Ideas

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Ideas Inventions
Inventors and Their Inventions
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George Washington Carver (1864-1943) At a time
when the South's major crop-cotton-was faced with
total destruction by the boll weevel beetle, Dr.
Carver, through scientific experiments showed the
South that peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes
(yams), among other crops, should be planted,
along with cotton. Dr. carver developed hundreds
of products from the peanut, the soybean, the
pecan nut, the sweet potato, and even the weeds.
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MADAME C.J. WALKER (1869-1919) Sarah Breedlove
Walker, who was known as Madame C.J. Walker,
became one of the first American women of any
race to become a millionaire through her own
efforts. Madame Walker invented a hair softener
and a special hair-straightening comb. Before her
death in 1919, Madame Walker could count over
2,000 agents who sold her ever-growing line of
Walker products and demonstrated the "Walker
System" of treating hair. Her efforts laid the
foundation for the cosmetics industry among
African Americans.

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Marie Curie (1863-1934) She was the first female
recipient of a Nobel Prize, for the discovery of
radioactive elements and the first person to win
two Nobel prizes. She opened up the science of
radioactivity. For scientists and the public, her
radium was a key to a basic change in our
understanding of matter and energy. Her work not
only influenced the development of fundamental
science but also ushered in a new era in medical
research and treatment.
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Samuel B. Morse (1791-1872) and Alfred Vail
(1807-1859) They invented and improved upon the
telegraph key. Morse was not a scientist - he was
a professional artist. It was on trip that he
overheard a shipboard discussion on
electromagnets. This was the seed out of which
the electric telegraph grew.
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Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) Invented the
telephone while trying to improve the hearing aid
and telegraph. He wanted to improve the hearing
aid to help his mother, who was deaf.

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Thomas Edison (1847-1951) Invented the light
bulb, phonograph, kinetoscope. He also invented
paraffin paper (which was first used for wrapping
candies) and the electric pen. Edison was
awarded 1,368 separate and distinct patents
during his lifetime
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Lewis H. Latimer (1848-1928) Son of a runaway
slave, he became an electrical engineer who
worked for Thomas A. Edison and Alexander Graham
Bell. Many of Latimer's ideas, including the fine
carbon wire which lights up, went into Edison's
light bulb. Latimer was the only African
American, and one of the original 28 persons who
formed the "Edison Pioneers," a group dedicated
to keeping alive Edison's ideals. Latimer was
also a noted patent expert, draftsman, author,
poet and musician.
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Sarah E. Goode She was a business woman and
inventor. Goode invented the folding cabinet bed,
a space-saver that folded up against the wall
into a cabinet. When folded up, it could be used
as a desk, complete with compartments for
stationery and writing supplies.

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Marion Donovan (1917-1998) She helped
revolutionize the infant care industry by
inventing the prototype of the disposable
diaper. She sold her disposable diaper invention
for about 1 million "in order to devote more
time to developing other inventions.
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Ada Augusta Lovelace (1815-1882)  She laid some
of the early conceptual and technical groundwork
for high technology by helping develop an early
computer. In 1842 Lady Ada Augusta Lovelace
corrected errors in Babbages analytic engine.
She was the daughter of Lord Byron, a famed poet.
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Charles W. Buggs (1906-1991) A scientist and
educator, Dr. Charles Buggs conducted special
research on why some bacteria (germs) do not
react to certain medicines. In several articles,
he presented his ideas on penicillin and skin
grafting, and the value of chemicals in treating
bone fractures. Dr. Buggs' research and teaching
contributed to a better understanding of health
and of the human body.
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George Crum He invented the potato chip in 1853.
He was a Native American/African American chef at
the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs,
New York, USA.
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Ruth Handler (1916-2002) Undeniably invented an
American icon, the Barbie doll. It was marketed
by her husbands company, Mattel.
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Lonnie G. Johnson (1949- ) Invented the
Supersoaker, world-famous watergun.

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Dr. Robert K. Jarvik Invented the first
artificial heart. In his teen years, he invented
an automatic surgical stapler and designed
several surgical tools.
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Dr. Patricia E. Bath (1949- ) Invented a method
of eye surgery that has helped many blind people
see.