Letter from Carver to Pammel, May 5, 1922

              May 5, 1922
My dear Dr. Pammel:--
In response to your queries of recent date, I beg to reply as follows:
1st. Born at Diamond Grove, Mo., just as freedom was declared, in a little one roomed log shanty on my master, Moses Carvers farm.
2nd. My education was picked up here and there. Mr. and Mrs. Carver taught me to read, spell and write just a little. I went to Neosho, Mo., public school for about nine months, then to Fort Scott town school, for about the same length of time. From there, I went to Olathe, Kans., where I attended the town public school for about two years.
Leaving here, I went to Minneapolis, Kansas, where I nearly finished my high school work. From here, I went to Indianola, Iowa, to Simpson College, where I took the College work and specialized in art and some music.
From here I went to Ames, Iowa to take a course in Agriculture, persuaded to do so by my art teacher, Miss Etta M. Budd, to whom I am greatly indebted for whatever measure of success that has come to me.
Miss Budd helped me in whatever way she could; often going far out of her way to encourage and see that I had such things as I needed.
During my six years in College, her interest in me never waned.
3rd. I do not now recall the exact date.
4th. I did odd jobs of all kinds for a number of the professors; such as cutting wood; making gardens; working in the fields; helping clean house; taking care of the green house and the chemical, botanical and bacteriological laboratories.