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23 folio sheets, typed rectos only. Sheets measure 8" x 12¾". Bradbound at the topedge into unprinted pale blue paper wrapper with a few scattered corrections. Three horizontal folds, tiny tears at the edges of the wrappers and one interior page present but neatly separated at the fold, a near fine example. The original typed transcript of the 1905 graduation day program for three African-American schools in Washington, DC - Washington Normal School No. 2, M Street High School, and Armstrong Manual Training School - with the bulk of the transcript consisting of the commencement address of Booker T. Washington, complete with notes on the audience's reaction. The event was recorded by William H. Davis, a pharmacist in Washington, DC who also served as the official stenographer to the National Negro Business League, of which Washington was President. The day was hosted by Dr. Winfield Scott Montgomery, a graduate of both Dartmouth College and Howard University, with an invocation from Rev. William V. Tunnell, the first Professor of History at Howard, and followed by a brief address by Henry Brown Floyd MacFarland, the President of the DC Board of Commissioners, who introduced Washington. Over the course of 19 pages Washington impresses on the graduates the importance of education, not just for the students themselves, but for Black Americans nationwide: "We are looking to you more and more each year for inspiration . You have an opportunity here as few people have ever had." He points out the district's large Black population and strong educational institutions, and how the impact of this educated class can affect the country: "You do not teach alone in the District of Columbia, twenty thousand children, but in a very large degree you are the teachers of the three millions of children of our race scattered throughout this nation." While Washington praises education he also acknowledges the obstacles that still remain to educated Black America, which sadly remains relevant today: "I believe that in any proper system of education, whether for black people or for any other race of people, you have got to take into consideration the racial needs, the racial opportunities, and the racial characteristics, that surround the people for whom that education is given." He presents the examples of the new Black graduates competing against fellow White graduates for jobs in the next day's newspaper: "how many of those white boys will mostly likely have been employed? You have got to consider the question practically; you have got to consider this question frankly." Establishing the obstacles inherent in American culture, even to the new class of educated African-Americans, Washington concerns himself with the importance of building Black communities, not just intellectually but practically, defining the occupations available to most African-Americans into three groups: agricultural, mechanical, and domestic. "Now I don't advocate the black man . should remain in one of these three groups," says Washington, "but I do say that inasmuch as the majority of our people are now interested in one of these three groups, we should help this majority to perform that service well, whether for themselves or for others." Washington closes with several pieces of advice to the new graduates. He tells them not to be ashamed of where they start or what their parents do, only to keep in mind that they you don't have to stay there: "Rise up to a better sphere"; that education will increase your wants but don't fall into the trap of letting it ruin your life: "Life to the educated man or woman, should not be a life of spending, but a life of giving - should not be a life of hoarding but a life of scattering"; and always be proud of your race: "I don't mean that we should not love and have faith in all other races, but I like to see a race have faith in itself!" *OCLC* locates two printed copies of this report published by the Armstrong Manual Training School in 1. Seller Inventory # 83033
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