Building Skills and Independence at Tuskegee University Collection

Title: Building Skills and Independence at Tuskegee University Collection
Date Modified: 2025-09-12
Description: This collection provides visual representations of the early educational philosophy of Tuskegee University. In its early years, Tuskegee emphasized industrial education, offering students practical training in trades like plumbing, sewing, brickmaking, and shoemaking. These hands-on skills were taught alongside academic subjects such as literature, history, geography, and mathematics, reinforcing Booker T. Washington’s vision of self-reliance and economic empowerment. Learning a trade was seen as essential, equipping students to contribute to their communities while gaining financial independence.
Curated By: Marvin Byrd
Contributing Institution: Tuskegee University

Students Working at a Planer
A black and white image of two male Tuskegee Institute students operating a planner machine in a printmaking class in the early twentith century.
Students Producing Canned Goods
A photo taken by C.M. Battey showng the early years of Tuskegee University. This is an image of Black female students learning the skill to preserve products in a can.
Students in Printing Shop
A black and white image of students learning the industrial skill of print making in the early twentieth century at Tuskegee Institute.
Carpentry Division
Black and white image of students learning carpentry at Tuskegee Institute.