By Sister Tarpley,
Black women have always played a vital role in shaping American’s history; I will continue to honor them in my column this month.
Sarah E. Goode was the first Black female patent holder. She was issued a patent on July 14, 1885 for a Folding Cabinet Bed. Miriam E. Benjamin was the second Black woman in history to receive a patent for a Gong and Signal Chair for motels on July 17, 1888.
Patricia Bath was the first Black female doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention; an apparatus for ablating and removing cataract lenses.
Ruane Jeter invented a digital Toaster on April 14, 1987. Ellen Elgin invented the Clothes Wringer in the 1880’s. Madeline Turner in Oakland, California invented a Fruit Press on April 25, 1916.
Henrietta Mahim Bradberry from Chicago, Illinois invented a bed rack which was an attachment to the bed that permitting air to pass through and refresh worn clothes on May 25, 1943.
And, on December 11, 1945, the device operated pneumatically and was adapted to discharge torpedoes under the water surface (the Torpedo Discharger.)
Virgie M. Ammons invented a Fireplace Damper actuating tool on September 30, 1975. The instrument opens and closes a fireplace damper and is intended to operate as a securing means to prevent fluttering of the damper due to wind.
Marie V. Brittan Brown invented the Video Home Security System that utilized television surveillance on December 2, 1969 (the same year that Sheila, my only daughter was born.)
Bessie Blount, a physical therapist who worked with soldiers injured in WW II invented a device allowing amputees to feed themselves in 1951.
Sarah Boone invented the Ironing Board on December 30, 1887. Mary J. Reynolds invented a Hoisting/Loading Mechanism on April 20, 1920. Natalie R. Love invented a T-Top Roof Cover on May 5, 1992.
Marjorie Joyner from Chicago, Illinois, invented a Permanent Wave Machine, which could wave the hair of both white and Black people on November 27, 1928.
Alice H. Parker from Morristown, NJ on December 19, 1919 invented a new and improved gas heating furnace. The invention provided a mechanism for regulating heat to be carried to various rooms in a building.
Valerie Thomas in 1980 invented an Illusion Transmitter; this futuristic invention extends the idea of television, with its images located flatly behind a screen to having three dimensional projections appear as though they were right in your living room.
The U.S. Postal Service, through its Black Heritage stamp series has paid tribute to 30 Black leaders, inventors, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and athletes since the “First stamp in the series was issued on February 1, 1978 to Harriet Tubman.”
This month, I proudly wear issued stamp pens, one of Opera Singer Marian Anderson that was issued in January 2005, and the other one dedicated on October 13, 2004, to focusing attention on Sickle Cell Disease. Stop by any post office and inquire about purchasing Black Heritage Stamp series.
Mary McLeod Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women; and what is now known as Bethune-Cookman College. Her stamp was issued March 5, 1985.
Before Aretha Franklin “Queen of Soul;” we had Mahalia Jackson, known as “Queen of Gospel Music.” Mrs. Jackson received national recognition by appearing at Carnegie Hall. An active participant in the civil rights movement, she sang at the “March on Washington” in 1963 and at the funeral for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
