The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.10, page 497, Dec. 1910, U. of Illinois Press

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DECEMBER . ~ 9 ~ O what the outcome of your further investigation into the Russian matter is. I thank you also for writing me regarding Professor Carver and Secretary Wilson. Professor Carver's case is rather a sad one. Professor Carver is a fine instructor, but he has absolutely no ability to do practical farm work, nor has he any ability in the direction of organizing and carrying forward the organization of classes. His strong forte is in inspiring and instructing young men after they are secured and placed before him in a class. He also has very unusual ability in the direction of original research. All that I have been trying to do at Tuskegee is to have Professor Carver realize what his forte is and to get him to concentrate upon that which he can do and to leave aside that which he cannot do. For example, when Professor Carver first came to Tuskegee, we put him in charge of the practical operations of the farm, but within a few months we found everything was going to pieces, and if it had remained in his hands we would have had no farm at Tuskegee today. We gave him charge of our practical work, but gradually we had to take it nearly all from him and encourage him to concentrate upon that which he can do. I would state and I wish you would tell this same thing to Secretary Wilson if you choose that I spent nearly a week before leaving Tuskegee in consultation with Professor Carver and all of our leading teachers there with a view of trying to get Professor Carver's work so arranged that he could do the work for which he is best suited, and I am glad to say that before I left Professor Carver readily accepted my view and has already begun work under the reorganized plan, and I am sure he will be happier and much more successful than he has been before. I am glad to say that there are the most pleasant relations between him and the other teachers in the Agricultural Department. Professor Carver has not an enemy so far as I know, at Tuskegee. All the old teachers realize his strong points and his weak points, and all are deeply interested in helping him. I do not believe that there will be any trouble in regard to him in the future, as I think he is now so fixed that he can do his best work. You will be glad to know that we are fitting up a large laboratory for him so that a good deal of his time can be given in the direction of original research, and then he will have all the opportunity to teach what he desires. No 497