Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950), the first black American to earn a Doctor of Science degree (Columbia U., 1940), pioneered the use of blood plasma in transfusions, co-founded one of the first U.S. blood banks, and standardized international blood donation and storage---this saved thousands of lives during World War II.
Dr. Patricia E. Bath of Los Angeles, a ophthalmologist, has patented (1988) an apparatus that efficiently removes cataracts.
Bessie J. (Griffin) Blount, a physical therapist who worked with soldiers
injured in World War II, patented a device (1951) that allows those who
have lost the use of their limbs to feed themselves without assistance.
More recently, Rufus J. Weaver patented a wheelchair that climbs
stairs.
In technology, W. Lincoln Hawkins, Ph.D. stands out, with 18 U.S. and
129 foreign patents. The first African-American scientist to work for Bell
Labs, Hawkins made universal telephone service possible by co-inventing
a chemical additive that prevents the plastic coating on telecommunications
cables from deteriorating. He won the National Medal of Technology in the
year of his death (1992).
David Crosthwait (died 1976, with 34 U.S. and 80 foreign patents) designed
the heating system of New York's Rockefeller Center (1931).
Marie Van Brittain Brown and Albert L. Brown co-patented (1969)
an audio-visual door-monitor / home security system.
Today, engineer and entrepreneur Clarence L. Elder of Baltimore has
earned a number of patents (1975- ) for his energy-saving "Occustat" system,
which uses motionl lllletectors to allow thermostats to be lowered in a
building's unoccupied rooms.
| A.PJ.Cooper Elevator device April 2, 1895 | C.J. Dorticus Machine for embossing photo April 16, 1895 |
| Ashbourne Biscuit cutter November 30, 1875 L.C. | Clarence L. Elder Occustat 1976 |
| Bailey Folding bed July 18, 1899 | T. Elkins Refrigerating apparatus November 4, 1879 |
| A.J. Beard Rotary Engine July 5, 1892 | F. Flemings, Jr. Guitar (variation) March 3, 1886 |
| A.J. Beard Car-coupler November 23, 1897 | G.F. Grant Golf tee December 12, 1899 |
| G.E. Becket Letter Box October 4, 1892 | J. Gregory Motor April 26, 1887 |
| L. Bell Locomotive smoke stack May 23, 1871 | M. Headen Foot power hammer October 5, 1886 |
| M.E. Benjamin Gong & signal chairs for hotels July 17, 1888 | B.F. Jackson Gas burner April 4, 1899 |
| M.W. Binga Street sprinkling apparatus July 22, 1879 | Fredrick M. Jones Automatic refrigeration system |
| A.B. Blackburn Railway signal January 10, 1888 | J.L. Love pencil sharpener 1897 |
| Henry Blair Corn planter October 14, 1834 | Latimer and Nichols Electric lamp September 13, 1881 |
| Henry Blair Cotton planter August 31, 1836 | T.J. Marshall Fire extinguisher (variation) May 26, 1872 |
| Sarah Boone Ironing board April 26, 1892 | Elijah McCoy Lubricator for steam engines July 2, 1872 |
| C.B. Brooks Street-sweepers March 17, 1896 | Garrett A. Morgan Gas mask & the Traffic signal 1923 |
| O.E. Brown Horseshoe August 23, 1892 | J.F. Pickering an airship 1900 |
| J.A. Burr Lawn mower May 9, 1899 | W.B. Purvis fountain pen 1890 |
| J.W. Butts Luggage carrier October 10, 1899 | Norbert Rillieux Sugar refining process 1846 |
| W.C. Carter Umbrella stand August 4, 1885 | H. Spears Portable shield for infantry December 27, 1870 |
| T.S. Church Carpet beating machine July 29, 1884 | Rufus Stokes Air-purification device 1968 |
| G. Cook Automatic fishing device May 10, 1899 | E.H. Sutton Cotton cultivator April 7, 1878 |
| P.W. Cornwall Draft Regulator February 7, 1893 | *Granville Woods Electromechanical brake August 16, 1887 |
| A.L. Cralle Ice-cream mold February 2, 1897 | Granville T. Woods Railway telegraphy November 15, 1887 |
| W.R. Davis, Jr. Library table September 24, 1878 | Granville T Woods Induction telegraph system Nov 29, 1887 |
JUST A FEW OF WOODS' INVENTIONS
