Carter Woodson objected to general beliefs among historians that African Americans had not contributed to the growth of this country. He began Black History Week observation in Washington, D.C., in 1926. Local churches and schools participated. Prior to that, he had to delay his schooling to help support his family. Among his jobs was that of a coal miner. He taught himself to read and attended high school in his late teens. With a doctorate from Harvard University, and some time teaching in the Philippines, he became a school principal in Washington. He also started the Association for the Study of Negro History.