He reflects on the generosity of both teachers and philanthropists who helped in educating blacks and native Americans. Washington detailing his slow and steady rise from a slave child during the Civil War, to the difficulties and obstacles he overcame to get an education at the new Hampton University, to his work establishing vocational schools - most notably the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama - to help black people and other disadvantaged minorities learn useful, marketable skills and work to pull themselves, as a race, up by the bootstraps. 'Up from Slavery is the 1901 autobiography of Booker T. Brick red cloth, gilt titles, top edge gilt, photographic frontispiece portrait of the author. Boards lightly stained, spine a bit faded, ink name and date on front endpaper. Washington explained that the integration of practical subjects is partly designed to reassure the white community as to the usefulness of educating black people. His educational philosophy stresses combining academic subjects with learning a trade (something which is reminiscent of the educational theories of John Ruskin). He describes his efforts to instill manners, breeding, health and a feeling of dignity to students.

Spine lightly rubbed with minor loss from head, pencil name on front endpaper, some pencil marks in index.

Out of slavery booker t washington