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A Dream Fulfilled: The Saga of George Washington Carver

Duration: 57:46 (Full Program)
Program: A Dream Fulfilled: The Saga of George Washington Carver
Broadcast Date: Jul. 15, 2010

Iowa Public Television presents...The Des Moines Metro Opera and Opera Iowa production of A Dream Fulfilled: The Saga of George Washington Carver.

The opera opens in the year 1890, with George Washington Carver leaving Winterset, Iowa to attend Simpson College in Indianola as an art student. Dr. and Mrs. Milholland, friends and supporters of the young student, tell Carver that Simpson is a place where he can learn and grow regardless of his race.

The story continues as Carver is convinced by Miss Etta Mae Budd, his art professor at Simpson, to attend Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa. Budd persuades Carver to pursue a different path: science.

After graduating in 1894, Dr. Louis Pammel, one of Carver's professors, offers the young scientist a teaching job at Iowa State. Carver accepts.

Eventually, Carver takes a professorship at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. He continues his work to overcome prejudice and discrimination. Eventually, Carver becomes a respected scientist, inventor, and advocate for peanuts and other legumes.

After several years at Tuskegee, Carver travels to the U.S. Capitol for a meeting with members of the House Ways and Means Committee. Carver hopes to convince the committee a tariff is needed to protect American peanut farmers. His 10-minute presentation is extended to an hour.

Finally, Carver returns to Indianola where he addresses the 1941 Simpson College Bachelorette service. As he tells the assembled crowd to do common things in an uncommon way, Carver reflects on his long and eventful life.

A set of teacher resources supporting this program is available on the Des Moines Metro Opera website.

Funding for A Dream Fulfilled: The Saga of George Washington Carver has been provided by Friends… the Iowa Public Television Foundation… and by Pioneer Hi-Bred, A DuPont Business.

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Post Date: July 15, 2010