Carter G. Woodson was an African American writer and historian often referred to as “The Father of Black History.” He was the second African-American to receive a doctorate from Harvard behind W.E.B Du Bois. Woodson devoted himself to the study of African-American history and worked extensively to establish Black History and to encourage others to study and teach the rich history of African Americans. His program began in February 1926 as Black History Week and later was expanded and renamed Black History Month. Woodson chose February in honor of the birth of Frederick Douglass.