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Year:1885​
Who: Sarah E. Goode
Where: Chicago, IL​
What: Sarah Elisabeth Goode, born in 1855 (approx.) in Toledo, Ohio, holds the distinction of being the first Black woman to receive a U.S. patent. Born into slavery, Goode gained her freedom after the Civil War and eventually moved to Chicago, where she married Archibald Goode, a carpenter. Together, they owned and operated a furniture store, serving primarily working-class customers who lived in small apartments with limited space.
Goode's groundbreaking invention, patented on July 14, 1885 (Patent #322,177), was a folding cabinet bed. This innovative design allowed for a bed to be folded into a cabinet or roll-top desk, providing much-needed storage and space-saving functionality. The invention addressed a critical need for people living in tight quarters, giving them a way to efficiently utilize their space. The cabinet bed functioned as a fully operational desk during the day, complete with compartments for writing supplies, and could easily be converted into a bed at night.
Goode's invention paved the way for modern space-saving furniture, such as the Murphy bed, and became a practical solution for urban living during the late 19th century. Her patent represented a major milestone, not only for Black Americans but also for women in innovation. She opened doors for future Black women to contribute to the fields of science, technology, and invention.
Although much of Goode's personal life remains obscure, her legacy lives on. In 2012, the Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy, a science and math-focused high school in Chicago, was opened in her honor, underscoring her lasting impact on education and innovation. Sarah Goode died on April 8, 1905, and is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.
Sources:
Websites:
Black Inventors Hall of Fame. (n.d.). Charter Inductees: Sarah E. Goode. https://bihof.org/charter-inductees-1
Google Patents. (n.d.). Patent US322177A - Cabinet Bed by Sarah E. Goode. https://patents.google.com/patent/US322177A/en
University of Chicago Library. (n.d.). Women Who Made Legal History: Sarah E. Goode. https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/about/news/women-who-made-legal-history-sarah-e-goode/
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