Up From Slavery Characters

John Washington is Booker T. Washington’s brother. He is simply described as being generous and hard working. With the help of Washington’s instruction, John was able to get an education at the Hampton Institute and eventually serve as Superintendent of Industries at Tuskegee.

Booker’s sister. She was born in slavery and moves with the family to West Virginia. She does not play a large role in the narrative, but Washington does suggest that she was not prepared to help with the upkeep of the house after the death of their mother.

James was adopted into the Washington family after they moved to West Virginia. Not much information is given about James, but Washington helped to educate him and secure him a position as postmaster at Tuskegee.

Miss Nathalie Lord is an instructor at Hampton who helps Washington to refine his skills in public speaking. It is under her instruction that Washington first realizes that he has the potential to become an excellent public speaker.

George Campbell is the ex-slave owner from Tuskegee who, along with Mr. Lewis Adams, wrote General Armstrong requesting a teacher to lead the black school in Tuskegee. Washington believes that Mr. Campbell, despite his former slave holdings, is a kind, honest, and hard-working man.

Mr. Adams is an ex-slave in Tuskegee who wrote to General Armstrong with Mr. Campbell requesting a teacher for the black school. Washington uses Mr. Adams as a model of the potential of vocational education by attributing Mr. Adams’ mental prowess to his ability to work with his hands.

General Ruffner is the owner of the salt-furnace and coal mine in West Virginia and husband of Mrs. Viola Ruffner, Washington’s employer.

Fannie Smith is Washington’s first wife, and is mentioned in connection with the birth of his first daughter, Portia M. Washington.

Portia is Washington’s oldest daughter by his first wife Fannie Smith. She does not figure strongly into the narrative, but Washington mentions that she excelled at dressmaking and music performance.

Baker is Washington’s oldest son by his second wife, Olivia Davidson. He does not figure strongly into the narrative, but Washington mentions that he excelled at brickmaking at a young age and greatly enjoyed working in the industries.

Ernest is Washington’s youngest son by his second wife, Olivia Davidson. He does not figure strongly into the narrative, but Washington mentions that from a young age Ernest aspired to be a doctor and spent much of his childhood learning at the Tuskegee doctor’s office.

Andrew Carnegie is a famous philanthropist and steel tycoon who expresses interest in and ultimately donates to the Tuskegee Institute after Washington’s “Atlanta Exposition Address.”

Washington attracts the attention of President Cleveland after his “Atlanta Exposition Address.” President Cleveland admires Washington’s conservative stance on racial progress and uplift, and the two men develop a friendship. Washington admires Cleveland’s interest in race relations and his apparent dedication to helping black Americans.

Washington implored President McKinley to visit Tuskegee as a sign of good faith amidst some tense national race riots. McKinley agreed, and he and Washington strike up a friendship. Washington describes McKinley as being kind, considerate, and deeply concerned about the plight of black Americans.