Home
African-American
Inventors Prior to the 1900s: Sins of Omission
| Subject: | Work |
| Curriculum Area: | History; Elementary and Middle School |
| Instructional Objective: | Students will identify at least eight African Americans who have created an invention. They may refer to their individual lists of inventors. |
Prerequisite Skills:
1. Students will identify simple machines.
2. Students will imagine, construct, and write about an invention.
3. Students will demonstrate their ability to master math facts by using these basic skills.
4. Students will demonstrate their ability to comprehend what is read by answering questions about the material.
Instructional Strategies:
1. Have students identify five African-American inventors they are familiar with and give a report on them.
2. Name several inventions by black inventors that are not well known; discuss their inventions with the class; and why we are not familiar with this aspect of history.
List of African-American Inventors
| INVENTOR | INVENTION | DATE |
| Banneker, Benjamin | Clock | 1761 |
| Boone, Sarah | Ironing board | Apr. 26, 1892 |
| Burr, J.A. | Lawn mower | May 9, 1899 |
| Carver, George W. | Paint and Cosmetic products | 1925 |
| Davis, W.D. | Riding saddles | Oct. 16, 1896 |
| Dorsey, O. | Door holding device | Dec. 10, 1878 |
| Forten, James | Sail controlling device | 1850 |
| Grant, G.A. | Golf tee | Dec. 1, 1889 |
| Jackson, B.F. | Gas burner | Apr. 4, 1899 |
| Johnson, W. | Egg beater | Feb.5, 1884 |
| Keckley, Elizabeth | System to cut and fit clothes | 1823 |
| Little, E. | Bridle bit | Mar. 7, 1892 |
| Love, J.L. | Pencil sharpener | 1899 |
| Latimer, L.H. |
Light filament Locking rack for hats, coats, and umbrellas |
1881 Mar. 24, 1896 |
| Marshall, T.J. | Fire extinguisher | May 26, 1872 |
| Matzeliger, Jan E. | Shoe lasting machine | Sep. 22, 1891 |
| McCoy, Elijah | Lubricator for steam engine | Aug. 6, 1872 |
| Morgan, Garrett T. | Stoplight, Gas mask | Nov. 20, 1923 |
| Purvis, W.B. | Fountain pen | Jan. 7, 1890 |
| Richardson, W.H. | Child's carriage | June 5, 1889 |
| Ricks, J. | Horseshoe | Mar. 30, 1886 |
| Rillieux, N. |
Sugar refining Evaporating pan |
Dec.10, 1846 |
| Standard, J. | Refrigerator | July 14, 1894 |
| Walker, Peter |
Bait Holder Cleaning Machine |
Mar. 8, 1898 Feb. 16, 1897 |
| Washington, Wade | Corn husking machine | Aug. 4, 1883 |
| Watts, Isaac | Bracket for mirror lamp | Mar. 17, 1893 |