Curated OER
For the Record: Black Inventors and Inventions
Learners research the Internet for information about African-American inventors and their inventions. After collecting their data, students must build and manage information in a database that catalogs the inventions of African-Americans.
Rutgers University
Thomas Edison Papers: Latimer's Patents
Find a list of patents issued to African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer, to him individually or with another inventor. Clicking on the invention takes you a diagram of the invention as well as its description submitted to the U.S....
Rutgers University
Blueprint for Change: The Life and Times of Lewis H. Latimer
An extensive look at the inventor, Lewis Latimer, from the Thomas Edison Papers at Rutgers University. Read essays about his life and inventions, the culture in Boston which encouraged his work, and his life outside his inventions. A...
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Zoom Inventors and Inventions
This site has an alphabetized list of inventions and inventors throughout history. You can also explore by era, topic or nationality.
Great Idea Finder
Great Idea Finder: Lewis Howard Latimer
An extensive biography of the life of African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. Find out about his primary claim to fame in the development of an incandescent light bulb, but be sure to read about his many patents, and his importance to...
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 522: Jan Matzeliger
A brief biography of Jan Matzeliger, an African-American inventor who revolutionized the shoe manufacturing industry. Read about his early troubles and how he graciously lived his life. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio...
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 158: Lewis Latimer
A brief biography of African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. Read about his association with both Hiram Maxim and Thomas Edison in developing the incandescent light bulb. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio broadcast.
Other
Black Inventor Online Museum: Lewis Latimer
The biography of the fascinating African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. In addition to finding out about his development of the carbon filament for the incandescent lamp, you can read about his expertise in patent law, his association...
Other
Black Inventor Online Museum: Andrew Beard
A short biography of Andrew Beard, whose invention improved the safety of railroads in the 19th century.
Other
Black Inventor Online Museum: Jan Matzeliger
A very complete biography of African-American inventor, Jan Matzeliger, who developed the shoe-lasting machine. Read about the development of his invention, and see pictures of the machine and the patent drawing.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Granville T. Woods: The Multiplex Telegraph
A description of Granville Woods' successful invention, the multiplex telegraph, which greatly improved railroad safety. From the Lemelson-MIT Project.
Other
African American Inventors and Inventions: Elijah Mc Coy the Real Mc Coy
A brief biography of Elijah McCoy and a description of one of his inventions that made factory machinery run smoothly.
Ohio History Central
Ohio History Central: Granville T. Woods
A biography of Granville T. Woods, who used his knowledge of machinery to establish his own company and invent many different improvements for the railroad.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Black Beauty: Millionaire c.j. Walker
Provides biographical information about Madame C.J. Walker, the first African-American millionaire.
Black Past
Black Past: Jan E. Matzeliger (1852 1887)
A brief encyclopedia entry about the life of inventory, Jan Matzeliger, whose invention revolutionized the shoe-making industry.
Black Past
Black Past: Woods, Granville T.
A fascinating encyclopedia article about Granville Woods, a black inventor,often referred to as the "black Edison."
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: African American Scientists and Inventors
Besides George Washington Carver, what other African-Americans made contributions to American life? The class will explore the careers of famous and not-so-famous African-American scientists and inventors. Also, they will plan and...
Other
Pioneers, Inc.: Black Scientists and Inventors
Find brief descriptions of the inventions of many African-American inventors in many fields in the 19th century.
Other
Patent Museum: Egg Beater: Willis Johnson 1884
A brief description to the patent filing and an excerpt from the patent request that Willis Johnson filed for his improvements in the egg beater. Included are drawings submitted with the patent request.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Invention Dimension: Inventor of the Week: Frederick M. Jones
A brief biographical note about Frederick McKinley Jones that cites his work in the areas of refrigeration and sound recording.
Other
Black Inventor Online Museum: William Purvis
Read about the African-American inventor, William Purvis, who improved the fountain pen. Included is a list of his other inventions.
Curated OER
Black Inventor Online Museum: Lewis Latimer
The biography of the fascinating African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. In addition to finding out about his development of the carbon filament for the incandescent lamp, you can read about his expertise in patent law, his association...