03-03-1831 First African American to recieve a patent
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| Audience/Grade: | College Freshman-Continuing Education |
| Discipline(s): |
Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation General Engineering, Engineering Science |
| Special Topic(s): |
Black and African American Scientists and Engineers |
| Learning Resource Type: |
Community - Blog |
| Media Type: |
Unknown |
| Author(s): |
Chad-Eric Montgomery |
| Description: | Engineering Pathway's "Today in History" blog for March 3rd. Excerpt: "Today in History-March 3, 1831 - Thomas Jennings became the first African-American to receive a patent for his invention of "dry-scouring", a process better known today as dry-cleaning. As a free man, he established a local business in New York in which he sold clothing. However, customers became disgruntled that there was no means to effectively clean the materials used in the clothing Jennings sold. He took it upon himself to find a solution to this problem. He began testing cleaning liquids in hopes of finding a better way to clean the clothing, the one that worked best was the "dry-scouring"idea which he sought and received patent for in 1831. "Under the United States patent laws of 1793 (and later, as revised in 1836), a person must sign an oath or declaration stating that they were a citizen of the United States" in order to receive a patent. Before the laws revision in 1836, slaves were allowed to make patents also. Since Jennings was free, he was able to patent his idea. It is documented that the money he received from the patent was used to free his family and endorse the abolishment of slavery. However, when the law which allowed him to make his patent was revised in 1836 (5 years after receiving his patent), slaves could not make patents because they were not considered citizens. This law was revised, after slave-owner Oscar Stuart took credit for his slave (Ned's) invention of the "double cotton scraper". He claimed, "the master is the owner of the fruits of the labor of the slave both manual and intellectual". This case is essential in understanding the importance of Jennings status as a free man. His freedom validated his citizenship at the time of his patent making him the first African American to receive a patent. Jennings went on to serve as "the assistant secretary for the First Annual Convention of the People of Color in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". |
| Rating: |
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| Related Resources | |
| Keywords: | dry cleaning Black inventors Black History African American History African American Scientists and Engineers African American Inventors |
| Is Component of: |
"Today in History" Blog of the Engineering Pathway Digital Library |
| Usage Tip | |
| Use of Resource: |
Good blog that adds history of technology with issues of social justice in recognizing the lack of patent rights of African American inventors in much of U.S. history. |
| Difficulty: |
Easy |
| Interactivity Level: |
Low |
| Version Info | |
| Publication Date: | March 2009 |
| Platform/Format: |
WWW |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Download URL: | http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/blog/index.php/2012/03/ |
| Metadata: |
IEEE LOM Record |
| Collection: |
NEEDS
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