe from home, and when they heard from me I was cooking for a wealthy family in Ft. Scott, Kansas, for my board, clothes, and school privileges.
        Of course, they were indignant and set for me to come home at once to die, as the family doctor had told them I would never live to see 21 years of age, I trusted to God and pressed on (I had been a Christian since about 8 years old). Sunshine and shadow were profusely intermingled such as naturally befall a defenseless orphan by those who wish to prey upon them. My health began improving and I remained here for two or three years. From here to Olathe, Kansas to school. From there to Paola Normal School. From there to Minneapolis, Kansas, where I remained in school about 7 years finishing high school, and in addition some Latin and Greek. From here to Kansas City, ~entered a business college of shorthand and typewriting. I was here to have a position in the union telegraph office as stenographer and typewriter, but the thirst for knowledge gained the mastery and I sought to enter Highland College at Highland, Kansas. Was refused on account of my color. I went from here to the Western part of Kansas where I saw the subject of my famous yucca and cactus painting that went to the World's Fair. I drifted from here to Winterset, Iowa, began as head cook in a large hotel. Many thanks here for the acquaintance of Mr. & Mrs. Dr. Milholland, who insisted upon me going to an art school, and chose Simpson College for me.
        The opening of school found me at Simpson attempting to run a laundry for my support and batching to economize. For quite one month, I lived on prayer, beef suet and cornmeal, and quite often being without the suet and meal. Modesty prevented me telling my condition to strangers.
        The news soon spread that I did laundry work and really needed it, so from that time on favors not only rained but poured on me. I cannot speak too highly of the faculty, students and in fact, the town generally. They all seemed to take pride in seeing if he or she might not do more for me than someone else.
        But I wish to especially mention the names of Miss Etta M. Budd, my art teacher, Mrs. W. A. Liston & family and Rev. A. D. Field & family. Aside from their substantiate help at Simpson, were the means of my attendance at Ames. (Please fix this to suit).
         I think you know my career at Ames and will fix it better than I. I will simply mention a few things. I received the prize offered for the best herbarium in cryptogamy. I would like to have said more about you Mrs. Liston & Miss Budd, but I feared you would not put it in about yourself, and I did not want one without all.
         I received a letter from Mrs. Liston and she gave me an idea that it was not to be a book or anything of the kind this is only a fragmentary list.
        I knit, I crochet, and make all my hose, mittens, etc., while I was in school. 
        If this is not sufficient, please let me know, and if it ever comes out in print, I would like to see it.

God Bless you all, 
Geo. W. Carver