Black American Inventors and Innovators

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Black American Inventors and Innovators

• Assembled by
• Dr. Teshia Young Roby

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About this Presentation

• What we know about early African American
  innovators comes mostly from the work of Henry
  Edward Baker, a young African-American graduate
  of Harvard Law School. Baker was an assistant
  patent examiner at the U.S. Patent Office who was
  dedicated to uncovering and publicizing the
  contributions of Black inventors.
• From the replies of thousands of registered
  patent attorneys to correspondence, Baker
  collected nearly 800 instances of verified
  patents issued to blacks, which he claimed
  represented less than half of those actually in
  existence.
• -- Excerpted from Black Inventors, About.com

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Dedication

• The inventions and accomplishments of African
  Americans point out the contributions that
  African Americans have made to the comfort and
  advancement of mankind.
• This acknowledgement of Black inventors and
  innovators is in celebration of our brave
  ancestors, our living examples, and our
  developing children.
• Teshia Young Roby, PhD

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• The mind does not take its complexion from the
  skin
• Frederick Douglass

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Leader of the Pack

• In 1821, Thomas Jennings was the first African
  American to receive a patent. The patent was for
  a clothes dry-cleaning process. The first money
  Jennings earned from his patent was spent on
  purchasing his family out of slavery and
  supporting the abolitionist cause.

Patent 3306x
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How Sweet It Is!

• Norbert Rillieux revolutionized in the sugar
  industry by inventing a refining process that
  reduced the time, cost, and safety risk involved
  in producing sugar from cane and beets

Patent 4879
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A Snack Attack

• The potato chip was invented in 1853 by George
  Crum, a chef at a vacation resort in New York.
  One day a diner complained that the french-fries
  were too thick. After repeated complaints from
  the fussy customer, Crum finally made fries that
  were too thin to eat with a fork, in hopes of
  annoying the customer. The customer, surprisingly
  enough, was happy - and potato chips were
  invented!

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An Honorable Man

• In 1874, Edward Bouchet with honors, became the
  first African American to graduate from Yale. In
  1876, when Dr. Bouchet earned a PhD in physics
  from Yale, he became the first African American
  to earn a doctorate degree from an American
  university.

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A Bright Idea

• In 1882, Lewis Latimer invented an inexpensive
  carbon filament, making the mass production of
  light bulbs possible.
• Latimer was the original draftsman for Thomas
  Edison and the only African American member of
  the "Edison Pioneers." Latimer worked in the
  laboratories of both Thomas Edison and Alexander
  Graham Bell (Latimer drafted the drawing for
  Bells telephone patent).
• In 1881, Latimer supervised the installation of
  the electric lights in New York, Philadelphia,
  Montreal, and London.

Patent 252386
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Walk a Mile in His Shoes

• Jan Ernst Matzeliger invented a shoemaking
  machine that increased shoemaking speed by 900!
  His patent was bought by the United Shoe
  Machinery Company, which became a multimillion
  dollar corporation, the largest of its kind in
  the world.
• Matzeliger, however, died in obscurity at the age
  of 36 in 1889.

Patent 274207
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Very Much Kneaded

• Judy Reed may have been the very first African
  American woman patent holder. In 1884, Reed
  applied for a patent for an improved dough
  kneader and roller. The invention made the
  process of making bread much less labor intensive
  and much more sanitary. Reed may not have been
  able to sign her name, as she signed her patent
  application with an "X."

Patent 305474
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Its Goode to Be First

• Sarah Goodes patent was the first confirmed
  patent obtained by an African-American woman
  inventor. In 1885, Goode invented the folding
  cabinet bed, a space-saver that folded up against
  the wall into a cabinet that could be used as a
  desk. Goode owned a furniture store in Chicago
  and invented the bed for people living in small
  apartments.

Patent 322177
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Straight to the Top

• Alexander Miles made great improvements upon
  elevator technology in 1887 and created the first
  electric elevator that included auto-closing
  doors as a safety device. The invention
  prevented people from falling down empty elevator
  shafts.

Patent 371207
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Hes No Phone-y

• Granville Woods pioneered several inventions and
  improvements in telegraphy and telephone
  communications and electric currents used for
  railways.
• Woods railway inventions were important
  predecessors to the current subway systems around
  the world.
• Woods took on the powerful Edison Company who
  challenged his phone inventions in patent court.
  Woods not only won those patent rights, but was
  also able to prove his earlier rights to
  inventions claimed by Edison. Interestingly,
  after Edisons second legal loss to Woods, Edison
  offered Woods a position to work for him. Woods
  turned him down.

Woods has over 36 patents, 14 of which are for
electric railways
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The Write Stuff

• In 1890, William Purvis made several improvements
  to the fountain pen in order to make it a more
  durable, inexpensive, and better pen to carry in
  the pocket. The pen eliminated the need for an
  ink bottle by storing ink in a reservoir within
  the pen which is then fed to the pen's tip.

Patent 419065
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Fly-ing High

• Entomologist, Dr. Charles Henry Turner was a
  noted authority on the behavior of insects. In
  the early 1890s he was the first researcher to
  prove that insects can hear. Dr. Turner is still
  recognized as one of the leading authorities on
  insect learning and behavior over 70 years after
  his death.

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Mender of Broken Hearts

• In 1893, Dr. Daniel Williams performed the first
  successful open-heart surgery by an American.
• In 1891 Dr. Williams founded Provident Hospital
  for black nurses. The hospital is now the oldest
  black-owned hospital in the United States.
• In 1913, Dr. Williams was the only
  African-American in a group of 100 charter
  members of the American College of Surgeons and
  he founded and became the first vice-president of
  the National Medical Association.

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Fender Bender

• In 1895, Matthew Cherry invented the street car
  fender, which helped to prevent injury to vehicle
  passengers and damage to the street cars.
• An adaptation of Cherrys fender can be found on
  all modern vehicles.

Patent 531908
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We All Scream for Ice Cream!

• In 1897, Alfred Cralle invented the ice cream
  scooper, which provided a means for placing the
  frozen deliciousness on a sugar cone or into a
  bowl!

Patent 576395
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A Hole in One

• Some golf clubs still today exclude African
  Americans from using their facilities. It is
  strangely ironic then that in 1899, George F.
  Grant, DDS was the first to patent the tapered
  golf tee. The golf tee allowed the golf ball to
  sit in place until the player was ready to swing.
  
• Prior to Dr. Grants invention, players had to
  create a mound of dirt on which to position the
  golf ball.

Patent 576395
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The Millionaires Club

• In the early 1900s, Madame CJ Walker was the
  nations first self-made female millionaire of
  ANY race. Her hair products empire amassed over
  2 million, which in 2003 would equate to almost
  42 million!

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• In 1911, Nathaniel Alexander patented a folding
  chair. His variation was a clever space-saver
  and seats built on his idea can be found in
  schools, churches, auditoriums and elsewhere,
  even today.

Patent 997108
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On the Safe Side

• In 1923, Garret Morgan obtained the first patent
  for the traffic signal. Morgan sold the rights
  to his traffic signal for 40,000 (which equates
  to 432,000 in 2003). His traffic signal, made
  with Stop and Go signs, preceded the red,
  yellow, and greens lights that we use today.
• Morgan also designed a gas mask that was used to
  save the lives of firefighters in Ohio and
  soldiers in WWI.
• Prior to his death in 1963, Morgan was recognized
  by the US Government for his safety contributions
  to society.

Patent 1475024
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Drinking and Driving

• Richard Bowie Spikes was a man of many ingenious
  ideas.
• In 1913 he patented the automobile turn signals.
  First used in the Pierce-Arrow automobile, the
  signals soon became standard in all vehicles.
• In 1910 his patented beer keg tap was purchased
  by the Milwaukee Brewing Co.
• In 1919 Spikes designed a continuous contact
  trolley pole that was used on the famous San
  Francisco Key Line.
• In 1933, for his designs of improved transmission
  and gear-shifting devices, Spikes received over
  100,000 which would equate to 1.4 million in
  2003.
• By the time his safety brake device was completed
  in 1962, Spikes was deemed legally blind. His
  braking invention can be found in school buses
  today.

Patent 1889814
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The Gift of Life

• In the early 1940s, Dr. Charles Drew
  invented a method for preserving blood for longer
  periods than was standard at the time. Dr. Drew
  started the first blood bank during WWII and was
  eventually appointed the first director of the
  American Red Cross Blood Bank.

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Keep on Truckin

• In 1949, Fredrick Jones patented an automatic
  refrigeration system for long-haul trucks. This
  product revolutionized the shipping and grocery
  businesses. Jones invention enabled fresh and
  frozen fruits and vegetables and other perishable
  items to be transported over wide distances and
  the world saw the emergence of the supermarket.
• In 1961, Jones was posthumously awarded the
  National Medal of Technology, one of the greatest
  honors an inventor could receive. Jones was the
  first Black inventor to ever receive such an
  honor.

Patent 2475841
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Setting the Pace

• Dr. Otis Boykin is responsible for inventing an
  electric resister used in all guided missiles,
  computers, radios, TV sets and a variety of
  electronic devices. Dr. Boykin's resistor helped
  reduce the cost of those products.
• Dr. Boykin also invented a control unit for heart
  stimulators. His contribution to pacemaker
  technology saved many lives. Ironically, Dr.
  Boykin died of heart failure in 1982.

Patent 2972726
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On Candid Camera

• In 1969, Marie Van Brittan Brown patented the
  first home security system that utilized
  television surveillance.

Patent 3482037
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Microphone Check 1, 2, 3

• In the mid 1970s, the research of James Edward
  West led the development of sound technology that
  is used in 90 of all microphones built today.
  West technology is in the heart of most everyday
  items such as telephones, camcorders, and tape
  recorders. The microphone became widely used
  because of its high performance, accuracy, and
  reliability, in addition to its low cost, small
  size, and light weight.

Holds 47 US and more than 200 foreign patents
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Making Connections

• In 1985, Mark Dean, PhD, and his co-inventor
  created a microcomputer system with means for
  attaching peripherals like disk drives, video
  gear, mics, speakers, and scanners. Dr. Dean
  holds three of IBMs original nine PC patents.
• Currently, Dr. Dean is a vice president of IBM.
  He was named an IBM fellow in 1996 and in 1997,
  he received the Black Engineer of the Year
  Presidents Award. Dr. Dean holds more than 20
  patents.
• Dr. Mark Dean was inducted into the National
  Inventors Hall of Fame in 1997.

Patent 4528626
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The Real Mr. Clean

• While employed by Procter Gamble in 1987,
  Dennis Weatherby, PhD developed and received a
  patent for the automatic dishwasher detergent
  known by the trade name Cascade.

Patent 4714562
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Faster Than Fast

• In 1989, Philip Emeagwali programmed the worlds
  fastest computer. Using the Internet, he
  programmed the Connection Machine to compute a
  record 3.1 billion calculations per second using
  65,536 processors. The 5 million machines owned
  by the US government were left entirely to
  Emeagwalis use because they were considered
  impossible to program.
• Emeagwalis program outperformed the fastest
  supercomputer and set the blueprint for future
  supercomputer design.
• It took Emeagwali 1057 pages to describe his
  programming techniques.

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Let There Be Sight

• In 1988, ophthalmologist, Dr. Patricia Bath
  invented a method of eye surgery that has helped
  many blind people to see. The procedure involves
  the abating and removal of cataract lenses.
• Dr. Bath is the first African American woman
  doctor to ever receive a medical patent.
• Dr. Bath has been nominated to the National
  Inventors Hall of Fame.

Patent 5843071
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A Toy Story

• In 1989, nuclear engineer Lonnie G. Johnson
  invented the world-famous water gun, the Super
  Soaker. In 1991, the toy was patented. Early
  sales from the Super Soaker exceeded 200
  million.
• Johnson holds 60 US patents (20 pending).

Patent 5074437
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Out of This World

• In 1983, Dr. Guion S. Bluford, Jr. became the
  first African American astronaut to fly in space.
  His first space flight was on STS-8, where he
  served as a mission specialist.
• Dr. Mae C. Jemison became the first African
  American woman to go into space when she flew on
  the space shuttle Endeavor on September 12, 1992.
  Also, Dr. Jemison was Science Mission Specialist
  (a NASA first) on the STS-47 Space lab J flight.
• In 1995, Dr. Bernard Harris became the first
  African-American to walk in space. He logged 198
  hours, 29 minutes in space, completed 129 orbits,
  and traveled over 2.9 million miles.
• Recently, astronaut Joan Higginbotham, flew into
  space on the STS-116 in December 2006, during a
  12 day, 20 hour and 45 minute outpost
  construction mission for future space walks.

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300 Turn

• At age 35, Ralph Gilles led the team of designers
  who created the Chrysler 300C. The luxurious and
  sporty vehicle known as the Baby Bentley won
  the 2005 Motor Trend Car of the Year and was on
  Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 2005 and 2006.
  It also won the North American Car of the Year
  and Canadian Car of the Year Best New Luxury Car
  awards. Gilless accomplishments helped turn the
  struggling car company towards a profitable new
  direction.

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• And in our midst, there are countless, countless
  others, who are brilliant, creative adventurers
  and dreamers

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Resources

• Data and graphics for this presentation
• were retrieved from the following sources
• African American Inventors - http//inventors.abou
  t.com/library/weekly/aa020600a.htm
• Africana Gateway to the Black World -
  http//www.africana.com
• About Garret Morgan - http//education.dot.gov/abo
  utmorgan.html
• The Black Inventor http//blackinventor.com
• Black Inventors A Z - http//inventors.about.com
  /library/blblackinventors.htm
• Black Inventors and Inventions -
  http//ritesofpassage.org/inventors.htm
• Culture and Change Black History in America -
  http//teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/
  
• Faces of Science African American Inventor in
  the Sciences - http//www.princeton.edu/mcbrown/d
  isplay/faces.html
• Great Men and Women in Black History -
  http//www.auduboninstitute.org/festivals/zoo_blac
  khistorymonth.htm
• Historical Text Archive - http//historicaltextarc
  hive.com/sections.php?opviewarticleartid49
• History of the Super Soaker -
  http//www.isoaker.com/Info/history_supersoaker.cf
  m
• NASA - http//www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/in
  dex.html
• Oldtimer Car Picture Gallery - http//www.autogall
  ery.org.ru/p-arrow.htm
• Points to Ponder - Colors of Innovation -
  http//inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blkid
  primer6_12aa.htm
• Sugar at LSU a Chronology - http//www.lib.lsu.ed
  u/special/exhibits/sugar/contents.html
• United States Patent and Trademark Office -
  http//www.uspto.gov/