We’re halfway through our theme week on 5 Fearless Females! Today’s fearless lady is Beulah Louise Henry, an inventor so prolific that she was nicknamed “Lady Edison”! She was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and was a creative and inquisitive child. She started drawing inventions at the age of 9, and by 25 she had her first patent. It was for an ice cream freezer.
Unlike many inventors at the time, Henry’s inventions weren’t always the same theme or category. Many of her ideas were products meant to simplify and improve the quality of life for women. Her inventions included a hair curler, vanity case, and a snap-on parasol, which allowed women to to change the pattern of their parasol to match their outfit.
One of her most famous inventions was the first bobbin-less sewing machine. This eliminated the cost and inconvenience of replacing bobbins, while creating a stronger stitch. It allowed seamstresses to take on larger loads and handle more jobs. It’s still in use today, mostly in factories.
By the time she passed away in 1973, she had more than 110 inventions to her name. During her career, only 2% of patents were registered by women. Henry was an incredibly impressive inventor and is still considered one of the most successful female inventors of all time. Learn more here.