George Edward Alcorn Alcorn invented a new type of x-ray spectrometer. Nathaniel Alexander Invented an improved folding chair. Virgie Ammons Ammons invented a fireplace dampener. Benjamin Banneker His inventive spirit would lead him to be called the "first African American inventor." Banneker published a noted Farmers' Almanac. Patricia Bath The first African American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention. Andrew Jackson Beard Beard received a patent for a railroad car coupler and a rotary engine. Andrew Jackson Beard - Patents The original patent drawings of Andrew Jackson Beard. Miriam E. Benjamin Benjamin was the second black woman in history to receive a patent. She received a patent for an invention she called 'a Gong and Signal Chair for Hotels.' Henry Blair Henry Blair was the second black inventor in history to be issued a patent by the United States Patent Office. Bessie Blount Blount invented a device to help disabled persons eat. Sarah Boone An improvement to the ironing board (U.S. Patent #473,653) was invented by African American Sarah Boone on April 26, 1892. Otis Boykin Boykin invented an improved 'Electrical Resistor' used in computers, radios, television sets and a variety of electronic devices. Charles Brooks C. B. Brooks invented a street sweeper truck for which he was issued a patent on March 17, 1896. Phil Brooks Black inventor, Phil Brooks patented a disposable syringe. Henry Brown Henry Brown patented a "receptacle for storing and preserving papers on November 2, 1886" It was special in that it kept the papers separated. Perhaps an early forerunner in filofax history? Marie Brown Invented a video home survelance security system. John Albert Burr Patented an improved rotary blade lawn mower. George Washington Carver Agricultural chemist, George Washington Carver invented three hundred uses for peanuts and hundreds more uses for soybeans, pecans, and sweet potatoes. More than anyone else in history. George Washington Carver - Help for the Hard Times - Pamphlet George Washington Carver wrote the pamphlet Help for the Hard Times George Carruthers Carruthers was the black inventor of the far-ultraviolet camera and the spectrograph. Benjamin S. Carson Benjamin Carson was a pioneer in surgery technology Emmett W. Chappelle Chappelle was a biochemist, photobiologist, astrochemist and black inventor. John Christian John Christian invented and patented new lubricants used in high flying aircraft and NASA space missions. Donald Cotton Donald Cotton invented propellants for nuclear reactors. David Crosthwait Black inventor, David Crosthwait holds 39 patents for heating systems and temperature regulating devices. He is most well known for creating the heating system for New York City's famous Radio City Music Hall. Mark Dean Dean co-invented improvements in computer architecture that allowed IBM compatible PCs to use the same peripheral devices. Ronald Demon The famous inventor of the Smart Shoe - an athletic shoe whose cushion support automatically adjusts to suit the shape of the wearer's feet. Joseph Hunter Dickinson Invented several improvements to different musical instruments. Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus Invented an improved photographic print wash method. Dr. Charles Richard Drew Drew was the first person to develop the blood bank. Thomas Elkins African American inventor Thomas Elkins - view his three U.S. patents. Philip Emeagwali In 1989, Philip Emeagwali won the Gordon Bell Prize, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize, for developing the fastest supercomputer software in the world. James Forten African American James Forten invented a sail hoist. Sarah E. Goode Sarah Goode was the first African American women to receive a patent (US #322,177), which was issued on July 14, 1885. She invented a type of cabinet bed. Meredith C. Gourdine Gourdine was the black inventor of electrogasdynamics systems. George Grant An improved tapered golf tee was patented in 1899 by George F. Grant. Lloyd Augustus Hall Lloyd Hall is responsible for the meat curing products, seasonings, emulsions, bakery products, antioxidants, protein hydrolysates and many other products that keep our food fresh and flavorable. Augustus Jackson Augustus Jackson, a confectioner and businessman from Philadelphia, invented an ice cream recipe in 1832 Thomas L. Jennings Thomas L. Jennings was the first African American to receive a patent (US patent3306x), which was issued on March 3rd, 1821. Jack Johnson The world's first African American heavyweight champion patented a wrench (U.S.patent#1,413,121) on April the 18th, 1922. Lonnie Johnson Johnson invented the Super Soaker® a squirt gun and also invented thermodynamics systems on the side. Willis Johnson Willis Johnson patented an improved mechanical egg beater on February 5, 1884. Frederick Jones Jones invented the first automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks. Marjorie Stewart Joyner Joyner invented a permanent wave machine that would allow a hairdo to stay set for days. Percy Lavon Julian Julian synthesized the medicines physostigmine for glaucoma and cortisone used for rheumatoid arthritis and he invented fire-extinguishing equipment. Ernest Everett Just Dr. Just, an eminent marine biologist, was considered a leader and authority for his work with cell development. Roscoe Koontz Roscoe Koontz designed a pinhole gamma ray camera and collimator and helped to design and fabricate automatic air and water sampling equipment and radiation activity measuring devices. Lewis Howard Latimer Latimer invented the water closet for railroad cars, an electric lamp with an inexpensive carbon filament and a threaded wooden socket for light bulbs. Lewis Howard Latimer - Patents Belonging To Joseph Lee Lee patented two machines for the food service industry. John Lee Love The "Love Sharpener" was designed by African American John Lee Love. Love's invention is the very simple and portable pencil sharpener that many artists use today. Jan Ernst Matzeliger Black inventor, Jan Matzeliger invented an automatic method for lasting shoes, which made the mass production of affordable shoes possible. Elijah McCoy Black inventor, Elijah McCoy is best known for having invented the automatic oil cup. During his life, McCoy invented and sold 57 different kinds of devices and machine parts, including an ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. His first patent was for a lubricator for steam engines ( US #129,843), which was issued on July 12th, 1872. Alexander Miles Invented an improved elevator. Garrett Morgan Morgan invented a gas mask, a traffic signal, and several other inventions. Lyda Newman African American, Lyda Newman patented a new and improved brush. Alice Parker Alice Parker invented a new and improved gas heating furnace. Traverse Benjamin Pinn Traverse Benjamin Pinn invented an improved file holder. Willam Purvis Invented several inventions including an improved fountain pen. Lloyd P Ray African American, Lloyd Ray patented a new and useful improvement in dust pans. Cordell Reed Cordell Reed improved nuclear electric power. Louis Roberts Black inventor, Louis Roberts' research interests focused on microwave and optical techniques and components, plasma research, solid state component and circuit development. Norbert Rillieux Rillieux invented the sugar processing evaporator. Walter Sammons Invented an improved comb. Henry Sampson Invented a gamma-electrical cell. Jerry Shelby NASA engineer Jerry Shelby invented an engine protection system for a recoverable rocket booster. Richard Spikes Patented or developed many inventions. John Standard An improved refrigerator design was patented by African American inventor John Standard. Thomas Stewart Stewart invented an improved mop, metal bender, and railroad crossing indicator. Rufus Stokes Rufus Stokes invented a exhaust purifier and an air pollution control device. Lewis Temple The toggle iron harpoon was designed in 1848 by Lewis Temple, an African American blacksmith, this was the standard harpoon in American whaling from the mid-19th through the early 20th centuries. Valerie Thomas Received a patent in 1980 for inventing an illusion transmitter. John Henry Thompson Invented lingo programming used in Macromedia Director and Shockwave. Madame Walker Madame Walker was a St. Louis washerwoman-turned-entrepreneur. Walker invented a method to soften and smooth African American hair in 1905. James Edward West Black inventor, James West holds 47 U.S. and more than 200 foreign patents on microphones and techniques for making polymer foil-electrets. John Thomas White African American inventor John Thomas White patented a lemon squeezer in 1896. Doctor Daniel Hale Williams Doctor Daniel Hale Williams was a pioneer in open heart surgery. Joseph Winters Patented the fire escape ladder. Granville Woods African American, Granville Woods invented improvements to electric railways, air brakes, the telephone and the telegraph. He invented a chicken egg incubator and an apparatus for an amusement park ride. Granville Woods - Patents Photos of the inventions of Granville Woods. Kevin Woolfolk Invented the "The Hamster Workout Wheel",