mothers of invention

STEMFest 2014!  

16th annual Black Family Technology Awareness Day

Jacqui C. Williams, founding director

Contact 518.210.6028 or info@figah.us

www.figah.us and visit us on Facebook

Sybilla Masters, 18th century Quaker wife

1712 Changed method of curing corn from grinding to stamping allowing corn to be processed into many different foods and cloth products.

Working and weaving new method of Palmetta chip and straw for hats and bonnets.

Doris Kies, 1809

Sarah GoodeFolding Cabinet Bed patent 1885

Ellen EglinClothes wringer 1888“ You know I am black and if it was

known that a Negro woman patented the invention white ladies would not buy the wringer, I was afraid to be known because of my color, in having it introduced into the market, that is the only reason”.

Ironing Board innovation, 1892

the purpose was "to produce a cheap, simple, convenient and highly effective device, particularly adapted to be used in ironing the sleeves and bodies of ladies' garments.”

Lyda Newman, synthetic bristle hairbrush

Madeline Turner, Fruit Press 1916

Household Items• Bed rack• Torpedo discharger• Device for amputee to

feed self• Nursery chair• Home video security

system• Fireplace damper• Pain relief product• Illusion transmitter

• Toilet paper holder • Back washer mounted

on shower wall• Knock down wheeled

toy• Rain hat• Device to remove

cataracts• Toaster with digital

clock• T- top roof cover• Keyboard stand

Miriam E. BenjaminGong and Signal Chair for Hotels 1888

Archia L.Ross Patents

#565,301, 8/4/1896, Runner for stoops #605,343, 6/7/1898, Bag closure #638,068, 11/28/1899, Trousers support

or stretcher

Annie Turnbo Malone Manufactured line of

beauty products. Created unique

distribution system. Recruited former

washerwoman C. J Walker as salesperson.

Philanthropist.

Marjorie JoynerPermanent Wave Machine

Virgie Ammons, 1908 – 2000 1975 patent

Fireplace Actuating Damper Tool allows damper to be locked in the closed position to prevent cold air and dust from blowing down the chimney and back into the house.

Mary Van Brittan BrownHome video security System 1966

Valerie Thomas, Illusion Transmitter 1980

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.

Mary BeatriceKennerImproved bathroom tissue holder 1982

Patricia Bath, M.D.

Selected to participate in cancer research as a teenager.

First Black person to complete residency in ophthalmology.

Patented “Laserphaco probe”, apparatus for ablating & removing cataracts 1988.

Aprille Ericsson, Ph.D. First woman to receive

Ph.D in mechanical engineering from Howard and first woman of African descent to receive Ph.D. in engineering at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Women in Science and Engineering award for best female in Federal Government 1998.

Ruane Jeter, safety scalpel handle 2009

Saheela Ibraheem

At 15 achieved near perfect S.AT. score. Accepted into 13 Ivy League schools. Attending Harvard studying

neurobiology.

Zora Bell, 7

Youngest person to create a mobile video game.

Attends Harambee Institute of Science and Technology Charter School in Philadelphia.