In celebration of Black History Month, Pierced Rock Press has compiled a non-exhaustive list of African American inventions since the 19th century, undisputedly the century of technological innovations and breakthrough.
African American Historian, Carter G. Woodson, pioneered in 1926, the Negro History Week, to celebrate African American history as well as the contributions and achievements of the African diaspora most often ignored or marginalised.
Carter G. Woodson
The Negro History Week later evolved to a month-long celebration known as Black History Month, celebrated every year throughout the month of February. In 1976, American president, Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month, urging everyone to ‘’ seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black American in every area of endeavor throughout our history’’.
History, in the words of Prof. Babatunde Fafunwa is, ‘’to a people what memory is to the individual. A people with no knowledge of their past would suffer from collective amnesia, groping blindly into the future without the guide post of precedence to shape their course’’.
1-Air conditioning unit invented on July 12, 1949 by Frederick M. Jones
2-Auto cut-off switch invented by Granville T. Woods on January 1, 1839
3-Auto fishing devise invented by G. Cook on May 30, 1899
4-Automatic gear shift invented by Richard Spikes on February 28, 1932
5-Baby buggy invited by W.H. Richardson on June 18, 1899
6-Bicycle frame invited by L.R. Johnson on October 10, 1899
7-Biscuit cutter invented by A.P. Ashbourne on November 30, 1875
8-Blood plasma bag invented by Charles Drew in 1945
9-Cellular phone invented by Henry T. Sampson on July 6, 1971
10-Chamber commode invited by T. Elkins on January 3, 1897
11-Clothes dryer invented by G. T. Sampson on June 6, 1862
12-Curtain rod invented by S. R. Scratton on November 30, 1889
13-Curtain rod support invited by William S. Grant on August 4, 1896
14-Door knob invented by O. Dorsey on December 10, 1878
15-Door stop invented by O. Dorsey on December 10, 1878
16-Dust pan 61 invented by Lawrence P. Ray on August 3, 1897
17Egg beater invented by Willie Johnson on February 5, 1884
18-Electric lamp bulb invented by Lewis Latimer on March 21, 1882
19-Elevator invented by Alexander Miles on October 11, 1867
20-Eye protector invented by P. Johnson on November 2, 1880
21-Fire escape ladder invited by J. W. Winters on May 7, 1878
22-Fire extinguisher invented by T. Marshall on October 26, 1872
23-Folding bed invented by L. C. Bailey on July 18, 1899
24-Folding chair invented by Brody & Surgwar on June 11, 1889
25-Furniture caster invented by O. A. Fisher in 1878
26-Gas mask invented by Garrett Morgan on October 13, 1914
27-Golf tee invited by T. Grant on December 12, 1899
28-Guitar invented by Robert F. Flemming, Jr., on March 3, 1886
29-Hair brush invented by Lydia O. Newman on November 15, 18—
30-Hand stamp invented by Walter B. Purvis on February 27 1883
31-Horse shoe invented J. Ricks on March 30, 1885
32-Ice cream scooper invented by A. L. Cralle on February 2, 1897
33-Insect-destroyer gun invited by A. C. Richard on February 28, 1899
34-Ironing board invented by Sarah Boone on December 30, 1887
35-Key chain invented by F. J. Loudin on January 9, 1894
36-Lantern invited by Michael C. Harvey on August 19, 1884
37-Lawn sprinkler invented by J. W. Smith on May 4, 1897
38-Lemon squeezer invented by J. Thomas White on December 8, 1893
39-Lock invented by W. A. Martin on July 23, 18—
40-Lubricating cup invented by Ellijah McCoy on November 15, 1895
41-Lunch pail invented by James Robinson in 1887
42-Mail box invented by Paul L. Downing on October 27, 1891
43-Mop invented by Thomas W. Stewart on June 11, 1893
44-Motor invented by Frederick M. Jones on June 27, 1939
45-Peanut butter invented by George Washington Carver in 1896
46-Pencil sharpener invented by J. L. Love on November 23, 1897
47-Phone transmitter invented by Granville T. Woods on December 2, 1884
48-Refrigerator invented by J. Standard on June 14, 1891
49-Rolling pin invented by John W. Reed in 1864
50-Shampoo headrest invented by C. O. Bailiff on October 11, 1898
51-Spark plug invented by Edmond Berger on February 2, 1839
52-Stethoscope invented by Imhotep in Ancient Egypt
53-Stove invented by T. A. Carrington on July 25, 1876
54-Straightening comb invented by Madam C. J. Walker in 1905
55-Street sweeper invented by Charles B. Brooks on March 17, 1890
56-Thermostat control invented by Frederick M. Jones on February 23, 1960
57-Traffic light invented by Garrett Morgan on November 20, 1923
58-Tricycle invented by M. A. Cherry on May 6, 1886
59-Typewriter invented by Burridge & Marshman on April 7, 1885
60-Laserphaco Probe invented by Patricia E. Bath in 1986
61-Oil-dripping cup for trains invited by Elijah McCoy 1n 1872
62-Gas mask invited by Garrett Morgan in 1912
63-Gigahertz chip invented by: Mark Dean
64-Train-to-station communication system invented by Granville T. Woods in 1887
65-The Supersoaker invited by Lonnie G. Johnson in 1991
66-Crop Rotation Method( more than 300 uses for the Peanut) invented by George
67-Potato Chips invented by George Crum
68-A.P. Abourne invented Refining of coconut oil. July 27, 1980
69- A. B. Blackburn invented Spring seat for chairs. April 3, 1888..
70-A.C. Richardson invented Casket-Lowering Device. November 13, 1894
71- A.C. Richardson invented Churn. February 17, 1891
72- Anna M. Mangin invented Pastry fork March 1, 1892
73-Alfred L. Cralle Ice Cream Scooper. February 2,1897
74- Alice Parker Heating Furnace 1918
75- Augustus Jackson Ice cream 1832 B. F. Cargill Invalid cot. July 25, 1899
76- B.F. Jackson Gas Burner
77- Benjamin Banneker Clock, Prints for Wash. DC 1st Almanac Bessie V. Griffin Portable Receptacle 1951
78- C.B. Brook Street Sweeper 1896
79-C.V. Richey Fire Escape Bracket. December 28, 1897
80- C. W. Allen Self Leveling table. November 1, 1898
81- D. McCree Portable Fire Escape. November 11, 1890
82-Darryl Thomas Cattle Roping Apparatus
83- Dr. Charles Drew Invented Blood Banks And Established Them Around The World 1940
84- Edmond Berger Spark Plug
85- Ellen Elgin Clothes Wringer 1880s
86-Elijah Mccoy Automatic Lubrication System (For Railroad And Heavy Machinery) 1892 July 2, 1872
87- Folarin Sosan Package-Park (Solves Package Delivery ..Dilemma) 1997
88- Frederick Jones Ticket Dispensing Machine. Patent # 2163754 June 27, 1939
89- Frederick Jones Starter Generator. July 12, 1949
90- Frederick Jones Two-Cycle gasoline Engine November.. 28, 1950
91- Frederick Jones Air Condition. July 12, 1949 deja
92- Frederick Jones Portable X-Ray Machine
93-G.W. Murray Cultivator and Marker. Patent # 517,961 April 10, 1894
94- G.W. Murray Combined Furrow Opener and Stalk-Knocker. April 10, 1894
95- G.W. Murray Fertilizer Distributor. June 5, 1894 …
96-G.W. Murray Cotton Chopper. Patent # 520,888 June 5, 1894
97-G.W. Murray Planter. June 5, 1894
98-G.W. Kelley Steam Table 1897 ….
99-George Alcorn Fabrication of spectrometer. Patent # 4,618,380 October 21,1986
100-George Tolivar Ship’s propeller
101-George Washington Carver Peanut Butter 1900
102- George Washington Carver 300 products from peanuts, 118 products from the sweet potato and 75 from the pecan. 1900-1943
103- Gertrude E. Downing and William Desjardin Corner Cleaner Attachment.
February 13, 1973
104- Granville Woods Telephone (His Telephone Was Far Superior To Alexander Graham Bell’s) Dec. 2,1884
105- Granville Woods Trolley Car 1888
106- Granville Woods Multiplex Telegraph System (Allowed Messages To Be Sent And Received From Moving Trains) 1887
107-Granville Woods Railway Air Brakes (The First Safe Method Of Stopping Trains) 1903
108-Granville Woods Steam Boiler/Radiator 1884
109-Granville Woods– Third Rail (Subway)
110- H. Grenon Razor Stropping Device. February 18, 1896.
111- H.H. Reynolds Window Ventilator for Railroad Cars. April 3, 1883
112- H.A. Jackson Kitchen Table
113- Henry Blair Mechanical Seed Planter 1830
114- Henry Blair Mechanical Corn Harvester
115-Henry Single Patented an Improved Fish Hook. He sold it later for $625. 1854
116- Henry Sampson Cellular Phone July 6th, 1971
117- I.O. Carter Nursery Chair 1960
118- J. A. Joyce Ore Bucket. April 26, 1898
119- J. Hawkins Patented the Gridiron March 3, 1845
120- J. Gregory Motor
121- J.A. Sweeting Cigarette Roller 1897
122- J.B. Winters Fire Escape Ladder
123-J. H. Hunter Portable Weighing Scales. November 3, 1896
124-J.F. Pickering Air Ship 1892
125- J. H. Robinson Lifesaving guards for Street Cars. April 25, 1899
126- J. Robinson Dinner Pail. February 1, 1887 ..
127- J. W. Reed Dough Kneader and Roller. September 2, 1884
128- J. Ross Bailing Press. Sept 05, 1899
129-J.H. Evans White Convertible Sette (A Large Sofa) 1892 85
130- J.H. White Lemon Squeezer 1896
131- J.S. Smith Lawn Sprinkler. May 4, 1897
132-James Forten Sailing Apparatus 1850
133- James S. Adams Airplane Propelling
134- Jan Matzelinger Automatic Shoe Making Machine 1883
135- Joan Clark Medicine Tray 1987
136- John A. Johnson Wrench
137- John Burr Lawn Mower
138-John Parker “Parker Pulverizer” Follower-Screw for Tobacco Presses. …Patent# 304,552 September 2, 1884
139- John Standard Refrigerator. Jul 14,1894
140- Joseph Gammel Supercharge System for Internal Combustion Engine
141- Joseph N. Jackson Programmable Remote Control.
142- Landron. Bell Locomotive smoke stack. May 23, 1871
143- L. F. Brown Bridle bit. October 25, 1892
144- Lewis Howard Latimer Light Bulb Filament
145- Lewis Temple Toggle Harpoon (Revolutionized The Whaling Industry) 1848
146-Lloyd A. Hall Chemical compound to preserve meat
147- Lloyd P. Ray Dust Pan
148- Lydia Holmes Wood Toys. November 14, 1950 …
149- Lydia O. Newman Hair brush
150- M.C. Harney Lantern/Lamp Aug.19, 1884
151- Majorie Joyner Permanent hair wave machine. November 27, 1928
152-Madeline M. Turner The Fruit Press 1916
153-Marie V. Brittan Brown Security System. December 2, 1969
154-Manley West Discovered compound in canibis to cure glaucoma. 1980-1987
155-Norbett Rillieux Sugar Refining System 1846
156- O.B. Clare Rail Tresle. October 9, 1888
157-O. E. Brown Horse Shoe 8/23/1892 ..
158-Onesimus Small Pox Inoculation (He Brought This Method From Africa Where Advance 159-Medical Practices Were In Use Long Before Europeans Had Any Medical Knowledge) 1721
160- Otis F. Boykin Wire Type Precision Resistor June 16, 1959
161-Paul E Williams Helicopter
162-Peter Walker Machine for Cleaning Seed Cotton…
163- Phillip Downing Letter Drop Mailbox. October 27, 1891
164- Philip Emeagwali Accurate Weather Forecasting 1990
165-Philip Emeagwali Hyperball Computer April 1996
166- Philip Emeagwali Improved Petroleum Recovery 1990
167- Philip Emeagwali World’s Fastest Computer 1989
168- R.A. Butler Train alarm. June 15, 1897
169- R.P. Scott Corn Silker 1894
170- Richard Spikes Automatic Gear Shift
171-S. H. Love Improvement to military guns. April 1919
172- S. H. Love Improve Vending Machine. November 21, 1933 …
173- Sara E. Goode Cabinet Bed 1885
174- Rufus Stokes 241 Exhaust Purifier April 16, 1968
175-Sarah Boone Ironing Board April 26, 1892 …
178- T. Elkins Toilet 1897 …
179- Thomas Carrington Range Oven 1876
180-Parabolic antenna invited on the 07th of June 1887 by Granile T. Woods
181-The improvement of sugar production on 10th of December by Nobert Rilleux
182-Train’s switch invented on the 31th of October 1899 by William.F.Burr
183-Escavator of Potatoes invented on the 23th of April 1895 by F.J.Woods
184-Jars invented on17 of Febuary 1891 by Albert C .Richardson
185-Bed’s protection panel invented on the 13th of August 1895 by Lewis A Russel
186-Combustion engine invented on the on the 05th of July 1892 by Andrew J.Beard
187-Fire hydrants invented on the 07th of May 1878 by Joseph R.Winters
188- Swing chair invented on the 15th of November 1881 by Payton Jonhson
189- Car’s metallic roof invented on the 02th of October 1897 by Carter William
190- Steam cooking table invented on the 26th of October 1897 by Carter William
191- Mery-go-around invented on the 19th of December 1899 by Granville T. Woods
192- Huricane lamp invented on the 19th of August 1884 by Micheal C.Hamey
193-Mechanical piano invented on the 11th of Juin 1912 by Joseph H. Dickson
194- Improvement of Wagons-lits on the 08th of October 1870 by John W. West
195- Portable balance invented on the 03th of November 1896 by John W .Hunter
196-Toilets invented on the 19th of December 1889 y Jerome B. Rhodes
197- Switch invented on the 1th of January1889 by Granville T .Woods
198- Photographic developer invented on the 23th of April 1895 by Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus
199- Shoes cover invented on the 08th of February 1898 by Alvin L. Rickman
200- Compost machine invented on the 22 of June 1897 by William Barry
201- Molding machine invented on the 14 of March 1876 by David A. Fisher
202- Sweeper-washer invented on the 13th of June 1893 by by Thomas W. Steward
203- Document case invented on the 02th of November 1886 by Henry Brown
204-Recording Machine invented on 08 of January 1918 by Joseph Hunter
205- Ice mold invented on the 02th of February 1897 by Alfred L. Cralle
206- Paint and colorants invented on the 14th of June 1927 by George Washington Carver
207- Car’s break invented on the 06th of August 1872 by John V.Smith
208-Backing machine invented on the 20th Of March 1884 by Jan E. Matzeliger
209- Collar for cervical fractures invented by Louis Tompkins Wright
210-Treatment of venereal diseases invented by Lois Tompkins Wrights
211-Poly-therapy invented ( Use of chemotherapy against cancer) invented by Jane Cooke Wright
212- Second world’s kidney transplantation by Samuel L. Kountz
213- Kidney’s conservation for 50 hours invented by Samuel L. Kointz
214- Antidote for barbiturate’s overdose invented by Arnold Hamilton Maloney
215-Shoes upper’s machine invented Jan Earnst Matzeliger
216- Hair’s fixer invented by Garrett A.Morgan
217-Anemometer invented Philip G.Hubbard
218-Spectrograph-Camera ( Used by Apollo 16) invented by George R.
219- Signalization (airport, crane, building) invented by on the 30 of March by Lewis WW.Chubb
220-Melanin’s dosage invented by Cheikh Anta Diop
221-Shampoo made out of peanut invented by George Washington Carver
222-Vinegar made out of peanut invented by George Washington Carver
223-Soap made out of peanut invented by George Washington Carver
224-Toilet’s power made out of peanut invented by George Washington Carver
225-Flour made out of potato invented by George Washington Carver
226- Ink made out of potato invented by George Washington Carver
227- Gary made out of potato invented by George Washington Carver
228- Starch made out of potato invented by George Washington Carver
229-Synthetic rubber made out of potato invented by George Washington Carver
230- Food conservation invented by Lloyd A.Hall
231- Food’s sterilization invented on the 08th of February 1938 Lloyd A.Hall
232- Fire retardant foam invented used in the second world war invented by Percy L. Julian
233-Progesterone’s synthesis invented by Percy L. Julian
234- Cortisone’s synthesis invented by Percy L. Julian
235- Pheromone organic’s synthesis invented Bertran Oliver Fraser-Reid
236- Oligosaccharise’s synthesis invented by Bertran Oliver Fraser-Reid
237- Carbone’s filament invented on the 17th of June 1882 by Lewis Howard Latimer
238- Cooling and disinfestations devices invented on the 12th of January 1886 by Lewis Howard Latimer
239- Rheostat invented on the 13th of October 1896 by Granvile T.Woods
240- Third underground rail invented by Granvile T.Woods
241- Electromagnetic break invented in 1887 by Granvile T.Woods
242- Automatic switch invented in 1889 by Granvile T.Woods
243- Mechanical incubator invented in 1890 by Granvile T.Woods
244- Pacemaker for cardiac invented by Daniel Hale Williams on the 9th of July 1893
245-Syphili’s screening test invented in 1936 by William A.Hinton
246- Foutain pen invented on the 07th of January 1890 by William B.Purvis
247- Hair’s comb invented on the 21th of December 1920 by Walter H. Samsons
248-Rail electrical trolley invented on the 19th of September 1893 par Elbert R. Robinson
249- Press rotative ( printing house) invented on the 17th of September 1878 by W.A. Lavalette.
250-Bicycle’s luggage carrier invented on the 26th of December 1899 by Jerry M. Certain
251-Press lay invented on the 08th of December 186 by John T.White
252-Security doors invented on the 07th of October 1890 by Humphrey Reynolds
253-Thermostat invented on the 06th of March 1958 by David N.Crosthwaith Jr
254-Horse shoes invented on the 23th of August 1892 by Oscar E.Brown
255-Stroller invented by William D.Davis
256-Jaw horse invented on the 25th of October 1892 by Lincoln F.Brown
257-Horse hoof’s cover invented on the 19th of April 1892 by Robert Coates
258-Gun detonator invented on the 3th of May 1897 by Edward R.Lewis
259-Grass’s waterin can invented on the 4th of May 1897 y Joseph H.Smith
260-Message’s transmission devices via electricity invented of the 7th of April 1885 by Granvile T.Woods
261-Transfert mail’s device invented of the 24th of May 1917 by J.C.Jones
262-Freight transport’s device invented on the 10th of October 1899 by John.W. Butts
263-Electrical window’s cleaner invented on the 27th of September 1882 by A.L.Lewis
264-Havester invented on the 03th of June 1890 by H.L.Jones
265-Dirigible invented on the 20th of February 1900 by J.F.Pickering
266-Steam grassing machine invented on the 4th of July 1876 by Elijah Mc Coy
267-Computer’s magnetic band invented on the 24th of August 1971 by Larry T.Preston
268-Control pedal invented on the 5th of October 1886 by Minnis Hadden
269-Radar detection antenna invented on the 11 of June 1968 by James E. Lewis
270-Combustion engine supercharger invented on the 3th of February 1976 by Joseph A.Gamell
271-Loading and unloading of postal mail invented on the 13th of February 1945 by Gus Burton
272-Lifting engine invented on the 2th of May by Mary Jane Reynolds
273-Gamma electrical cellule invented on the 6th of June 1971 by Henry T.Sampson
274-Refrigeration system (fridge and freezer) invented on the 4th of November 1879 by Thomas Elkins.