Year: 1965 ​

Who: James West, PhD

Where: New Jersey​

What: James Edward Maceo West, born on February 10, 1931, in Farmville, Virginia, revolutionized the way the world hears and transmits sound with his invention of the foil electret microphone. Co-developed in 1962 with his Bell Laboratories colleague Gerhard Sessler, this groundbreaking technology replaced cumbersome and expensive battery-operated microphones. The use of Teflon as an electret material, which holds a permanent electrical charge, allowed for a compact, cost-effective, and highly sensitive microphone design. This innovation became the foundation for modern microphones used in nearly all telecommunication devices, including cell phones, hearing aids, and recording equipment, and even found applications in healthcare and the U.S. space program.

West's passion for science was ignited in childhood after a curious encounter with electricity while tinkering with a radio. Encouraged by his parents, Matilda and Samuel West, he pursued higher education despite societal challenges of the time. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Temple University in 1957, subsequently joining Bell Laboratories as a scientist in their Acoustics Research Department. There, West and Sessler's pioneering work earned them U.S. Patent #3,118,022 for the foil electret microphone in 1964.

Over his 40-year career at Bell Laboratories, West secured over 60 U.S. patents and 200 international patents, advancing the fields of acoustics and material science. His work extended beyond innovation; he co-founded the Association of Black Laboratories Employees (ABLE) in 1970 to promote diversity and equity in the workplace.

After retiring in 2001, West joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins University, continuing his research in acoustics and mentoring students, particularly those from underrepresented groups in STEM fields. West’s accolades include the National Medal of Technology, membership in the National Academy of Engineering, and induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Today, his legacy endures as a testament to the transformative power of innovation and inclusivity.​

Sources:

Websites:

• BlackPast. (n.d.). James Edward Maceo West (1931-). https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/west-james-edward-maceo-1931/

• Johns Hopkins University. (n.d.). James West - Faculty Profile. https://engineering.jhu.edu/faculty/james-west/

• My Black History. (n.d.). James West: Inventor of the Electret Microphone. https://www.myblackhistory.net/James_West.htm