"IF YOU TEACH THE NEGRO THAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED AS MUCH GOOD AS ANY OTHER RACE HE WILL ASPIRE TO EQUALITY AND JUSTICE WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE."

—Excerpt from The Mis-Education Of The Negro written by Carter G. Woodson, 1933

The Carter G. Woodson home, built in the 1890's provides an authentic example of a popular architectural style: the "Victorian Row House" characteristic of Washington, DCs Shaw community. Located on 1538 9th Street, NW, this red bricked 3,380 square foot structure became Woodson's primary residence in Washington, DC in 1915 until his death in 1950.

This structure served as Woodson's home where this great scholar researched, preserved rare collections of African American and African Diaspora History, and founded The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, since renamed The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH).

During much of Dr. Woodson's life, there was both very little information and a lack of knowledge concerning African American life and history. Through his extensive studies, Woodson almost single-handedly established African American historiography.

Dr. Woodson's research continues to educate and inspire the American public about the contributions of African Americans to this great nation which in turn has impacted the world. Today, ASALH continues Woodson's tradition of disseminating information about black life, history, and culture to the global community.

Woodson's legacy is perpetuated in the partnership between the National Park Service and ASALH for this and future generations.

Woodson Time Line

1875 Carter Goodwin Woodson is born in New Canton, Virginia on December 19, 1875

1897 Woodson receives his Bachelor's degree from Berea College in Kentucky

1912 Woodson earns his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA

1915 Dr. Woodson, known as "The Father of Black History," founds the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (changed in 1972 to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History or ASALH).

1918 Dr. Woodson writes A Century of Negro Migration

1918-1919 Dr. Woodson is Principal of Armstrong Manual Training School, Washington, DC

1919-1920 Dr. Woodson is a Professor of History at Howard University

1922 Dr. Woodson retires from teaching to give all of his attention to ASALH

1926 Dr. Woodson and ASALH establish Negro History Week—celebrated in February between the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and President Lincoln. It is now celebrated as Black History Month.

1926 Dr. Woodson receives the Spingarn Medal

1933 Dr. Woodson completes and publishes The Mis-Education of the Negro

1937 The Negro History Bulletin begins publication

1941 West Virginia State College awards Dr. Woodson an honorary Doctor of Laws

1950 Dr. Woodson dies and is buried in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland, MD

1976 The Woodson Home is designated a National Historic Landmark

2003 Public Law 108-192 establishes Carter G. Woodson's Home as a National Historic Site and authorizes the National Park Service to acquire it. The legislation is introduced by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

2005 The National Park Service acquires the home from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History

2006 The Carter G. Woodson Home NHS becomes the 389th unit of the National Park Service system

(click for larger map)

Related Points of Interest

Shaw Historic District
The Carter G. Woodson Home NHS is part of the Shaw Historic District. The Victorian row house is one of a number of significant components of Shaw. Shaw has been called the "heart of Black Washington" and perhaps no other city in the United States can boast of as many cultural features of such historic significance in African-American culture as can be identified in the Shaw neighborhood today. Dr. Woodson lived on the top floor using lower floors for his office and the basement for his book warehouse during the period when Shaw flourished.

African American Heritage Trail
The Carter G. Woodson Home NHS is among the sites included in the African American Heritage Trail of Washington, DC. To learn more about the Shaw area and to obtain your free copy of the African American Heritage Trail of Washington, DC, contact the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS.

How To Get There

The Carter G. Woodson Home is located at 1538 9th Street NW

METRO:
Shaw-Howard University Metro Station on the Green Line. From 8th and R walk west on R to 9th Street, then south to 1538 9th Street NW.

Source: NPS Brochure (undated)

Establishment Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site — Feb. 27, 2006

For More Information Please Visit The OFFICIAL NPS WEBSITE

The contents of brochures, site bulletins and trading cards (denoted with a colored caption) can be viewed by clicking on the cover. Most modern-day brochures, however, are cover only (denoted by a white caption) due to photograph copyrights. These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. The dates under each brochure do not reflect the complete range of years that a particular brochure was issued.

Date Unknown, c2009

cover only Date Unknown

Foundation Document Overview, Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, District of Columbia (December 2016)

General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment/Interpretation Plan, Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic site, District of Columbia (January 2012)

Historic Structure Report (Beyer Blinder Belle, Architects & Planners, LLC, January 15, 2008)

Junior Ranger Activity Book (Ages 7-12), Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (Date Unknown; for reference purposes only)

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form

Carter G. Woodson Home (Amber N. Wiley and Marya McQuirter w/ Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, March 3, 2020)

Scope of Collection Statement, Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (2016)

Special Resource Study: Carter G. Woodson Home Draft (January 2001)

"Willing to Sacrifice": Carter G. Woodson, The Father of Black History and the Carter G. Woodson Home, Historic Resource Study, Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (Pero Gaglo Dagbovie, April 2012)

Carter G. Woodson Tribute