The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.2, page 101, Jan. 1881, U. of Illinois Press

The page presentation framework of the Booker T. Washington papers is designed to provide researchers worldwide with searchable access to the thousands of pages comprising the fourteen volumes, most of which are out of print. Adapted from the National Academy Press's Open Book framework, this framework allows searching down to the page level, provides sorting of search results chronologically, enables easy navigation across multiple volumes, and allows page-by-page local printing (via PDF) of every page.

[ Top of Page ]

[ Home ]

[ Contact Us ]

[ Help ]

OCRed data provided for searching only.
JAN UARY · ~ 88 ~ Edward Sugg to George Henry CorTiss,~ with BTW's Endorsement Hampton, Va., Jan. ~ 2, 18 ~ Dear friend: This is the story of my life. My father and mother was slave. I was born Sept. 1852, and when I became two yeam of age, my mother was carred to Halifax N.C. and sold at auction. A man bought her by the mame of Geo. C. Sugg,2 M.D. and he carred to his plantation, a bout telve miles from Tarboro, N.C. and ~ stade with her two or three years, and I was taking from her and carred to his resident to nurse, I stad there a year, and then I was carred back to his plantation; My father and mother are bouth dead! My father was a carpenter, he fell from the tope of a house, and his head fell in a stage pole hole and broke his neck. That happen ~June, or July the year, 1852. And after that my mother married again: And bout one or two years later, then the great strugel came on hand. My mother and her husbon was sold, from each-orther and she married a gain, and after Leee surrended my step-father would not send me to school; he had me at work all the time tell I be came at age. I went to school six months be fore I came to this Institution. A graduate from this Institution told me a bout this Institution and advised me to come to it. He told me that this Institution was the best Institution that he knew of, He told me that I could come here and pay one half in cash, and work the orther halfout. I came hear, Jan. 20, 1879. and entid the prepartory class. and during the vacation I romaine here and work in the Engineer the partment. and by sodoing I be came interrested in the work and wanted to learn the treed. and Gen. S. C. A.3 and Mr. J. B. H. G.4 The Chieftain-engineer give me a chan to learn it by staying out of school two years and work at the trade. I had a good-time here vacation and during the vacation. I had one week for holiday, and I went home to see my peoples and I found theme well; I must confess the truth. I did not knew that the African race was so low in civilization, untilt I came to this Institution and went back home, in the guards of education they are suffing for the need of edcation there want teachers very bade now. Teachers are very scace at my home, which is Rich Square N.C. North Hampton Co. The principal occupation is farming! Som of the colored peoples in my nabor-hood if you talk to them a bout sending their childrens to school the will tell you that they are going to send them Cot