Carter G. Woodson Birthplace
New Canton, Virginia
North of this sign is the birthplace of Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Dr. Woodson was born December 19, 1875, to former slaves, James Henry and Eliza Ann Riddle Woodson. Young carter left Buckingham to work in West Virginia when he was 17 years old. He began working in the coal mines in the Huntington, West Virginia area. While in West Virginia he entered Douglass High School and completed four years of high school in less than two years.
Dr. Woodson was committed to education. He attended Berea College in Kentucky, The University of Chicago and the Sorbonne in Paris. He was the second African American to receive a Ph.D. degree in history from Harvard University. He returned to Douglass High School as a teacher and principal. He taught and held administrative positions in the Philippines, at Howard University and at West Virginia State College.
Dr. Woodson was dedicated to researching, writing and preserving the historical contributions of people of African descent. In 1915 he founded the Association for the Study of Negro History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History) and the Journal of Negro History. He was founder and editor of the Negro History Bulletin and the author or co-author of more than 30 books and 125 articles. Dr. Woodson founded Negro History Week in 1926. His legacy lives on in the yearly observance of Black History Month.
“When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions.” - Dr. Carter G. Woodson
Marker is on C G Woodson Road (Virginia Route 670) 0.2 miles north of Liberty Road (Virginia Route 759), on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
