Charles Frederick Page, Inventor of the Bi-Ballooned Flyable Airship, 1903

The story of Orville and Wilbur Wright and their first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903, is known to millions around the world. What is not known is that they had a contemporary in African American inventor Charles Frederick Page. As a formerly … Read MoreCharles Frederick Page, Inventor of the Bi-Ballooned Flyable Airship, 1903

Meredith C. Gourdine (1929-1998)

Meredith C. Gourdine was an American engineer, athlete, and inventor. He primarily focused on electrogasdynamics systems which refer to generating energy from the motion of gas molecules that have been electrically charged under pressure. He is considered a pioneer in the field and specialized in … Read MoreMeredith C. Gourdine (1929-1998)

Valerie Thomas (1943- )

Valerie LaVerne Thomas, scientist, mathematician, physicist, and inventor, was born on February 1, 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland. Reared in the historic all-Black Cherry Hill community, Valerie’s parents were her first role models. They instilled in her the importance of education that resulted “in an inquiry-based … Read MoreValerie Thomas (1943- )

Frederick Douglas Patterson (1871-1932)

Frederick Douglas Patterson was the first African American to build motorized cars. His father, Charles Rich Patterson, a former enslaved person, created C. R. Patterson and Sons Company, located in Greenfield, Ohio. Beginning in 1865, the company built fashionable carriages. Frederick Patterson inherited the company … Read MoreFrederick Douglas Patterson (1871-1932)