Letter about a New Disease on the Peanut Plant with Illustration

Autograph Letter Signed on Tuskegee Institute Stationery, 2pp on one 4to sheet, Tuskeggee Institute, Alabama, Aug. 30, 1930.
Carver is recognized for plant disease research and reviving the peanut industry. In this substantive and detailed letter, he included an illustration of "dark spores" which signaled disease. In the second paragraph, Carver explains, "Another disease has manifested itself, much to my suprise[sic], a diplodia [sketch] spores ...on the roots, stems and pods of the peanuts...Please send me more...I have never seen this disease on peanuts before...look for it on cotton stalks...." Carver wrote to Grady Porter, friend and a researcher (truncated) from a peanut processing plant in Columbus, Georgia. Carver began the letter expressing how much he enjoyed his trip with Porter and ends on a similar note with a reminder to look for the disease on other plants. Signed, "G. W. Carver." With holograph envelope addressed to Porter at the Tom Huston Peanut Co. Carver was born into slavery during the Civil War. He was a research botanist and agricultural educator known as “The Peanut Man” in recognition or his research on peanut diseases which extended to other legumes and to sweet potatoes. He developed hundreds of peanut based products including peanut oil, but he missed out on inventing peanut butter. (Inventory #: 5041)