Category : Inventors

Thomas W. Stewart, an African-American inventor from Kalamazoo, Michigan, patented a new type of mop (U.S. patent #499,402) on June 11, 1893. Thanks to his invention...

In 1891, anyone interested in mailing a letter would have to make the long trip to the post office. Paul B. Downing designed a metal...

John Lee Love was an African-American inventor best known for patenting a portable pencil sharpener known as the “Love Sharpener.” John Lee Love was a...

Alfred L. Cralle was an African-American inventor and businessman who is best known for his invention of the ice cream scoop. Born in 1866 in...

William B. Purvis was an American inventor, best known for his patented improvements to the fountain pen in 1890. Purvis was born in Pennsylvania to...

Joseph Winters was an important African American inventor. He invented a wagon-mounted fire escape ladder for the city of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, a device that could...

T.J. Marshall is credited with improving the design of the fire extinguisher, with a patent issued on March 26, 1872. He invented a system in...

In 1880, Johnson invented the first eye protectors (patent no. 234,039), which improved upon the eye-protection that would be used by firemen, furnace-men, as well...

Samuel Scrottron was an inventor of the late 1800s, best known for his invention of the curtain rod. It is unclear if Scrottron was born...

Osbourn Dorsey was an African-American man who invented the doorknob and doorstop in December of 1878. He successfully obtained a patent for his work in...