Black History month brings awareness to many notable and influential black people of the past. While African Americans are widely credited in excelling in music and sports, what many people are unaware of is the monumental impact they’ve had on modern-day technology and medical practices. Here is a list of some of the most influential African-American inventors in history.
Henry Sampson
Created: Cellular phone
When: July 6, 1971
Henry Sampson Jr. received his master’s in engineering from the University of California and was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering. Without Sampson’s ingenious creation, technology wouldn’t be where it is today.
Fredrick M. Jones
Created: Portable air cooling unit
When: July 12, 1949
Patenting more than 60 inventions, Fredrick M. Jones is best known for his invention of the portable air cooling unit. These units were used mainly in trucks for carrying perishable foods long distances. Eventually, these cooling units became especially vital during World War II when preserving blood, medicine and food at hospitals was imperative.
Garret Morgan
Created: Traffic light & gas mask
When: 1914 & 1923
The first African-American in Cleveland, Ohio to own an automobile, Garret A. Morgan is widely known for his large contributions to technology, evident in the apparatuses we currently use. Morgan also invented the traffic light, which is used all around the world to prevent car accidents. In addition, Morgan is also noted for his invention of the gas mask in 1914, a tool which many firefighters use today.
Charles Richard Drew
Created: Blood bank
When: 1945
Medical pioneer Charles Drew’s inventions have saved and will continue to save many lives. Founding the first blood bank, his creation was instrumental in developing blood plasma processing, storage and transfusion therapy. The American Red Cross program wouldn’t exist today without his work.
Alexander Miles
Created: Innovations in elevators
When: 1887
While Alexander Miles didn’t quite create the first elevator, his specific details to the design play a significant role in the elevators we use today. He improved the method of opening and closing the elevator doors, which allowed them to automatically open and close rather than having to manually operate them. This critical aspect of elevator technology prevents severe and possibly deadly accidents today.
John Standard
Created: Improved refrigerator design
When: 1891
John Standard is recognized for many contributions throughout the household, including the oil stove, but he is primarily known for improving the refrigerator. Standard found multiple ways the refrigerator could be improved, such as adding ice to a chamber to help cooling. His patented improvements are still seen in households today.
George T. Sampson
Created: Improved clothes dryer
When: 1892
The earliest clothes dryers were made in Europe in the late 18th century and were heated under an open fire. To avoid clothes smelling like smoke or completely burning, Sampson, from Dayton, Ohio, created a ventilator dryer which used heat from a stove rather than open flames.
T.J. Marshall
Created: Improvement of the fire extinguisher
When: 1872
T.J Marshall invented the fire extinguisher sprinkler system, which is typically used in large buildings and factories to effectively put out large and potentially disastrous fires. This system enables water to be pumped through pipes throughout the building.
Paul L. Downing
Created: Metal mailbox
When: 1891
Prior to its current name, Downing named his invention the “street box,” which originally had four legs instead of one. In addition to the creation of the mailbox, Downing also designed an electrical switch that allows railroad workers to shut off power to trains at certain times. Electrical light switches would later be created based on his designs.
