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Year:1923​

Who: Garrett Morgan​

Where: Cleveland, Ohio​

What: Garrett Morgan, a remarkable African American inventor, made significant contributions to public safety during the early 20th century. Born in 1877 in Kentucky, Morgan’s early life was shaped by the challenges of being a Black person in post-Civil War America. After moving to Cleveland, Ohio, he became a well-known inventor and businessman. His most famous inventions include the gas mask and the three-position traffic light, both of which had lasting impacts on public safety.

Morgan’s first notable invention, the gas mask, was developed in response to frequent incidents of firefighters being overcome by smoke. In 1914, Morgan patented a breathing device consisting of a canvas hood with a filtering sponge to remove smoke and cool incoming air. His invention was put to the ultimate test in 1916 when an explosion occurred in a tunnel under Lake Erie, trapping workers. Despite the dangers, Morgan entered the smoke-filled tunnel and saved lives, including performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the superintendent of the project. His bravery and the efficacy of his gas mask led to widespread adoption by fire departments and even the U.S. Navy during World War I.

In 1923, Morgan turned his attention to improving traffic safety. At the time, city streets were chaotic and accidents were common due to the lack of organized traffic control. Morgan patented the three-position traffic signal, a system with red, amber, and green lights that provided a brief pause between traffic flow changes. This pause reduced the chances of collisions and gave pedestrians a safer opportunity to cross the street. Though his invention was later superseded by other designs, Morgan’s contribution to traffic safety was a significant advancement.

Despite facing racial prejudice, Morgan’s ingenuity and perseverance allowed him to make these crucial innovations, which continue to benefit society today.

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Johns Hopkins University
2800 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

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