Top Ten African American Inventors

Elijah McCoy (1843-1929) Developed a “lubricating cup” in 1872 that automatically dripped oil when and where needed for trains. The “lubricating cup” was so popular that orders for it came in from railroad companies nationwide. Other inventors tried to sell their own versions of the device, but most companies preferred “the real McCoy,” ‘giving rise to the popular American expression meaning the ‘real thing.’

The real McCoy Fast Fact: Other inventors tried to copy McCoy's oil-dripping cup. But none of the other cups worked as well as his, so customers started asking for "the real McCoy." That's where the expression comes from.

Lewis Latimer (1848-1928) Developed a carbon filament for light bulbs which help them burned for several hours in a day.

Carbon filament for light bulbs Fast Fact: Latimer worked in the laboratories of both Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger (1852-1889) In 1882, Matzeliger perfected a shoe lasting machine that was able to complete 150 to 700 pairs of shoes a day. By 1889 the demand of the shoe lasting machine was overwhelming and The Consolidated Lasting Machine Co. was formed, where Matzelinger was given huge blocks of stock for his invention. His machine had revolutionized the entire shoe industry in the U.S. and around the world.

Shoe lasting machine Fast Fact: In 1992, the U.S. made a postage stamp in honor of Matzeliger.

Granville T. Woods (1856-1910) Invented a system called telegraphy, a train to station communication system that allowed telegraph lines to carry voice signals. In 1887 he patented the induction telegraph for sending messages to and from moving trains.

Train to station communication system Fast Fact: Woods left school at age 10 to work and support his family.

George Washington Carver (1860-1943) Is best known for developing crop rotation methods that alternated nitrate-producing legumes, such as peanuts and peas with cotton, which depletes soil of its nutrients. then developed more than 300 different uses for the extra peanuts, from cooking oil to printer’s ink. When he discovered that the sweet potato and the pecan also enriched depleted soils, Carver found more than 100 uses for sweet potatoes and about 75 for pecans, including synthetic rubber and material for paving highways.

Peanut butter Fast Fact: Carver was born a slave. He didn't go to college until he was 30.

Garrett Morgan (1877-1963) In 1912, Morgan created a Safety Hood and patented it as a Breathing Device, which later came to be known as the Gas Mask. Morgan’s Gas Mask consisted of a hood with two long tubes, one allowing in clean air and the other allowing the user to exhale air out of the hood. Fire and police departments across the country began placing orders. With the outbreak of World War I and the use of poisonous gases, Morgan's Gas Mask was utilized by the United States Army, saving the lives of thousands of soldiers.

Gas Mask Fast Fact: Morgan also invented the first traffic signal.

Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919) Developed many beauty and hair care products that were extremely popular. Madam Walker started a cosmetics business in 1905. She started her cosmetics business in 1905. Her first product was a scalp treatment that used petrolatum and sulphur. Madam Walker became a millionaire from her business, which was at its peak from 1911 through 1922; she employed thousands of people.

Hair-growing lotion Fast Fact: Walker grew up poor. But she became the first female African- American millionaire.

Otis Boykin (1920-1982) Is best known for inventing an improved electrical resistor used in computers, radios, television sets and a variety of electronic devices. His resistor helped reduce the cost of those products. Otis Boykin also invented a variable resistor used in guided missile parts, a control unit for heart stimulators, a burglar-proof cash register and a chemical air filter. In total, Otis Boykin patented twenty-eight electronic devices.

Improved electrical resistor (pace maker) Fast Fact: Boykin invented 28 different electronic devices

Dr. Patricia E. Bath (1949- ) Dedicated her life to the treatment and prevention of visual impairments. Her personal belief that everyone has the "Right to Sight" led to her invention, the Laserphaco Probe, in 1985 of a specialized tool and procedure for the removal of cataracts. With the Laserphaco Probe and procedure, Dr. Bath increased the accuracy and results of cataract surgery, which had previously been performed manually with a mechanical grinder.

Laserphaco Probe Fast Fact: Dr. Bath has been nominated to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Lonnie G. Johnson (1949- ) In 1982, Lonni Johnson conducted an experiment at home on a heat pump that used water instead of Freon and as a result, his homemade nozzle shot a spray of water across the room. In 1989 he created a workable prototype called the SuperSoaker® which became the world's first high-performance, pressurized water gun. The SuperSoaker® became the number-one selling toy in the country with more than $200 millions dollars in sales.

The SuperSoaker® Fast Fact: Johnson's company just came out with a new Nerf ball toy gun.

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