Carter G. Woodson, American Historian
Carter Godwin Woodson (December 19, 1875 - April 3, 1950) was an American historian, author, and journalist. Convinced that the role of his own people in American history and in the history of other cultures was being ignored by scholars, Woodson realized the need for research into the neglected past of African-Americans. In 1915 he helped found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1916, Woodson began publication of the scholarly Journal of Negro History. It has never missed an issue, despite the Great Depression, loss of support from foundations, and two World Wars. Woodson devoted his life to historical research. He worked to preserve the history of African- and accumulated a collection of thousands of artifacts and publications. In 1926, Woodson pioneered the celebration of Negro History Week (precursor to Black History Month), designated for the second week in February, to coincide with marking the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. He died suddenly from a heart attack in 1950, at the age of 74. Woodson's most cherished ambition, a 6 volume Encyclopedia Africana, was incomplete at the time of his death. FPA Woodson biographical cartoon by Charles Alston, 1943
