Monday, May 15, 2017

Sarah E. Goode: Woman Inventor

Sarah E. Goode was born a slave in 1850 but was still the first African-American woman to receive a United States patent.


She invented the folding cabinet bed, a bed that can be folded up into a desk, complete with compartments for stationary and writing supplies. 

Sarah Goode received her freedom at the end of the Civil War, after which she moved to Chicago and became an entrepreneur. She owned a furniture store with her husband Archibald, who was a carpenter. Many of her customers didn't have much space for furniture, hence the invention of the cabinet bed. Now, they would be called Murphy beds. She recieved a patent for this invention on July 14, 1885. 

1 comment:

  1. That is really interesting. When did the process of receiving patents begin in the United States? Also, do you know why the name was changed to "Murphy" beds, even though she was the one who invented them?

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