Charles William Carpenter facts for kids

Charles William Carpenter (born 1886, died 1971) was an important Baptist minister. He was also a Civil Rights activist in the 1900s. He worked to make sure everyone had fair and equal rights.

Early Life of Charles Carpenter

Charles William Carpenter was born on May 1, 1886. His hometown was Stanford, Kentucky. His parents were James and Amanda Carpenter. In 1901, his father passed away. His mother then moved the family to Indianapolis, Indiana. Young William worked many different jobs during the day. He went to public school at night to get his education.

Charles Carpenter's Education

When Charles was 18 years old in 1904, he started night school. He attended the famous Tuskegee Institute. There, he studied chemistry with the brilliant scientist Dr. George Washington Carver. Dr. Carver was known for his work with peanuts and other plants.

Charles also worked with Dr. Booker T. Washington. Dr. Washington was the founder of Tuskegee Institute. In the summer of 1908, Charles worked at Dr. Washington's summer home. In 1909, Charles graduated from Tuskegee. He was the valedictorian, meaning he was the top student in his class.

After Tuskegee, he decided to study theology. This is the study of religious faith. He went to Wilberforce University in Ohio. He also studied at Garrett Biblical Institute in Illinois. He finished his studies in 1912.

Minister and Civil Rights Activist

Charles Carpenter became a minister in 1912. He was an active minister for 54 years. He served in churches in Detroit, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Canada.

He later settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He became the pastor of the Second Baptist Church. He served there for 37 years. He retired on his 80th birthday in 1966.

When he retired, the Ann Arbor city council praised him. They passed a resolution honoring his great community service. Charles William Carpenter passed away on September 29, 1971, in Ann Arbor.

His important papers are kept at the Bentley Historical Library. This library is at the University of Michigan. These papers include letters from Dr. and Mrs. Booker T. Washington. They also have his sermons, prayers, and church reports. These documents show his work with groups like the Ann Arbor Human Relations Commission. He worked hard for fairness and equal rights for all people.