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Found 42 Stories
Article from The Woman Inventor, 1890, titled “Colored Woman Inventor,” with the story of Ellen Eglin who invented a clothes-wringer but was afraid that white women would not buy the wringer if they knew it had been invented by an African American woman. Eglin sold her invention to an agent for $18 in 1888 and made no further profit from it.
Blog

Who Invents and Who Gets the Credit?

The complex story of an African American woman inventor, hidden behind a simple clothes wringer.

Advertising image showing inventor Garthen Leslie holding the Aros air conditioner that he invented. He stands against a backdrop of blueprint-type sketches for the air conditioner. A cut-out of a polar bear wearing a red scarf is at his feet.
Blog

A Cool Story About A/C Inventor Garthen Leslie

Working with Quirky and GE, Garthen Leslie invented the Aros smart air conditioner.

Frances Gabe pointing to model of her self-cleaning house, 1979
Blog

You Don’t Have Time to Clean Your House—Now What?

Frances Gabe called cleaning a “thankless, unending job, a nerve-twangling bore.” She set out to change that.

George Foreman Grill with lid open, about 1995
Blog

Who Invented the George Foreman Grill?

No, it’s not a trick question. Learn about Michael W. Boehm and the invention story behind the famous infomercial product.

Tappan Model RL-1 microwave oven
Blog

The Devil Is in the Details: Researching an Inventor’s Biography

The quest to confirm biographical details about the life and work of Percy Spencer

Yellow plastic hard hat with solar-powered propeller on top, souvenir from, Knoxville World’s Fair, 1982
Invention Stories

Inventive Minds: Inventing Green

Inventive Minds: Inventing Green features the stories of historic and contemporary inventors whose work on socially-responsible technologies creates profound change for the common good.

"Joy" movie poster
Blog

"Joy's" Process of Inventing

Jennifer Lawrence's silver screen portrayal of inventor Joy Mangano makes the case for the invention process.

Charlotte Cramer Sachs
Invention Stories

Charlotte Cramer Sachs

Charlotte Cramer Sachs invented many things throughout her life, including instant mixes for muffins, frostings, puddings, and breads.

Battle of the Sewing Machines Sheet Music Cover
Beyond Words

Podcast: Law Professor Adam Mossoff Says Patent Wars Aren’t a New Thing

Adam Mossoff, professor of law at George Mason University, explores the sewing machine patent war of the 1850s and its parallels with contemporary patent wars.

Fresh Paper inventor Kavita Shukla
Invention Stories

Try It: Fresh Paper

A young woman's concern for food waste lead to a remarkable invention.

Steven Gdula
Beyond Words

Podcast: Steven Gdula Speaks about an Invention "Hot Spot" - Your Kitchen!

Invention in the warmest room in the house--the kitchen!

Invention Stories

Papers Illustrate Woman Inventor's Life and Work

Learn more about Marion O'Brien Donovan (1917-1998), who earned 20 patents and was one of the few commercially successful female inventors of her era.

Logo for the Modern Inventors Documentation database, showing a stylized head with words like creativity and innovation written on different parts of the brain
Archives

Marc Harrison Papers, 1928-1996

Inventor Name Harrison, Marc

MIND database logo for Smithsonian-held archival materials
Archives

Elmer Gates Papers, 1894-1988 (bulk 1894-1910)

Inventor Name Gates, Elmer

MIND database logo for non-Smithsonian archival materials
Archives

Stoves Collection, 1861-1977

Inventor Name Unknown Repository York County Heritage Trust250 E. Market StreetYork, PA 17403717-848-1587http://www.yorkheritage.org/

MIND database logo for non-Smithsonian archival materials
Archives

Walker Brothers Dishwasher Company Records, ca.1920

Inventor Name Walker, Willard R. Repository Onondaga Historical Association Museum & Research Center321 Montgomery St., Syracuse, NY. 13202315-428-1864http://www.cnyhistory.org/index.html

MIND database logo for non-Smithsonian archival materials
Archives

Samuel Baylin fonds, 1922-1984

Inventor Name Baylin, Samuel

Logo for the Modern Inventors Documentation database, showing a stylized head with words like creativity and innovation written on different parts of the brain
Archives

M. T. (Mikhail Trofimovich) Zarochentsev Papers, 1910-1959

Inventor Name Zarochentsev, M. T. (Mikhail Trofimovich)

MIND database logo for Smithsonian-held archival materials
Archives

Joseph Pedott Papers, 1976-2005

Inventor Name Pedott, Joseph

Logo for the Modern Inventors Documentation database, showing a stylized head with words like creativity and innovation written on different parts of the brain
Archives

John Fox Papers, 1883

Inventor Name Fox, John.

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