ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY: PREMIER LIBRARY SOURCES

Inventions and Patents of African-Americans - 20th Century

Inventions and Patents of African-Americans - 20th Century is an index to the inventions, inventor, date, and patent number compiled from books and magazines owned by the St. Louis Public Library.

The Library will update this list as information is discovered and verified.

For additional information about this list, please contact the Business, Science, and Technology Department (Central Library).

Inventions and Patents of African-Americans - 19th Century

A B C D E F G H I J L M O P R S T U V W Z

INVENTION	INVENTOR	DATE	PATENT
A
AEROPLANES (an improvement)	Hale, Wm.	April 7, 1925	1,563,278
AEROPLANES (propelling means for)	Adams, J.S	Oct. 19, 1920	1,356,329
AIR CONDITIONING (method for)	Jones, F.M.	Dec. 7, 1954	2,696,086
AIR CONDITIONING UNIT	Jones, F.M.	July 12, 1949	2,475,841
AIR SHIP	Pickering, J.	Feb. 20, 1900	643,975
AIRCRAFT (man powered glider)	Prather, A.	Feb. 6, 1973	3,715,011
AIRPLANE (safety device)	Julian, H.	May 24, 1921	1,379,264
ANHYDROUS ALKALINE EARTH HALIDES (preparation of)	Taylor, M.	Aug.6, 1957	2,801,899
ANHYDROUS LITHLUM SALTS (preparation of)	Taylor, M.	Aug 14, 1962	3,049.406
ANISOTROPIC BORON NITRIDE (preparing non laminating method)	Smith,B. et al	Oct 1, 1985	4,544,535
ANTENNA LINEARLY POLARIZED MONOPULSE LOBING, ETC	Kelly, K.C.	Nov 9, 1962	3,063,049
ANTENNA TESTING SHIELD	Jones,H.S. et al	Apr 10, 1962	3,029,430
ANTIOXIDANT COMPOSITION	Hall, L.A.	Aug 14, 1956	2,758,931
ANTIOXIDANT MATERIAL AND USE OF	Hall, L.A.	Nov 27, 1956	2,772,169
APPLIANCE CARRIER	Flowers, D.	Jul 18, 1995	5,433,359
APRON (BARBER'S)	Mathis, N.	Oct 7, 1975	D237,O22
ARTILLERY AMMUNITION TRAINING ROUND	Buford, G.S.,S.r	Feb 13, 1951	2,541,025
ASPHALT EMULSION AND MANUFACTURE OF	Hall, L.A.	Oct.18, 1932	1,882,834
ASSEMBLING AND DISAMBLING MACHINE	Taylor, A.J.	Jun 6, 1942	2,286,695
ATMOSPHERE (APPARATUS FO HEATING OF COOLING WITHIN AN ENCLOSURE)	Jones, F.M.	Oct 24, 1950	2,526,874
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top B
BACK WASHER MOUNTED ON SHOWER WALL	Kenner, M.B.	Sep 9, 1987	4,696,068
BATHROOM TISSUE HOLDER	Kenner, M.B.	Oct 19, 1982	4,354,643
BED RACK	Bradberry, H.	May 25, 1943	2,320,027
BLOCKS	Brisco, J.R.	Apr 9, 1968	3,376,682
BOOKCASE	Harper, J.H.,Jr.	June 6, 1961	Dl90,500
BOOT OR SHOE	Gunn, S.W.	Jan 16, 1900	641,642
BOX (Shadow)	Scott, J.C.	Oct 1, 1968	D212,334
BRAKE (Automatic air)	Woods, G.T.	Jun 10, 1902	701,981
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top C
CAR PARK	Gilliard, J	Nov 20, 1956	2,771,200
CARD GAME (Chemical)	Forbes, D.A.	Apr 17, 1934	D91,996
CARD GAME (Family relationship)	Smith, M.A.	Oct 28, 1980	4,230,321
CARRIER ATTACHMENT (for invalid walkers)	Kenner, M.B.	Sep 10, 1975	3,957,071
CATALYSTS (Reactivating hydro-forming)	Brown, Henry	Oct 22, 1968	3,407,135
CESIUM AQUEOUS SOLUTION BY ION EXCHANGER (removal of)	Russell, E.R.	Jan 3, 1967	3,296,123
CHAIR (Folding)	Beckley, C.P.	Dec 24, 1974	3,856,345
CIGARETTE HOLDER AND ASH TRAY	Stephens, G.B.	Sep 11, 1956	2,762,377
CIRCUIT GATING (Transitorized)	Emile, P.E.	May 2, 1961	2,982,868
CIRCUIT MULTIVIBRATOR TRANSISTORIZED	Emile, P.E.	Nov 24, 1961	3,005,963
CIRCUIT PRESETTABLE BISTABLE	Cox, E.L. et al	Aug 1, 1967	3,334,245
CLOCK AND WALL PLAQUE (Combined)	Jordan, J.H., Jr.	Jun 22, 1971	D220,965
COIN CHANGER MECHANISM	Bauer, J.A.	Jan 20, 1970	3,490,571
COMPRESSOR, ROTARY	Jones, F.M.	Apr 18, 1950	2,504,841
CONTAINER (Non-capsized)	Elder, C.L.	Feb 6, 1968	3,367,525
CONTROLLER (Power)	Hopkins, H.C.	Nov 3, 1987	4,704,570
COPOLYMER, ACRYLIC (Preparation of water soluble, etc)	Woodard, D.G.	Apr 6, 1971	3,574,175
COPPER (Preparation of water soluble,etc)	Jackson, H.	Apr 1, 1969	3,436,233
CORN PLANTER (Check row)	Mitchell, J.M.	Jan 16, 1900	641,462
CORTISONE (Preparation of)	Julian, P.L.	Aug 10, 1954	2,752,339
COSMETIC AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING	Carver, G.W.	Jan 6, 1925	1,522,176
COUPLING VALVED (Quick disconnect)	Gill, V.	Aug 9, 1960	2,948,553
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top D
DATA PROCESSOR PROCEDURE (entry for)	Dent, B.A.	Dec 15, 1970	3,548,384
DIAL OPERATIONS DEVICE (programmable external)	Gurley, C.E.	Apr 7, 1970	3,505,483
DIFFUSER COLD (method and means of defrosting)	Jones, F.M.	Jan 19, 1954	2,666,298
DOOR CHECK	Lovell, H.R.	Sep 13, 1932	D87,753
DOORBAR LATCH	Logan, E.L., Jr.	Jul 13, 1971	3,592,497
DRESSER	Jordan, J.H.,Jr	Feb 16,91971	D21 9,927
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top E
ELECTRICAL TRANSLATING DEVICES (regulating and controlling)	Woods, G.T.	Sep 3, 1901	681,786
ELECTRODE (vertical liquid, etc)	Cotton, D.J.	Aug 9, 1977	4,040 932
ELECTROGAS (dynamic "M and D" apparatus)	Gourdine, M.C.	Jun 19, 1969	3,449,667
ENCAPSULATION PROCESS AND ITS PRODUCT (energy conversion system, closed cycle)	Cosby, T.L.	July 30, 1974	3,826,092
ENGINE (two cycle gas)	Jones, F.M.	Mar 11, 1947	2,417,253
ENGINE (two cycle internal combustion)	Jones, F.M.	Nov 28, 1950	2,522,273
ENGINE COMBUSTION INTERNAL (control device for)	Jones, F.M.	Sep 2, 1958	2,850,001
ENGINE,GAS (two-cycle)	Jones, F.M.	May 29, 1945	2,376,968
ENGINES, GAS (means for thermostatically operating)	Jones. F.M.	Jul 26, 1949	2,477,377
EXHAUST PURIFIER	Stokes, R.	Apr 16, 1968	3,378,241
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top F
FIRE ESCAPE MECHANISM (EMERGENCY)	Huntley, J.B.	Apr 29, 1975	3,880,255
FIREPLACE DAMPER (ACTUATING TOOL)	Ammons, V.M.	Sep 3O, l975	3,908,633
FLAME RETARDANT	Garner, A.Y.	Nov 2, 1976	3,989,702
FOOT WARMER	Thompson, J.A., Jr.	May 25, 1946	2,442,026
FRUIT BOWL WALL HANGING KIT (embroidered)	Cowans, B. et al	Apr 5, 1977	4,016,314
FRUIT PRESS	Turner, M.M.	Apr 25, 1916	1,180,959
FUEL CELL (BIOCHEM)	Perry, J., Jr.	Nov 8, 1966	3,284,239
FUELS, LASER (carbon dioxide)	Lee, L.H.	Mar 8, 1977	4,011,116
FUR AND MATERIAL - DRESSING EQUIPMENT (thermostatic controlled)	Harper, S.	Jun 21, 1955	2,711,095
FURNACE (heating)	Parker, A.H.	Dec 23, 1919	1,325,905
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top G
GAMES (improvement)	Smith, J.W.	Apr17, 1900	647,887
GEAR SHIFT (automatic)	Spikes, R.B.	Dec 6, 1932	1,889,814
GREASE COMPOSITION FLUOROCARBON POLYMERS, ETC.	Christian, J.B.	Oct 27, l970	3,536,624
GREASE COMPOSITION (use at high temperature)	Christian, J.B.	Jan 31, 1970	3,518,189
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top H
HAIR CURLERS (thermostatic controlled)	Harper, S.	Aug ll, l953	2,648,757
HAIR, HUMAN, ANIMAL, & SYNTHETIC (treating with water-proofing composition)	Scott, H.L.	Mar 9, 1971	3,568,685
HAIR TREATING IMPLEMENT (electrical)	Harper, S.	Aug 5, 1930	1,772,002
HAT, RAIN	Snowden, M.	Apr 5,1983	4,378,606
HELICOPTER	Williams, P.E.	Nov 27, 1962	3,065,933
HYDROXYLAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE (production)	Leonard, H., Jr.	Jan 28, 1964	3,119,657
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top I
IMAGE CONVERTER FOR DECT ELECTROMAGNETIC, ETC.	Carruthers, G.R.	Nov 11, 1969	3,478,216
INDUCTOR (ceramic))	Muckelroy, W.L.	May 2l, 1974	3,812,442
ISOMERIZATION ( combined)	Brown, H.T.	Sep 19, 1961	3,000,995
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top J
JOINT, FLUID	Taylor, A.J.	Jan 13, 1948	2,434,629
JOINT,UNIVERSAL (flexible & transparent lubricant housing for)	Tate, C.W.	Jan 28, l969	3,423,959
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top L
LAMINAR FLUID "NOR" ELEMENT	Walker, M.L., Jr	Nov 18, l969	3,478,764
LAMP FIXTURE	Latimer, L.H.	Aug lO, 1910	968,787
LAVATORY AND TOILET TISSUE (moist dry)	Thompson, J.A., Jr.	Nov 25, l975	3,921,802
LAWN MOWER	Nokes, C.	Feb 12, l963	3,077,060
LEADLESS MICRO-MINIATOR INDUCTANCE ELEMENT, ETC.	Muckelroy, W.L.	Sep l2, 1972	3,691,497
LUBRICATOR	Elijah, M.C.	Mar 2, 1926	1,574,983
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top M
MACHINE, ROTARY	Cosby, T.L.	Jul 22, 1969	3,456,594
MAGNETIC MODULATOR (distributed pulse forming network for microwave phase shift device.)	Stafford, O.C.	Aug 4, 1970	3,522,558
MILK BOTTLE COMBINATION OPENER AND BOTTLE COVER	Spikes, R.B.	Jun 29, 1926	1,590,557
MILK BOTTLE STOPPER	Sluby, T.B.	Feb 4, 1913	1,052,289
MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS (bi-directional)	Elder, C.L.	Dec 8, 1976	4,000,000
MONOLITHIC PLANAR DOPED BARRIER LIMITER	Dixon, S., Jr	Mar 31, 1987	4,654,609
MONOLITHIC PLANAR DOPED BARRIER SUBHARMONIC MIXER	Dixon, S., Jr	Jan 7, 1986	4,563,773
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top O
OPTICAL APPARATUS	Howard, D.C.	Jan 24, 1939	2,145,116
OPTICAL CELL (high pressure for microwave phase shift device)	Weir, C.E.	Feb 26, 1963	3,079,505
OXIDE (method for growing, etc)	Dugger C.O.	Jul 27, 1971	3,595,808
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top P
PAINT AND STAIN (PROCESS FOR PRODUCING)	Carver, G.W.	Jun 9, 1925	1,541,478
PAINT (PROCESS OF PRODUCING PAINTS AND STAINS)	Carver, G.W.	Jun 14, 1927	1,632,365
PAINT SYSTEM (electrostatic)	Turner, A.H.	Jan 16, 1962	3,017,115
PAINTING, ELECTROSTATIC	Turner, A.H.	Sep 18, 1962	3,054,697
PAPAIN COMPOSITION (manufacturing stable dry)	Hall, L.A.	Mar 15, 1949	2,464,200
PERISHABLES (method for preserving)	Jones, F.M.	Feb 12, 1957	2,780,923
PLATFORM (flying landing)	Booker, P.	Oct 10, 1961	3,003,717
POLYMERS (novel phosphony)	Garner, A.Y.	Mar 3, 1964	3,127,357
POLYSTYRENE (high impact)	Leonard, H.,Jr.	Jun 22, 1971	3,586,740
POWER GENERATING APPARATUS	Peterson, C.A., Jr	Jul 9, 1968	3,391,903
PRESSURE COOKER AND SMOKER (aromatic)	Lee, M.W., Sr.	Sep 29, 1959	2,906,191
PRINTING (assembled composition)	Bankhead, C.A.	Jul 16, 1963	3,097,594
PUNCTURE, CEILING COMPOSITION AND MANUFACTURE OF	Hall, L.A.	Sep 5, 1944	2,357,650
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top R
RACK (mobile utility)	Harper, D	Apr 12, 1960	D187,654
RADIATORS (conformal edge-slot)	Jones, H. et al	Sep 27, 1977	4,051,480
RADOME (method of making)	Howard, D.M.	Jun 24, 1969	3,451,127
RAILROADS (safety system for operating)	Dammon, W.H.	Jun 19, 1906	823,513
RAILWAY BRAKES	Woods, L. et al	Mar 29, 1904	755,825
RAILWAY, ELECTRIC	Woods, G.T.	May 26, 1903	729,481
RAILWAY ELECTRIC	Woods, G.T.	Jan 29, 1901	667,110
RAILAY, ELECTRIC	Woods, G.T.	Nov 19, 1901	687,098
RAILWAY SWITCH (electrically controlled and operated)	Williams, P.B.	Jan 15, 1901	666,080
RAILWAY SYSTEM, ELECTRIC	Woods, G.T.	Jul 9,1901	678,086
RAILWAY SYSTEM ELECTRIC	Woods, G.T.	Jan 13, 1903	718,183
RAILWAY TRACK SWITCH (electro-magnetic electrical)	Williams, P.B.	Apr 24, 1900	648,092
RECEPTABLE SUPPORT (portable)	Griffin, B.V.	Apr 24, 1951	2,550,554
REFRIGERATION CONTROL DEVICE	Jones, F.T.	Jan 8, 1952	2,581,956
REFRIGERATION UNITS	Jones, F.T.	May 2, 1950	2,509,099
REFRIGERATOR (construction prefrabricated)	Jones, F.T.	Dec 12, 1950	2,535,682
ROCKET CATAPULT	MacDonald, H.D.	Jun 3, 1969	3,447,767
ROCKET ENGINE PUMP FEED SYSTEM	Samms, A.	Sep 10, 1961	3,000,179
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top S
SANITARY BELT	Kenner, M.B.	May 15, 1956	2,745,406
SATELLITES (mass release mechanism for)	Hull, W.E.	Jan 28, 1969	3,424,403
SCOURING PADS (stainless steel)	Benjamin,A.	Jun 19, 1962	3,039,125
SECURITY SYSTEM, ETC (home)	Brown, V.B.	Dec 2, 1969	3,482,037
SHACKLE (adjustable)	Frye, I. S.	Sep 23, 1969	3,468,123
SHOCK ABSORBER (hydraulic)	Sanderson, R.W.	Jan 9, 1968	3,362,742
SIGNAL GENERATOR	Ancker,B.J	Nov 22, 1966	3,287,659
STARTER GENERATOR	Jones, F.M.	Jul 12, 1949	2,475,842
STERILIZING FOODSTUFF	Hall, L.A.	Feb 8, 1938	2,107,697
STEROLS (recovery of)	Julian, P.L.	Oct 22, 1940	2,218,971
SWEEPSTAKE PROGRAMMER	Elder, C.	Jan 19, 1971	3,556,531
SWITCH, TIMING (sublimation)	Hull, W.E.	Nov 15, 1966	3,286,064
SYRINGE (disposable)	Brooks, P.	Apr 9,1974	3,802,434
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top T
2~FLURO-2-DINITROETHANOL (process for the synthesis of)	Nauflette, G.W.	Mar 28, 1972	3,682,686
TABLE (cocktail)	Jordan, J.H., Jr	May 18, 1971	D220,768
TABLE, (morticians)	Coles, L.	Mar 26, 1974	3,799,534
TANK LIQUIDS (method and apparatus for obtaining average samples and temperatures of)	Spikes, R.B.	Oct 27, 1931	1,828,753
TELEPHONE ALARM APPARATUS (automatic)	Gurley, C.E.	Apr 7, 1970	3,505,476
THERMOSTAT AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM	Jones, F.M.	Feb 23, 1960	2,926,005
THERMOSTAT (window)	Crosthwait, D.N.	Apr 11, 1944	2,346,560
TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE	Jones, F.M.	Jun 27, 1939	2,163,754
TOP STRINGLESS (spinable)	Brown, P.L.	Aug 11, 1970	3,523,386
TORPEDO DISCHARGE (means of)	Bradberry, H.	Dec 11, 1945	2,390,688
TOY (knockdown, wheeled)	Holmes, L.M.	Nov 14, 1950	2,529,692
TRAFFIC SIGNAL	Morgan G.A.	Nov 20, 1923	1,475,024
TRANSMISSION AND SHIFTING,ETC.	Spikes, R.B.	Nov 28, 1933	1,936,996
TRANSMITTER, ILLUSION	Thomas, V.L.	Oct 21,1980	4,229,761
TUNGSTEN HEXAFLUORIDE, ETC. (preparation of)	Russell, J.L.	Nov 30, 1976	3,995,011
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top U
URINALYSIS MACHINE	Sanderson, D.S.	Jul 28, 1970	3,522,011
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top V
VENETIAN BLIND RESTRINGER	Nokes, C.	Jun 3, 1958	2,836,882
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top W
WAVE GUIDE COMPONENTS	Jones, H.S., Jr.	Jul 29, 1962	3,046,507
WAVE GUIDE LINE STRETCHER (magneto-mechanical)	Jones, H.S., Jr.	Aug 23, 1966	3,268,837
WEIGHING AND TOTALING LOAD DEVICE, ETC.	Davis, S.H.	Jul 30, 1943	2,324,769
WHEELCHAIR (stair climbing)	Weaver, R.J.	Nov 19, 1968	3,411,598
WIRE DEVICE (triggered exploding)	Jefferson, D.	Nov 29, 1966	3,288,068
WIRE STRIPPING TOOL	Leonard J. Alexander	Dec. 19, 2000	6,161,289
WRENCH, MONKEY (improved)	Johnson, J.A.	Apr 18, 1922	1,413,121
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top Z
ZIRCONIA COMPOSITION AND PROCESS (transparent)	Smith J.S., II	Mar 11, 1967	3,432,314
Back to the Alphabetical List Back to the Top

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
The above information was compilied from the following books and magazines.
BOOKS: Adams, Russell L. Great Negroes, past and present. Afro-American Publishing Co. c1964, is located at the Julia Davis Branch (Call Number: 920 Non-Circulating); Black First: 2,000 years of extraordinary achievement. edited by Jessie Carney Smith; with Casper L. Jordan, et al. Gale Research. c1994. Copies are available at the following locations: Humanities (Central Library) , Infomation Center (Central Library) , Baden , Cabanne , Carondelet , Carpenter , and Julia Davis (Call Number: 909.0496 Non-Circulating); Black in science: ancient and modern. Ivan Van Sertima, editor. Transaction Books, c1983. Copies are available at the following locations: Humanities (Central Library) , Stacks (Central Library) , Baden , Cabanne , Carpenter , Julia Davis , Divoll , Lashly (Call Number: 509.6); Burt, McKinley, Jr. Black inventors of America. Portland. National Book Co. c1989. Copies are available at the following locations: Business , Science and Technology Department (Central Library) , Stacks (Central Library) , Cabanne , Julia Davis (Call Number: 609.22); Flynn, James J. Negroes of Achievement in modern America. Dodd,Mead. [1970], is located in the Stacks (Central Library) (Call Number: 920.009); Hayden, Robert C. 9 African American inventors. Twenty-First Century Books. c1992. (Not currently owned by the Library); Haskins, James. Outward dreams: Black inventors and their inventions. Walker and Co. c1991, is available at the Carpenter Branch (Call Number: 609.22); Ives, Patricia Carter. Creativity and inventions: the genius of Afro-Americans and women in the United States and their patents. Research Unlimited. c1987. (Not currently owned by the Library); Logan, Rayford Whittingham. Dictionary of American Negro. Copies are available at the following locations: History and Genealogy Department (Central Library) , Baden , Barr , Buder , Cabanne , Julia Davis , Divoll , Walnut Park (Call Number: 920.009296 Non-Circulating); Negro Almanac: a reference work on the African American. 5th edition. c1989. Copies are available at the following locations: Humanitites (Central Library) , Baden , Barr , Buder , Cabanne , Carondelet , Carpenter , Julia Davis , Divoll , Kingshighway , Lashly (Call Number: 973.0496 Non-Circulating)
MAGAZINE ARTICLES: Black Enterprise. June, 1981. Pioneers in technology, is located at the Microfilm Department (Central Library); Ebony Magazine. February, 1990. Black inventors, is located at the Microfilm Department (Central Library); Ebony Magazine. February, 1996. Advertisement. "Every time you use these things.. you're celebrating Black History," is located at the Microfilm Department (Central Library); Jet Magazine. April, 21,1986. Inventors' Hall of Fame, is located at Microfilm Department (Central Library); Jet Magazine. February 22, 1993. Black inventors who helped make life better for all, is located at the Microfilm Department (Central Library); Pathfinders: Scientist and inventors. n.d. Published by Boston Edison Company. (Not currently owned by the Library) (Pamphlet).

Connect to Inventions and Patents of African Americans - 19th Century

Prepared by Velma L. Martin
Librarian
St. Louis Public Library
December, 1996