1721

Onesimes Developed a cure for the smallpox virus.
1752 Benjamin Banneker
  • created the first clock ever built in the United States
  • first Black Presidential appointee
  • developed the layout for the streets and monuments for the nation's capitol, Washington, D.C., including the White House, Capitol building and Treasury building
1821 Thomas L. Jennings Receives a patent for a dry-cleaning process.
Is the first patent issued to a Black person.
1834 Henry Blair Receives a patent for a corn-planting machine.
1836 Henry Blair Receives a patent for a cotton-planting machine.
1843 Norbert Rillieux Developed a method for refining sugar. It consisted of a series of vacuum pans combined in a step-by-step process to make heated evaporated sugar into crystallized granules.
1848 Lewis Temple Developed the Toggle Harpoon.
1850 James Forten Developed a control for Ship Sails.
1853 Elfe Was a slave and pharmacist in South Caroline. According to some accounts, he kept a prescription book, last dated 1853, in which he outlined several drugs he created. Apparently, Elfe also sold his concoctions, though little is known about those creations.
1858 Sarah E. Goode Received a patent for her design of a folding cabinet bed, the predecessor of the sofabed.
1867 H. Lee Received a patent for an animal trap.
  W. A. Deitz Received a patent for a shoe design.
1870 T. Elkins Received a patent for a combination dining/ironing table/quilting frame.
  J. W. West Received a patent for a wagon design
  H. Spears Received a patent for a portable shield for infantry personnel.
1871 L. Bell Received a patent for a train smokestack.
1872 T. Elkins Received a patent for a chamber commode.
  T. J. Byrd Received a patent for horse reins.
  T. J. Byrd Received a patent for a horse and carriage device.
  T. J. Byrd Received a patent for a horse yoke design.
  T. J. Marshall Received a patent for a fire extinguisher design.
1872 Elijah McCoy Acquired his first patent for his invention of an automatic lubricating device , allowing a moving steam engine to be lubricated without having to first stop it.
  L. Bell Received a patent for a dough kneader.
1873 Elijah McCoy Received a second patent for a modification of automatic lubricating device.
1874 Lewis Howard Latimer and Brown Received a patent for an improved of a train water closet, a bathroom compartment for railroad trains.
  E. H. Hutton Received a patent for a cotton cultivator.
  Elijah McCoy Received a patent for a ironing table.
  H. Pickett Received a patent for a scaffold design.
  T. J. Byrd Received a patent for a train coupling design.

1875

D. A. Fisher Received a patent for a joiners' clamp.
  A. P. Ashborne Receives a patent for a process for preparation of coconut oil.
  H. H. Nash Received a patent for a life preserving stool.
A. P. Ashborne Received a patent for a biscuit cutter.

1876

D. A. Fisher Received a patent for a furniture castor.
  T. A. Carrington Received a patent for a range.
1877 A. P. Ashborne Received a patent for a process for treatment of coconut oil.
1878 B. H. Taylor Received a patent for a rotary design engine.
  J. R. Winters Received a patent for a fire escape ladder.
  W. R. Davis, Jr. Received a patent for a library table.
W. A. Lavalette Received a patent for a variation on the printing press.
O. Dorsey Received a patent for a door-handling device.
1879 M. W. Binga Received a patent for a street-sprinkling apparatus.
  William Bailes Received a patent for a ladder scaffolding support system.
  T. Elkins Received a patent for a refrigerating device.
1880 S. R. Scottron Received a patent for an adjustable window cornice.
  J. N. Waller Received a patent for a shoemaker's cabinet.
  A. P. Ashbourne Received a patent for a coconut oil refining process.
  T. B. Pinn Received a patent for a file holder design.
  P. Johnson Received a patent for an eye protector.
1881 J. Wormley Received a patent for a lifesaving apparatus.
  W. S. Campbell Received a patent for a self-setting animal trap.
  Lewis Howard Latimer and Joseph V. Nichols Received a patent for their invention of an improvement of the incandescent light bulb with a carbon filament.
P. Johnson Received a patent for a swinging chairs designs.
1882 Lewis Howard Latimer and Tregoning Received a patent for a globe support for an electric lamp.
  E. Little Received a patent for a bridle bit design.
  A. C. Richardson Received a patent for a hame fastener.
  W. B. Purvis Received a patent for a bag fastener.
  Lewis Howard Latimer Received a patent for manufacturing carbons.
1883 S. R. Scottron Received a patent for a cornice.
  W. B. Purvis Received a patent for a hand stamp.
  H. H. Reynolds Received a patent for a railway window ventilator.
  J. Cooper Received a patent for a shutter and fastening device.
  W. Washington Received a patent for a corn-husking machine.
L. C. Bailey Received a patent for a combination truss and bandage.
  S. E. Thomas Received a patent for a waste trap.
1884 C. L. Mitchell Received a patent for a phneterisin.
  W. Johnson Received a patent for an eggbeater.
  L. Blue Received a patent for a corn-shelling device.
  Granville Woods Received a patent for a steam boiler.
  T. S. Church Received a patent for a carpet-beating machine.
  J. W. Reed Received a patent for a dough kneader and roller.
  Granville Woods Received a patent for a telephone transmitter.
  John P. Parker Received a patent for a tobacco press and screw.
1885 G. T. Sampson Received a patent for a sled propeller.
  W. F. Cosgrove Received a patent for an automatic stop plug for gas oil pipes.
  Granville Woods Received a patent for an apparatus for transmitting messages by electricity.
  Elijah McCoy Received a patent for a steam dome.
  Sarah Goode Receives a patent for a folding cabinet bed.
W. C. Carter Received a patent for an umbrella stand.
1886 Lewis Howard Latimer Received a patent for an apparatus for disinfecting and cooling.
  R. F. Fleming, Jr. Received a patent for a guitar design.
  J. Ricks Received a patent for a horseshoe design.
  W. Marshall Received a patent for a grain binder.
  W. H. Richardson Received a patent for a cotton chopper.
  W. D. Davis Received a patent for a riding saddle.
  M. Headen Received a patent for a foot power hammer.
  Henry Brown Received a patent for a paper storer.
  I. D. Davis Received a patent for a tonic.
  J. Robinson Received a patent for a dinner pail.
  Jan Matzeliger Received a patent for his Lasting Machine which revolutionized the shoe industry.
1887 E. W. Stewart Received a patent for a machine for making vehicle seat bars.
  J. Gregory Received a patent for a motor design.
  Elijah McCoy Received a patent for a lubricator attachment.
  E. R. Lewis Received a patent for a spring gun.
  Elijah McCoy Received a patent for a safety valve lubricator.
  D. W. Shorter Received a patent for a feed rack.
  E. W. Stewart Received a patent for a punching machine.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for a relay instrument.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for a polarized relay.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for a electromechanical brake.
  R. Hawkins Received a patent for a harness attachment.
  A. Miles Received a patent for an elevator concept.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for a phone system and apparatus.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for a railway signal.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for an induction telegraph system.
  Stewart and Johnson Received a patent for a metal bending machine.
1888 A. B. Blackburn Received a patent for a railway signal.
  D. Johnson Received a patent for a rotary dining table.
  A. B. Blackburn Received a patent for a spring seat for chairs.
  M. A. Cherry Received a patent for a velocipede design.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for an overhead conducting system for electric trains.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for an electromotive train system.
  Miriam Benjamin Received a patent for a Gong and Signal Chair that could be used in hotels and restaurants. It worked by pressing a small button on the back of a chair which would relay a signal to a waiting attendant. At the same time a light would illuminate on the chair allowing the attendant to see which guest was in need of assistance.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for a galvanic battery.
  A. B. Blackburn Received a patent for a cash carrier.
  O. B. Claire Received a patent for a trestle design.
  P. W. Cornwall Received a patent for a draft regulator.
  S. E. Thomas Received a patent for a pipe connection design.
  J. S. Coolidge Received a patent for a harness attachment.
  R. N. Hyde Received a patent for a carpet cleaner formula.
  H. Creamer Received a patent for a steam trap feeder.
  W. A. Johnson Received a patent for a paint vehicle.
  Frank Winn Received a patent for a direct acting steam engine.
1889 Granville T. Woods Received a patent for an automatic safety cutout for electric circuit.
  H. Peterson Received a patent for a lawn mower attachment.
  A. Romain Received a patent for a passenger register.
  Purdy and Sadgwar Received a patent for a folding chair design.
  W. H. Richardson Received a patent for a child's carriage.
  W. A. Martin Received a patent for a lock design.
  D. Johnson Received a patent for a lawn mower attachment.
  J. Standard Received a patent for an oil stove design.
  Elijah McCoy and Hodges Received a patent for a lubricating device.
1890 W. B. Purvis Received a patent for a fountain pen.
  F. J. Ferrell Received a patent for a steam trap.
  Jan Matzeliger Received a patent for a tack-seperating mechanism.
  H. Faulkner Received a patent for a ventilated shoe.
  F. J. Ferrell Received a patent for a snow-melting device.
  P. B. Downing Received a patent for an electric railroad switch.
  D. Johnson Received a patent for a lawn mower grass catcher.
  A. Pugsley Received a patent for a blind stop.
  A. F. Hilyer Received a patent for a water evaporator attachment for hot-air register.
  J. W. Benton Received a patent for a derrick for hoisting.
  H. H. Reynolds Received a patent for a safety gate for bridges.
  Snow and Johns Received a patent for a liniment formula.
  Isaac Watkins Received a patent for a scrubbing frame.
  D. McCree Received a patent for a portable fire escape.
1891 Daniel Hale Williams Opens Provident Hospital in Chicago, which includes a school to train black doctors and nurses.
  W. Murray Received a patent for an attachment for bicycles.
  P. D. Smith Received a patent for a potato digger.
  A. C. Richardson Received a patent for a churn design.
  W. B. Abrams Received a patent for a hame attachment.
  G. Toliver Received a patent for a propeller design.
  J. Standard Received a patent for a refrigerator design.
  W. Queen Received a patent for a guard for companionways and hatches.
  H. Linden Received a patent for a piano truck.
  Jan Matzeliger Received a patent for improvements to his shoe lasting machine.
  Elijah McCoy Received a patent for a oil drip cup.
  P. B. Downing Received a patent for a letter box design.
Granville T. Woods Received a patent for an electric railway system.

1892

Henry A. Bowman Received a patent for a flag-making technique.
  F. R. Perryman Received a patent for a caterer's tray table.
  P. D. Smith Received a patent for a grain binder.
  C. Williams Received a patent for a canopy frame.
  Sarah Boone Came up with an idea for a narrow wooden board, with collapsible leg supports and covered with padding. Prior to her ironing board, this task normally required taking a plank and placing it between two chairs or simply using the dining table.
  R. Coates Received a patent for an overboot design for horses.
  G. T. Sampson Received a patent for a clothes dryer.
  Andrew Beard Received a patent for as rotary engine.
  O. E. Brown Received a patent for a horseshoe design.
  S. R. Scottron Received a patent for a curtain rod.
  A. L. Lewis Received a patent for a window cleaner.
  G. E. Becket Received a patent for a letter box design.
L. F. Brown Received a patent for a bridle bit.
F. J. Loudin Received a patent for a sash fastener.

1893

Daniel Hale Williams Was the first doctor in the world to perform a successful open-heart operation.
  P. W. Cornwall Received a patent for a draft regulator.
  J. R. Watts Received a patent for a bracket for miners' lamps.
  L. W. Benjamin Received a patent for a broom moistener and bridle.
  T. W. Stewart Received a patent for the mop.
  T. W. Stewart Received a patent for a station indicator.
  E. R. Robinson Received a patent for an electronic trolley design.
  C. B. Brooks Received a patent for a punch.

1894

F. J. Loudin Received a patent for a key fastener.
  George Washington Murray Received a patent for a furrow opener/stalk knocker.
  George Washington Murray Received a patent for a cultivator and marker.
  S. Newson Received a patent for an oil heater and cooker.
  George Washington Murray Received a patent for a planter design.
  George Washington Murray Received a patent for a cotton chopper.
  George Washington Murray Received a patent for a fertilizer distributor.
  George Washington Murray Received a patent for a combined cotton seed.
  R. H Gray Received a patent for a bailing press.
  Joseph Lee Received a patent for a bread-kneading machine.
  A. C. Richardson Received a patent for a casket-lowering device.

1895

M. A. Cherry Received a patent for a streetcar fender.
  J. T. Dawkins Received a patent for a ventilation aid.
  H. Creamer Received a patent for a steam feed water trap design.
  C. J. Dorticus Received a patent for a shoe-drying device.
  J. Cooper Received a patent for a elevator device.
  C. J. Dorticus Received a patent for a photo print wash.
  C. J. Dorticus Received a patent for a photo embossing machine.
  R. H. Gray Received a patent for a cistern cleaners.
  Purdy and Peters Received a patent for a spoon design.
  W. B. Purvis Received a patent for a magnetic car-balancing device.
  Joseph Lee Received a patent for a bread-crumbling machine.
  J. L. Love Received a patent for a plasterers' hawk.
  L. A. Russell Received a patent for a guard attachment for a bed.
  E. H. Holmes Received a patent for a gauge design.
  J. B. Allen Received a patent for a clothesline support.
1896 W. D. Davis Received a patent for a riding saddle.
  H. Grenon Received a patent for a razor stropping device.
  William H. Johnson Received a patent for overcoming dead centers.
  Jan Matzeliger Received a patent for a shoe-nailing machine.
  C. B. Brooks Received a patent for a street sweeper.
  Lewis Howard Latimer Received a patent for a locking coat and hat rack.
  D. N. Roster Received a patent for a feather curler.
  A. J. Polk Received a patent for a bicycle support.
  W. S. Grant Received a patent for a curtain rod support.
  O'Conner and Turner Received a patent for an alarm for boilers.
  O'Conner and Turner Received a patent for a steam gauge design.
  H. A. Jackson Received a patent for a kitchen table design.
  K. Morehead Received a patent for a reel carrier.
  W. Purdy Received a patent for a tool sharpener.
  Granville T. Woods Received a patent for an electricity distribution system.
  J. H Hunter Received a patent for a portable weighing scale.
  J. F. Hammonds Received a patent for a yarn holder device.
  J. T. White Received a patent for a lemon squeezer.
1897 D. L. White Received a patent for car extensions steps.
  A. L. Cralle Received a patent for an ice cream mold.
  P. Walker Received a patent for a machine for cleaning seed cotton.
  J. H. Dunnington Received a patent for horse detachers.
  W. H. Jackson Received a patent for a railway switch design.
  W. U. Moody Received a patent for a game board design.
  W. H. Phelps Received a patent for a vehicle washing apparatus.
  J. W. Smith Received a patent for a lawn sprinkler design.
  R. A. Butler Received a patent for a train alarm.
  C. V. Richey Received a patent for a car-coupling design.
  T. H. Edmonds Received a patent for a seperating screen.
  B. H. Taylor Received a patent for a slide valve.
  W. B. Purvis Received a patent for an electric railway switch.
  L. P. Ray Received a patent for a dust pan.
  C. V. Richey Received a patent for a railway switch design.
  J. H. Haines Received a patent for a portable basin.
  F. W. Leslie Received a patent for an envelope seal design.
  J. H. Evans Received a patent for a convertible settee.
  Andrew J. Beard Invents the "Jenny Coupler," an automatic system for coupling railroad cars.
  J. L. Love Received a patent for a pencil sharpener.
  E. R. Robinson Received a patent for a casting composite.
  J. A. Sweeting Received a patent for a cigarette-rolling device.
C. V. Richey Received a patent for a fire escape bracket.
1898 R. Hearness Received a patent for a bottle cap design.
  A. L. Rickman Received a patent for an overshoe.
  W. J. Ballow Received a patent for a combined coatrack/table.
  Benjamin F. Jackson Received a patent for a heating apparatus.
  P. Walker Received a patent for a bait holder.
  J. A. Joyce Received a patent for an ore bucket.
  Benjamin F. Jackson Received a patent for a matrix drying apparatus.
  A. L. Ross Received a patent for a bag closure.
  J. A. Sweeting Received a patent for a knife/scoop design.
  G. A. E. Barnes Received a patent for a sign design.
  W. H. Jackson Received a patent for an automatic locking switch.
  Jones and Long Received a patent for a bottle cap.
  C. O. Bailiff Received a patent for a shampoo headrest.
  C. W. Allen Received a patent for a self-leveling table.
  F. H. Harding Received a patent for an extension banquet table.
  Elijah McCoy Received a patent for an oil cup.
  L. D. Newman Received a patent for a brush design.
  J. W. Outlaw Received a patent for a horseshoe design.
  C. V. Richey Received a patent for a hammock-stretcher.
1899 J. H. Dickenson Received a patent for a pianola.
  E. P. Ray Received a patent for a chair supporting device.
  A. C. Richardson Received a patent for an insect destroyer.
  L. F. Booker Received a patent for a rubber scraping device.
  J. H. Robinson Received a patent for a train safety guard.
  Benjamin F. Jackson Received a patent for a gas burner.
  J. A. Burr Received a patent for a lawn mower.
  G. Cook Received a patent for an automatic fishing device.
  R. R. Reynolds Received a patent for a nonrefillable bottle.
  F. W. Griffin Received a patent for a pool table attachment.
  W. Johnson Received a patent for a velocipede design.
  W. J. Nickerson Received a patent for a mandolin and guitar attachment for pianos.
  J. Ricks Received a patent for an overshoe for horses.
  L. C. Bailey Received a patent for a folding bed.
  B. F. Cargill Received a patent for an invalid cot.
  C. J. Dorticus Received a patent for a hose leak stopper.
  R. Hearness Received a patent for a detachable car fender.
  A. R. Cooper Received a patent for a shoemakers jack.
  Elijah McCoy Received a patent for a lawn sprinkler system.
  J. Ross Received a patent for a baling press.
  E. H. West Received a patent for a weather shield.
  W. F. Burr Received a patent for a railway switching device.
  J. W. Butts Received a patent for a luggage carrier.
  I. R. Johnson Received a patent for a bicycle frame.
  J. P. Williams Received a patent for a pillow sham holder.
  W. Burwell Received a patent for a boot or shoe.
  Jan Matzeliger Received a patent for a tack-distributing system.
  A. Mendenhall Received a patent for a holder for driving reins.
  A. L. Ross Received a patent for a trousers support.
  George Grant Received a patent for a golf tee.
  J. M. Certain Received a patent for a parcel carrier for bicycles.
  J. B. Rhodes Received a patent for a water closet design.
  A. C. Richardson Received a patent for a bottle design.

1900

S. W. Gunn Received a patent for a boot or shoe design.
  J. M. Mitchell Received a patent for a corn planter design.
  J. F. Pickering Received a patent for an airship.
  Madame C. J. Walker Received a patent for a hot comb.

1901

Granville T. Woods Received a patent for a regulating and controlling electrical translating devices.

1902

Granville T. Woods Received a patent for an automatic air brake.

1905

Lewis Howard Latimer Received a patent for a book support.

1910

Richard B. Spikes Received a patent for a locking billiard cue.
  Lewis Howard Latimer Received a patent for a lamp fixture.
1912 Frederick M. Johnson Received a patent for a self-feeding rapid-fire rifle.
  Ernest Everett Just Appointed head of Howard's biology department.
1914 Garrett A. Morgan Received a patent for a gas mask.
1921 Hubert Julian Received a patent for an airplane safety device.
1923 Garrett A. Morgan Inventor of the gas mask, receives the patent on November 20 for the automatic traffic light, which he sells to General electric for $40,000.
1925 William Hale Received a patent for an airplane improvement.
1926 Richard. B. Spikes Received a patent for a milk bottle cover/opener.
1928 Marjorie Joyner Received a patent for a hair wave machine.
1930 Solomon Harper Received a patent for a electric hair treatment.
1931 Percy Julian Received a patent for a physostigmine, a drug for the treatment of the eye disease glaucoma.
  Richard. B. Spikes Received a patent for a method and apparatus for obtaining average samples and temperature of tank liquids.
1932 Richard. B. Spikes Received a patent for an automatic gear shift design.
1938 Lloyd Hall Received a patent for a method for sterilizing foodstuff.
1939 Richard. B. Spikes Received a patent for an automatic shoe shine chair.

Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a movie ticket-dispensing machine.
1940 Richard. B. Spikes Received a patent for a multiple-barrel machine gun.
  Percy Julian Received a patent for a method for recovery of sterol.
1941 Charles R. Drew

After having established a pioneer blood bank operation at New York City Presbyterian Hospital, is named professor of surgery at Howard University. He establishes donor banks in many states to collect blood for the U.S. Armed Forces.

1942 Joseph Blair Received a patent for a speedboat design.
1944 Lloyd Hall Received a patent for a puncture-sealing mixture.
  Joseph Blair Received a patent for a aerial torpedo design.
1945 Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a two-cycle engine.
1949 Lloyd Hall Received a patent for a preserving process.
  Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for an air conditioning design.
  Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a starter generator for cooling gas engines.
1950 Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a rotary compressor.
  Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a refrigeration unit design.
  Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a two-cycle gasoline engine.
  Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a refrigeration construction design.
1951 G. S. Bluford Sr. Received a patent for an artillery ammunition training round.
1953 Solomon Harper Received a patent for a thermostatic control hair curlers.
1954 Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a defrosting method.
  Percy Julian Received a patent for a preparation of cortisone.
  Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for an air-conditioning method.
1958 Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a combustion-engine device.
1960 Robert Bundy Received a patent for a signal generator design.
  Frederick M. Jones Received a patent for a thermostat design.
1966 Betsy Ancker Johnson Received a patent for a signal generator design.
1968 Paul Brown Received a patent for a "Wiz-z-zer" spinning top toy.
1969 M. C. Gourdine Received a patent for an electrogas dynamic apparatus.
  George R. Carruthers Received a patent for an ultraviolet spectrograph.
1971 Bayliss and Emrick Received a patent for an encapsulation process.
1972 Earl Shaw Received a patent for a spin fly tunable laser.
1973 Al Prather Received a patent for a man-powered glider aircraft.
1978 Christian Reeburg Received a patent for a grease gun stand.
1980 Levi Watkins, Jr. First surgeon to implant an automatic defibrillator in the human heart, a device that corrects arrhythmia, or a failure of the heart to pump properly.
1981 Richard L. Saxton Received a patent for a tissue dispenser for telephone booths.
1986 Carter, Weiner, Youmans Received