Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Feb. 18, 1999, edition 1 / Page 54
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Rare autobiography of Washington found THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FLINT, Mich. - A book that Stan Brantley's grandfather picked up at a bazaar many years ago turns out To have been quite a find -a rare, autographed copy of a Booker T. Washington autobiography. "The Story of My Life and Work" was published in 1900. It is signed. "To my daughter Por tia on her 17th birthday. Booker T. Washington." Washington was a pioneering black educator and proponent of self help as the key to over coming the effects of racism. "I've checked around ... at Iowa State where I went to school, at UM-Flint, at the African American history muse um in Detroit - they've never heard of or seen the book," Brantley told The Flint Journal for a story last week. Washington's better-known autobiography "Up From Slav ery" was published in 1901. The library at Tuskegee Uni versity, the historically black college in Alabama that Wash ington founded, has two copies of "The Story of My Life." The Library of Congress transferred its badly deteriorated copy to microfiche before throwing it out. But Brantley's copy is differ ent. "To me. no other copy of this book exists,"- said Brantley, a transportation planner for the Genesee County Planning Com mission. "Not an autographed copy." Washington, who lived from 1856-1915, led Tuskegee from its roots as a school with 50 stu dents in an old church and shan ty to a prominent educational institution. Brantley's copy of the book includes the remains of what appears to be a flower, and an envelope addressed to Edna Warren of Lansing. "I'm trying to find out who Edna Warren was," Brantley said. "I hope I can because then there will he a Michigan connec tion." 11-year-old changes entry on Carver THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ALAMOS, N.M. - Sixth grader Shu Chong He didn't set out to change the world, but he did manage to change The World Book encyclopedia. The 11-year-old boy, a native of Beijing who moved here a year ago with his family, was doing a research project at his school when he noticed differences in the ency clopedia's references to scientist George Washington Carver. He wondered why sections on Carver in a 1975 edition were deleted from a 1987 edition. "It w^s like, 'Whoa, why did this happen?" and stuff," He said. "It makes me want to write a letter to them about it." .t Teacher Jane Young, who is helping him learn to write and speak English, helped him draft a letter to Scott Fetzer Co., the Chicago publisher of The World Book. The letter argued that passages in the original text provided important information about Carver's contribution to 19th-cen tury botany and agriculture. He didn't expect a reply. "I thought, 'Mayb^ they really busy and they not have time to read my letterr"' He said. But a letter arrived from Dale Jacobs, the encyclopedia's execu tive editor, who assured the stu dent that a reference to 175 prod ucts Carver helped create, from sweet potatoes to pecans, and the role he played in helping Southern farmers diversify from cotton will be reinstated in an upcoming edi tion. Comments by students are taken seriously, said Jacobs, who said the information had been deleted because of space con straints. "We wanted to see if we could find some additional space, so we could have the best of both possi ble worlds," and include the delet ed material, Jacob; said. Young was astounded by her student's accomplishment. "I kept saying, 'Do you know what you did?'" she said. "I said, 'Look, you helped change The World Book.'" Northup . from page DW what the institution of slavery had done to the men who claimed to own him. Last year the book found its way into the hands of Rachel Seligman, director of the Mandev ille Gallery at Union College, and it was her idea to create an ambi tious exhibit commemorating Northup and his book. A research team, including professor Clifford Brown and four students, pored over local historical archives, abandoned cemeteries, and even traveled to Louisiana to collect more information on his life. "We were driving where Solomon walked miles without shoes," said Miles, who retraced Northup's journey through Wash ington, D.C., to the Louisiana bayou country. The Union College researchers were following a path of discovery taken more than 60 years ago by Sue Eakin, who first read Northup's book when she was a teen-ager growing up on a Louisiana plantation. The encounter with "Twelve Years a Slave" led to a life of historical researph, much of it devoted to Solomon Northup. Ea&n is a retired Louisiana State University history professor. She is thrilled at the attention Northup is receiving. "I'm very excited," "I've worked a lifetime to get some of this going. My love is .historical research and bringing up a picture of the South that is realistic. I am 80 years old and there has not been a day gone by that I haven't done something with this." She has collected oral history, thousands of pictures and docu ments related to Northup and Southern history. She is still work ing to restore the Epps Plantation house where Northup spent a decade as a slave, as well as histor- - ical markers identifying the land marks in Northup's life. A decade after he was freed. Union troops marched through ' the Louisiana plantations where Solomon had been enslaved. One soldier, 2nd. Lt. William H. Root, had read Northup's book and described in detail the scene of the freed slaves, and wrote that many remembered Northup and the day he was freed. By that time, though, Northup had apparently died. After his book came out, Northup traveled around the Northeast speaking against slavery, but no researcher has been able to find out what happened to him. OFFERING AN EVENING MBA PROGRAM AT WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1982 NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CLASSES STARTING FALL 1999 ThtWallurColilgeofBusiness 100* %W7W ,K,7 isatcreditailKAACSB- 1XK2J SKISriSZ The International Association A?I 1 V?* 828/262-2922 For Management Education App3.13.Cni3.n WWW.busineM.appstote.edu - 1 A STATE UNIVERSITY A Hand Made Brick Build Legacy George Henry Black / February 15, 1877 - October 9, 1980 / , , rrv \ Before the turn of this century we wish to pay tribute to our grandfather. George Henry Black who played a major role in assisting the build environment of this city, i With his hands he made many of the bricks J seen throughout the city including architectm Roy Wallace's designed homes throughout M Buena Vista, sidewalks and some of the fl| buildings at Old Salem, tobacco factories ? downtown and several of the earlier "drive in " branch banks of Wachovia. During Black History Month, it is most I fitting that we celebrate his legacy and pass it to those who may not know about ? this outstanding African American gentleman. His legacy not only lives through the handiwork of his craft, brickmaking. Mr. George Black served his u country with distinction when in his 90's he' traveled to Guyana, South America at the invitation of the President of the United - States to teach his craft to the people of that country. We salute you, Mr. Black on this your one hundred twenty ? second birthday. Grandchildren and great grand children. There's More To Than Meets The Eye. Bin Mi ? ?ii l.i I uiarence Mciiwam Owner, Mister Mac's landscaping & Lawn Services, Inc y ?5 Lydia Demski President Scope Services, Inc. Charles J. Gurrola Senior Vice President Gurrola Reprographics, Inc. Craig K etc hum President and CEO. Red Man Pipe & Supply Ca When you look at minority and women business-owners what do you see? At Duke Energy, we see opportunities ? opportunities for o outstanding quality, long-term growth and profitable relationships. These suppliers represent only a few of the hundreds of minority and women-owned firms who consistently provide our Company with exceptional quality, timely service and unyielding integrity. ' *,? If your company shares our vision of success, we'd like to bear from you. Write to us at PO Box 1006, . Charlotte, NC 28201-1006, ? Attention: MBI) Program Director. ' I Or call us at l-80tf277-23? and ask ahoiit our Minority Business Development Program. p mDuke [40 Energy /k ycors of Blaek History Lpa^^Hp^j doorstep
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Feb. 18, 1999, edition 1
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