"MY ARTICLE IN THE . . . PEANUT JOURNAL . . . STRUCK A VERY RESPONSIVE CHORD" (SCIENTISTS.) CARVER, GEORGE WASHINGTON. Autograph Letter Signed, "G.W. Carver," to "My beloved boy, Mr. Davis," stating that his own good health is partly due to the happiness caused by "my dear boys," stating that his most prized possession is his friendship with Davis, praising Davis's gifts, encouraging Davis to read his article and to continue studying, and recommending a treatment for a skin condition. 2 pages, 4to, "Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute" stationery, written on the recto and verso of a single sheet; two punch holes in upper margin (with loss of few letters of text), folds, faint toning at all edges. Tuskegee, 18 August 1932
". . . Yes dear, at the present time my health is very good, thank God. I really believe some of it is due to the fact that my dear boys keep me happy . . . . "The thing I prize as my greatest earthly possession is to have a dear, handsome, wholesome, intelligent boy with a great beautiful mind, like my ideal boy Mr. Davis. "Almost every night I dream about you, because my mind and heart is on you all the time, because you have such rare gifts in more ways than one. . . . "Dear, I wish you would read . . . my article in the Aug. issue of the Peanut Journal, it seems to have struck a very responsive chord, as I am getting a good many letters about it. . . . "Make just as many investigations as you can and have them ready by the time you come over again. How I would love to have you every day. . . ." Ford Clinton Davis (1906-1976) was, at the time of writing, a young white man who had not attended college, but who developed an interest in botany; he was later employed by the Tom Huston Peanut Company, for which Carver provided consultation services.
