Our History

History of BWI

The beginnings of the Booker Washington Agricultural & Industrial Institute of Liberia dates back to 1924 when the President of Liberia, Charles Dunbar Burgess King, visited the United States. During his visit, a reporter asked if there was anything of significance he would like to take back to his homeland. The President responded, "If it were possible, I would like to take Tuskegee Institute with me to Liberia."

While this wasn't physically possible, President King's wish for a world-class institute was answered in 1929. An American philanthropist, Ms. Olivia Phelps-Stokes expressed a desire to finance an educational institution somewhere in Africa to be named in honor of Booker T. Washington. The goal of the institute was to embrace the educational of Mr. Washington, who espoused the need to educate the mind, heart and hands.

After a few visits to Liberia by a delegation from the Phelps-Stokes Foundation, an agreement was made between the foundation and the Republic of Foundation to establish the Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute in Kakata, Liberia.

Ground was broken in 1929 on 1,000 acres of land donated by the government in Kakata where the Sibley Monument is presently located and the Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute (BWI for short) became the realization of a dream of the people of Liberia.

History of BWINAANA

The idea of a national organization in North America that would be composed graduates, former students, faculty, staff, administrators and friends of Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute came to fruition in a meeting May 26, 1991. Among those men and women of vision were Delores Zor-Edwards, Emmett Jones, Emmett Fiawoo, Arthur K. Watson, Joe Isaac, Bennie D. Warner, Edith Carr, Daniel R. Henri, Vera Peal-Weah, Paul Mulbah, Samuel T. Rennie, Stephen A. Sawyer, Femon Padmore, Steven Kpou, Ceasar Gardiner, Roberta Gardiner and others.

Through the guiding efforts of interim officers Mr. Emmett Fiawoo, General Secretary, Mr. Stephen A. Sawyer, Deputy Secretary, Mrs. Vera Peal-Weah, Secretary, and Mr. Daniel R. Henri, Treasurer the National BWI Alumni Association was formed and held its first national convention on June 27, 1992. The original three chapters, Rhode Island, Washington D.C. and New York/New Jersey were in attendance at the convention, which was held in Providence, Rhode Island.

Today, the BWINAANA has 14 registered chapters, including the Maryland Chapter and it continues to establish new chapters in states across the country. The BWINAANA along with the Maryland Chapter welcomes all graduates, former students, faculty, staff, administrators, and friends of BWI. The major goal is to fulfill our commitment to our alma mater by doing everything possible to keep the legacy of BWI alive.