1. A Man of Science & Poetry The Life of Lewis Howard Latimer
By Danusia H. Danko
Science 8

2. Overview His Parents His Childhood His Career His Death Bibliography
Table of Contents
Overview
His Parents
His Childhood
His Career
His Death
Bibliography

3. Overview
“Lewis Howard Latimer was a pioneer in the development of the electric light bulb. He was the son of a former slave, and was the only Black member of Thomas Edison's research team of noted scientists. While Edison invented the incandescent bulb, it was Latimer who developed and patented the process for manufacturing the carbon filaments within the bulb.”

4. “The Living may our praise proclaim, …To keep alive fond memory’s flame.”
Mr. Latimer is remembered for his many electrical inventions and his talent in poetry.
He was also a musician
He was proud of his color as he professed in his poem, Ebon Venus
“… Each to his taste, but as for me, My Venus shall be ebony.”

5. His Parents Father – George Latimer Mother - Rebecca
Runaway slaves from Virginia
Father was light-skinned and posed as Rebecca’s slave owner

6. His Parents
Went to Boston and became one of several famous fugitive slave cases when the owner came looking for him.
Frederick Douglass and William Garrison defended them
Minister paid $400 to buy George’s freedom after a judge ruled him still property

7. His Childhood Born 1848 in Chelsea, Massachusetts
Two brothers and a sister

8. Chelsea: An inner urban suburb of Boston

9. Worked to support family
Before the Civil War, Lewis sold newspapers
written by William Lloyd Garrison, an abolitionist
Father was barber, paper hanger, and did other odd jobs
Lewis often worked with him

10. Lewis’s father deserts the family
Dred Scott decision frightened Mr. Latimer since he had no proof that minister bought his freedom
Leaves family so as not to endanger their freedom
Lewis, at age of ten had to work to help support the family

11. Civil War Lewis joined the Navy at 16 years old
Served as a “landsman” on the U.S.S. Massasoit
Honorably discharged in 1865 and returned to Boston

12. His Family Married Mary Wilson, Dec. 10, 1873
Wrote a poem, “Ebon Venus” for the occasion (translated as “Black is Beautiful”)
Published book, Poems of Love & Life
Lewis and Mary had two daughters

13. His Career: A Talent for Drawing
Worked in patent office as office boy
Hired due to his drawing abilities
Self-taught drafting since patents had to be accompanied by detailed drawings
Worked up to chief draftsman

14. Works with Bell on phone patents
Alexander Bell asked Latimer to help with the patent applications
Latimer ended up creating the drawings and prepared the descriptions of the telephone invention
Patent issued in 1876

15. Develops his own inventions
Feb 10, 1874: Water Closets for Railway Cars; had a special closed, pivoted bottom that closed automatically by raising of seat cover and opened by closing of seat cover

16. Latimer’s drawing of an incandescent light fixture

17. Latimer’s drawings of arc light components

18. Part of the Electric Industry
1880: Hired as draftsman for U.S. Electric Lighting Co.
Studied electricity, conducted experiments to improve the Edison incandescent lamp
1881: Received patent for “Electric Lamp”

19. Part of the Electric Industry
Basically improved the method of mounting the carbons in lamp
1882: Most important patent, “ Process of Manufacturing Carbons”

20. Lighting up New York City & Beyond
Responsible for installing electric light plants
Wired lamps in parallel circuits instead of series circuits as had been the custom
Lit up Philadelphia
Toronto, as well (so had to learn French to be able to teach the Canadian workers)
London

21. Meeting with Edison
1884 hired by Edison with the engineering dept. of the Edison Electric Co., NY City
1886, became invaluable to Edison in being his expert legal witness in number patent disputes
1896, when Edison Co. became General Electric Co, Latimer became chief draftsman and expert witness

22. Beyond Edison
1890: Latimer wrote the standard book on electric lighting

23. Just Inventive
1886, patent for “Apparatus for Cooling and Disinfecting”
1896, Locking Rack for Hats, Coats, and Umbrellas
1905, Book Supports

24. His Death
1924, December 11
…Broadmindedness, versatility in the accomplishment of things intellectual and cultural, a linguist,a devoted husband and father…his genial presence will be missed from our gatherings. Mr. Latimer was a full member, and an esteemed one, of the Edison Pioneers”

25. Further Tribute
1968, Brooklyn, New York, public school named after Latimer
Grandson & granddaughter present at dedication
NY State legislature, member of NYC Board of Ed. & President of the Borough of Brooklyn

26. Bibliography www.edisonkids.com/heroexb/lewis