Since 1976, the U.S. government has recognized February as Black History Month, a
time to focus on achievements made by African Americans. In observance of Black History
Month, Pepperdine invites everyone to engage in events and activities offered by our
various schools and departments. The University focuses on faith, community, fairness,
and expression of multiple perspectives in order to inspire critical thinking and
provide fertile spaces for our entire community to listen, learn, and leave a legacy
of knowledge.
Past Events and Activities
Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom | Documentary Film Screening and Discussion
Watch Recording Sponsored by The Office for Community Belonging, The Center for Faith and Learning,
Student Affairs, and Intercultural Affairs
Intimate Conversation | The Emancipation of Music | Mathew Knowles Featuring Kenny
Lattimore
Recording not available
Sponsored by The Office for Community Belonging
The F.R.E.E. Program to Promote Economic Opportunity | Book Discussion
Recording not available
Sponsored by the School of Public Policy
Leading Edge Conversations | A Discussion with Black Business Leaders
African American Inventions and Inventors That Shaped America
Black History is all around us, particularly with life-changing inventions (now modern
conveniences) that make our day-to-day living easier. From bright minds to bright
ideas, these innovations were birthed from necessity—the mother of invention. Learn
more about these problem-solving inventions, creative innovators, and stories of how
their innovations came to be. This is just a sampling of the plethora of African American
inventions that have impacted how we live, work, and play.
Patent Date | November 20, 1923 Patent Number | 1,475,024
As we shifted from a farm economy to a manufacturing one, cities grew at a record
pace so the use of horses and wagons declined. Consequently, there was an increase
in vehicles and uncontrolled traffic on the streets. Garret Morgan’s solution resulted
in a traffic signal with a sign that rotated 90 degrees with the turn of a crank indicating
“stop” and “go”. A bell, positioned up top, rang to indicate the change of motion—our
modern-day “yield” signal. Morgan created calm out of chaos, no doubt the cause of
many accidents.
Patent Date | December 12, 1899 Patent Number | 638,920
George Grant, a Harvard Dental School alumnus, its first black professor, and cleft
palate and bridgework expert, enjoyed playing golf in his leisure time. To improve
his score he created the golf tee which allowed him to hit the ball farther at each
hole. Today, the golf tee is a staple of the game and a major contributor to a golfer’s
performance. Grant’s bright idea was a game changer.
In the early 19th century only the wealthy had lawns; land was too valuable to be used solely as decoration.
Those who had the means created European-inspired gardens and thus the need to care
for them was a huge undertaking. Livestock helped to keep the grass low but that required
places for cattle to live and people to care for them. John Burr created the lawn
mower, a contraption with blades attached to an axle between two wheels that cut the
lawn as the blades revolved when the mower was pushed forward. Burr’s invention was
people-powered and modern versions are still in production and used by the eco-conscious
today.
Another African American inventor, Joseph H. Smith, invented the improved lawn sprinklerin 1897 (patent number 581,785) with a hose and revolving head that opened and closed with
the force of water. Versions of this concept are still being used today for those
without automatic sprinklers.
Patent Date | July 14, 1891 Patent Number | 455,891
In the winter, to keep food fresh and cool, people would cut large blocks of ice from
lakes and rivers and store them in straw. The “icebox”, created in 1834, relied on
these chunks of ice but keeping it stocked was difficult. In the heat of July, John
Stanard patented the first refrigerator that used compressed air and gas ether as
a coolant. That combination flowed into a box and kept the area cool. It took decades
for his creation to be mass produced, so most homes still depended on a block of ice
in a box. Our refrigerators today use the same principles Stanard patented centuries
ago.
Patent Date | October 13, 1914 Patent Number | 1,113,675
Soldiers (and fighter fighters) appreciate the invention of the 20th-century, life-saving gas mask. With World War I warfare changed and lethal gas (also
known as “mustard gas”) became a deadly weapon. It caused burning sensations in the
eyes and lungs making it a challenge for soldiers to fight. Garret Morgan, with many
inventions to his credit, solved yet another problem with the invention of the gas
mask. This face protector had a filter that allowed soldiers to breathe and removed
the gas and toxins from the air. As the story goes, Morgan even used the gas mask
to rescue two men during a 1916 tunnel disaster. Known for his bravery, he received
many medals in his lifetime.
Velocipede (Bike) | Matthew A. Cherry | Hometown Unknown
Patent Date | May 8, 1888 Patent Number | 382,351
As the United States grew, so did the need for easily accessible and inexpensive transportation.
Trains made mass transit possible and helped businesses to advance and the economy
to expand but were subject to malfunctions. Matthew Cherry had another idea that wasn't
subject to schedules and shutdowns—a two-wheeled solution he called the velocipede.
Harnessed by human energy to operate, it was similar to the bicycle we have today
except it was much larger and could be rigged to tow a small trailer. Although most
commonly used for business deliveries it was also a recreational vehicle even after
the invention of the automobile. Little did Cherry know that his biking concept would
become such a popular pastime and global sport.
Patent Date | October 25, 1892 Patent Number | 484,994
Horses have long been valuable, but difficult-to-control possessions. Runaway horses
caused injury to themselves, their riders, and properties. Lincoln Brown invented
the bridle bit as a means and mechanism to address the wild horse population. Attached
to the reins, the metal plate sat on the horse’s tongue and in normal riding conditions,
it was a bit uncomfortable but not painful. If the horse became unruly and tried to
run away, a pull on the reins caused a small pinch and that would calm the horse to
submission. Thanks to Brown, more domesticated horses led to an increase in the reliable
transportation of goods and services.
Related African American-improved inventions include the riding saddle by William D. Davisin 1896 (patent number 481,271) and the horseshoe by Oscar E. Brown in 1892 (patent number 568,939). Davis' saddle was the first design to provide rider-adjustable
springs to smooth bumpy rides. Brown's horseshoe was the first two-part attachment
that provided more padding and cushioning for better performance.
Euphonica (Guitar) | Robert F. Flemmings, Jr. | Melrose, Massachusetts
Patent Date | March 30, 1886 Patent Number | 338,727
Music in the home was a popular form of entertainment in the 19th century and children learned to play instruments at early ages—violins, pianos, flutes,
and guitars to name a few. As the story goes, Robert Flemmings, a sailor and amateur
musician, used his design and engineering knowledge to improve the basic guitar’s
volume and tone. The euphonica, as he called it, is derived from the word euphony
meaning a pleasing or sweet sound. It had an intricate system of strings and pads
that were more sensitive to the player’s fingers, creating a more resonant sound than
a traditional guitar. This made a real difference to guitarists' musicianship that
holds true today, despite the use of auto-tune technology. Flemmings' entrepreneurial
spirit led him to open a guitar store and teach music lessons in his retirement.
Furniture Casters | David A. Fisher, Jr. | Hometown Unknown
Patent Date | March 14, 1876 Patent Number | 174,794
The addition of wheels make moving items, regardless of their weight, much easier.
The difference David Fisher, Jr. made was that his wheels could pivot helping to maneuver
the item wherever and however was desired. Today, we see such wheels on luggage, kitchen
islands, shopping carts, office chairs, hospital beds, and more. Little is known about
Fisher, but chances are he worked as a laborer/tradesman after the abolition of slavery,
perhaps in a furniture shop, and got his idea from his experience on the job. This
little notion made a huge impact then, and now.
Street Sweeper | Charles B. Brooks | Hometown Unknown
Patent Dat | March 17, 1896 Patent Number | 556,711
As city populations grew so did street debris. Keeping the streets clean wasn’t just
a matter of beautification but also public health. Hired street sweepers picked up
after people and animals but the work was very demanding. Charles Brooks invented
the street sweeper that had three large brushes on the bottom of a cart that turned
and collected the trash and dirt when the cart was moved forward. You may not see
street sweepers often but they still exist as part of city trash management services
in the form of sweeper trucks.
Baby Carriage (Stroller) | William H. Richardson | Baltimore, MD
Patent Date | June 18, 1889 Patent Number | 405,599
Baby carriages (strollers) were much bigger centuries ago and a bit cumbersome so
the ability to reposition the baby out of the sunlight was a challenge. William Richardson
takes credit for the first convertible baby carriage, which is still in production
today. With his invention, the main part of the carriage (holding the child) could
be lifted off the wheels and used as a portable carrier and rotated so the child’s
face could be protected from the elements. Once considered an upgrade, Richardson's
creative design is standard in most strollers today.
Patent Date | November 3, 1896 Patent Date | 570,533
Up until the 20th century, most goods were sold in bulk and priced by the pound. Stores had room for
big, expensive scales on their counters, but merchants who went door-to-door to sell
products couldn't carry these scales around. John Hunter’s improved scale had a scoop
(instead of weights) at the bottom where the item was placed. The weight of the item
would move a pointer in the scoop to indicate the weight. A calibrated spring replaced
the weights making the entire scale compact and easier to carry. Despite the digital
advancements, you’ll still find Hunter’s portable scale concept in grocery stores
and homes.
20th-Century Technological Innovations
The ingenuity keeps on going with a plethora of inventions and inventors that pioneered 21st-century digital technology like this sampling below:
Electret (built-in) microphone used in today's smart devices and systems | James E. West | 1964
Home security systemwith a camera as the first Ring-style alarm | Mary Van Brittan Brown | 1964
Gamma electric cell that powers cell phone connectivity | Henry Sampson | 1971
Color PC monitor and the PC gigahertz chip revolutionized the computer industry | Mark Dean | 1980 and 1999
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) makes Zoom/virtual meetings possible | Marian Croak | 1995
For a calendar of all University-wide happenings, visit the Pepperdine University
Events website.
