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Year:1858
Who: William Deitz
Where: Albany, NY
What: In the 1858 Convention of the Colored Citizens of Massachusetts, a resolution references William Dietz, a Black inventor from Albany, New York, credited with developing a new type of railway system that operated on steam power and did not require horses. This innovation, which sought to economize space and revolutionize transportation, is mentioned alongside other notable Black inventors. However, despite this documentation, there is no additional historical evidence or records corroborating William Dietz's invention or further details about his life and work.
This lack of information raises the possibility that William Dietz may be yet another lost Black innovator whose contributions have been overlooked or erased from history. The absence of detailed records on his life and invention highlights the challenges Black inventors faced during the 19th century, where their achievements were often marginalized or unrecognized. Further research may uncover more about Dietz and his impact, but for now, he remains an enigmatic figure in the history of Black innovation.
Sources:
Websites:
Colored Conventions Project. (n.d.). Henry Boyd - Colored Conventions Project. https://omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/264
MIT Press. (n.d.). 300 Years of African American Invention and Innovation. https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/300-years-of-african-american-invention-and-innovation/#easy-footnote-21-7368
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