Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits #70 - B T W & G W C First And Second In Liberty

Here's a post about a topic almost completely unrelated to coins, but I came across the info and thought some others might also have some interest...


Booker T. Washington was the first African-American to be honored on a US commemorative coin (1946); George Washington Carver was the second (1951).

A few years before, when the United States Maritime Commission (MC) was engaged in a massive shipbuilding program that began in 1939 and produced thousands of ships to support troops of the US and its Allies in all theaters of World War II, Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, each had a Liberty class cargo ship named in their honor. They were the first and second African-Americans to be so honored. Overall, 17 Liberty ships were so named.

Christening of SS Booker T Washington by Marian Anderson


Marian Anderson christened the SS Booker T Washington on September 29, 1942.

Christening of SS George Washington Carver by Lena Horne


Lena Horne christened the SS George Washington Carver on May 7, 1943.

Liberty Ship at Sea

Image Credits: All images - Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)


The SS Booker T Washington served out WWII as a cargo ship/freighter. After the war, it continued to operate as a cargo hauler until it became part of the US National Defense Reserve Fleet. It was sold in 1969 and scrapped.

After initially serving as a cargo ship, the SS George Washington Carver was later converted to a hospital ship for use by the US Army; the ship was renamed the USS Dogwood.