An Unlikely Friendship
George Washington Carver and industrialist Henry Ford formed a remarkable friendship in the 1930s. Despite their vastly different backgrounds - one born into slavery, the other a wealthy captain of industry - they bonded over their shared interest in developing plant-based alternatives to petroleum products.
Their friendship transcended the racial barriers of the era and became one of the most notable interracial friendships in early 20th-century America.
How They Met
Ford and Carver first met in the early 1930s through their mutual interest in "chemurgy" - the industrial use of agricultural products. Ford was experimenting with soybean-based plastics for car parts, while Carver had spent decades developing industrial products from peanuts and sweet potatoes.
Ford immediately recognized Carver's genius and invited him to visit his research facilities in Michigan.
Highlights of Their Friendship
- Regular visits: Carver visited Ford's estate in Ways, Georgia, multiple times
- Collaborative research: They worked together on plant-based materials, including soybean plastics
- The elevator gift: Ford had an elevator installed in Carver's Tuskegee building when he learned Carver struggled with stairs
- Laboratory cabin: Ford built a cabin for Carver at his Ways, Georgia estate specifically for his visits
- Personal respect: Ford kept a jar of Tuskegee soil on his mantelpiece to honor Carver
- Last years: Ford was one of Carver's closest companions in his final years
Shared Vision
Both men believed that agriculture and industry could work together. Ford saw farming as central to American life and wanted to reduce dependence on petroleum. Carver had spent his career showing that common crops could yield industrial products.
Their collaboration represented an early vision of what we now call the bioeconomy - using plant materials to create sustainable industrial products.