by larry | Oct 11, 2022
Sarah E. Goode (1855-1905) was the first African American woman to be granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She invented a folding cabinet bed that could be converted into a writing desk. Illinois Connections: A Chicago Resident
by larry | Oct 11, 2022
Oscar Stanton De Priest (1871-1951), was a businessman who became the first Black member of the Chicago City Council in 1915. In 1929 he was the first African American to be elected to Congress in the 20th century. Illinois Connections: Chicago Resident
by larry | Oct 11, 2022
Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) became the first African American woman to earn an international pilot’s license in 1921. Her flying stunts earned her the title of “Queen Bess.” Bessie Coleman was inducted into the Illinois Black Hall of Fame in the Inaugural Class of...
by larry | Oct 11, 2022
Annie Minerva Turnbo Malone (1869-1957) A chemist and entrepreneur, Annie Turnbo Malone became a millionaire by successfully developing and marketing hair products for black women in St. Louis. She used her wealth to promote the advancement of African Americans and...
by larry | Oct 11, 2022
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1856-1931) is credited with performing the first successful open-heart surgery. In 1891 he became the first African American to establish a hospital in the United States, Chicago’s Provident Hospital. Illinois Connections: A Chicago resident...
