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Although Black Inventors Haven't Received Major Recognition, Their Contributions Have Been Remarkable.
By Mike Foley
Most of us have heard of the great inventors--Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Eli Whitney, the Wright Brothers. These and other inventors have made significant contributions to industry and technology, often making our lives easier and more comfortable.
But many lesser known individuals, especially African American inventors, have also contributed significantly to this world we now enjoy. Unfortunately, many of them remain unknown, their contributions somehow lost in history. But these inventors deserve recognition. As part of our Black History Month celebration, we want to introduce a few African American inventors whose inventions still resonate in the modern world.
Much of the research on Black inventors came from the work of Henry Baker, an African American who worked as a patent examiner in the U.S. Patent Office in the late 19th century. Shortly after 1900, Baker began compiling four volumes of information about Black inventors, spearheading a massive research project involving patent attorneys, company presidents, newspapers, etc. Through Baker's work, we now have a great deal of information about inventors who have often gone unrecognized.
THOMAS L. JENNINGS
Jennings is widely regarded as the first Black person to receive a patent. Jennings patented a dry-cleaning process around 1821, and subsequently operated a dry cleaning business in New York City. Although many Black inventors were active at that time, few applied for patents, fearing that a negative prejudice would surely haunt them. Jennings' courage paved the way for the other African American inventors who would follow him.
JUDY W. REED
Although the records aren't thoroughly clear, Reed is believed to be the first Black woman to receive a patent. The invention focused on a process for rolling and kneading dough, creating a hand-operated machine system to accomplish more with less work.
LEWIS H. LATIMER
With a talent for drafting and an innovative spirit, Latimer became the original draftsman for Thomas Edison. He later invented a process for making carbon filaments, which were used in electric incandescent lamps. In 1881, he supervised the installation of electric lights in Philadelphia and New York, later testifying as witness in Edison's infringement lawsuits.
MEREDITH GROUDINE
Educated at the California Institute of Technology, Groudine developed a method for converting natural gas to electricity, focusing on how it could be adapted for everyday use. Those uses include refrigeration, reducing smoke pollutants, and the desalination of sea water. Groudine currently holds more than 40 patents.
GRANVILLE WOODS
The majority of Woods' inventions relate to the railroad industry, improving electric rail cars and controlling the flow of electricity in those systems. More importantly, Woods developed a system for train engineers, allowing them to know how close oncoming trains were. That system ultimately reduced collisions and saved lives. Later, Woods developed an automatic air brake for trains, a steam furnace and the "telegraphony," the rights to which were ultimately purchased by Alexander Graham Bell. The number and variety of Woods' inventions set him apart from many inventors of his day. He is often referred to as the "Black Edison."
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
One of the best-known Black inventors, Carver developed 325 different uses for peanuts--from cooking oil to printing ink. In addition, he developed nearly 200 uses for sweet potato and pecans, including a synthetic rubber and durable paving material for highways. During his lifetime, Carver received many awards for his distinguished research and innovation.
MARK DEAN
A native of Tennessee, Dean graduated from Stanford University and holds three of IBM's original nine PC patents. His early work included the PS/2 Model, with the Color Graphic Adapter. He currently holds more than 20 patents for a variety of technological innovations.
PERCY JULIAN
Julian was born and raised in Alabama, later earning a Master's degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from the University of Vienna. His patents include a process for synthesizing cortisone from soy beans. That led to treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, he patented a process for creating physotigmine from the calabar bean, a substance used in the treatment of glaucoma.
CHARLES DREW
A graduate of Amherst College in Massachusetts, Drew is best known for his work in the preservation of blood. He developed a system of separating liquid blood cells from solid plasma. The two were frozen separately, then reconstituted at a later date. The process allowed the military to establish mobile blood banks for treating wounded soldiers in World War II. Drew was later appointed the first director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank.
Information on these and other inventors may be obtained by visiting the National Inventors Hall of Fame at: http://www.invent.org
Mike Foley has edited the Dream Merchant since 1990. For information on his upcoming classes for writers, visit his website at: http://www.writers-review.com
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