06/19/2026
Today is the 160th Juneteenth Celebration.
Today is also the 5th year Juneteenth is celebrated as a federal holiday. Though actions have been made within those five years to strip federal internal observation and national park perks, Juneteenth does remain a federal holiday.
This is the fourth and final post of a series of four posts I am creating to commemorate the inventors who caused this world to progress through their resilience and wit. Chances are you've never been taught about these pillars of our society, so I've taken the opportunity to bring the knowledge to you. If it wasn't for emancipation and the travels of Union Major General Gordon Granger to force Galveston, Texas to free their slaves TWO YEARS and five months after the Emancipation Proclamation then we would be without all of these inventions. Take a proper gander and see if there's anything you or others still use today 🙂
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This post will focus on Household and Daily Conveniences
Make sure you see the other 3 posts as well. 🙏🏾✨️
The Modern Dustpan:
Lloyd P. Ray (1897)
Patented a metal collection pan equipped with a raised foot press so users didn't have to bend down.
The Clamping Mechanical Mop:
Thomas W. Stewart (1893)
Invented a cloth mop featuring a lever mechanism to easily wring out dirty water without touching the cloth.
The Modern Door K**b and Latch:
Osbourn Dorsey (1878)
Patented the first internal doorholding mechanism featuring a turnable k**b and a spring-loaded latch and doorstopper both at 16 years old.
The Street Post Letter Box:
Philip B. Downing (1891)
Designed the secure, weather-resistant street mailbox with a hinged outer drop door to prevent mail theft.
The Improved Pencil Sharpener:
John Lee Love (1897)
Patented the "Love Sharpener," a compact, portable desk device that collected wood shavings inside a small compartment.
The Biscuit Cutter:
Alexander P. Ashbourne (1875)
Invented a spring-loaded, multi-mold rolling board that cleanly cut dough into perfectly uniform shapes simultaneously.
The Large-Scale Folding Kitchen Table:
H.A. Jackson (1913)
Patented a wall-anchored, collapsible table design to optimize tight living spaces.
The Lemon Squeezer:
J. Thomas White (1896)
Designed a handheld levered squeezer mechanism with an inner cup that strained out seeds automatically.
The Improved Gas Stove:
T.A. Carrington (1876)
Invented a multi-surface domestic cooking range designed to heat food evenly using gas lines.
The Combined Lunch Pail:
James Robinson (1887)
Patented a multi-tiered, heavy-duty lunch container designed to keep distinct foods separated for workers.
The Permanent Hair Waving Machine:
Marjorie Stewart Joyner (1928)
Invented a dome-shaped, multi-rod electrical device that could safely lock curls into hair for days.
The Folding Theater Chair:
Nathaniel Alexander (1911)
Created a compact, stackable folding chair meant to maximize aisle space in schools, churches, and theaters.
The Pastry Dough Rolling Pin:
John W. Reed (1864)
Redesigned the kitchen rolling pin with independent rotating center barrels and stationary handles.
The Commercial Paint Roller:
Richard Spikes (1940s)
Created an automated, multi-feed paint distribution roll design to quickly cover walls.
The Hot Straightening Comb:
Madam C.J. Walker (1905)
Widely popularized and customized an electrified metal styling comb that straightened textured hair.
The Automatic Coin Changer:
William B. Purvis (1889)
Invented a pocket-sized, spring-loaded tube dispenser meant to quickly return exact coin change to consumers.
The Improved Ironing Board:
Sarah Boone (1892)
Redesigned the board with a narrow, curved shape to easily iron sleeves and women's garments.
Dry Scouring (Dry Cleaning):
Thomas L. Jennings (1821)
Invented the precursor to modern dry cleaning, and was the first African American to receive a U.S. patent.
The Shoe Lasting Machine:
Jan Ernst Matzeliger (1883)
Automated the process of shaping shoes, reducing the cost of footwear worldwide by half.
The Super Soaker:
Lonnie Johnson (1989)
A NASA aerospace engineer who invented the world's most famous high-pressure water gun.
