Today, we proudly honor Alexander Miles (May 18, 1838 – May 7, 1918) — a brilliant African American inventor and businessman whose innovations transformed elevator safety forever. Early Life & Career Born in Circleville, Ohio, Miles spent much of his early adulthood working as a barber in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he first became known for…
In 1888, Ellen Eglin invented an early mechanical clothes wringer, a device designed to remove excess water from freshly washed clothing. Her invention featured two wooden rollers attached to a hand crank. After clothes were washed and rinsed, they were fed through the rollers, which squeezed out the water—dramatically reducing drying time and physical strain….
On the 11th day of Black History Month, we honor #GranvilleTWoods—one of the most brilliant inventors in American history. Born in 1856 in Columbus, Ohio, Granville T. Woods became one of the most prolific African American inventors of the 19th century, earning more than 50 patents for groundbreaking electrical and railway innovations that transformed train…
On this 10th day of Black History Month, we honor Lyda D. Newman, a remarkable African-American inventor, hairdresser, and women’s rights activist. Newman is best known for patenting the first hairbrush with synthetic bristles—a design that revolutionized haircare and grooming practices, especially for African-American hair. She was the third Black woman ever to receive a…
We honor Black History Month by celebrating Dr. George Washington Carver—a visionary agricultural scientist, educator, and humanitarian whose work reshaped American farming and expanded economic opportunity. Often called “The Peanut Man,” Carver developed over 300 industrial and food products from peanuts—including dyes, paints, plastics, soaps, cosmetics, lubricants, and synthetic foods—along with 118 products from sweet…
On the 8th day of Black History Month, we proudly salute inventor Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner—a visionary who secured five U.S. patents despite relentless racial and financial barriers, and who held the record at the time for the most patents awarded to an African American woman. Kenner is best known for inventing the adjustable sanitary…
On the 7th day of Black History Month, we honor Garrett Augustus Morgan, an inventor, entrepreneur, and community leader whose work transformed public safety and saved countless lives. Garrett Morgan is most famous for inventing the three-position traffic signal, which introduced the critical “caution” (yellow) light—a groundbreaking step toward modern traffic control. He is also…
We honor George Crum (born George Speck), a chef and restaurateur of African American and Native American (Huron) descent, widely credited with popularizing the potato chip—a snack that became a global favorite. 🥔✨ Crum was born on July 15, 1824, in Saratoga County, New York, to Abraham Speck and Diana Tull, and had a sister,…
Bessie Blount Griffin was a remarkable physical therapist, inventor, and forensic scientist whose groundbreaking work transformed rehabilitative care for wounded soldiers and people with disabilities. Her innovations were driven by a simple yet powerful belief: everyone deserves dignity, independence, and control over their own lives. Born November 24, 1914, in Hickory (now Chesapeake), Virginia, Blount…
Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Sarah Boone, a pioneering African American inventor whose ingenuity transformed the way we care for our clothes. In 1892, Sarah Boone received U.S. Patent No. 473,563 for her improved design of the ironing board—an invention that made ironing easier and more effective, especially for sleeves and other…
