Beatrice Kenner
By Tiffany Howell Links by Michaela Murray
Beatrice Kenner was sick and tired of her bedroom door screeching every time someone came in or out of her room. The noise bothered her ears so much, that she decided that she was going to put a stop to it. She realized that the sound was coming from two unlubricated metal pieces rubbing against each other. So, she came up with the idea that if a small cup filled with oil was fixed above the hinge and the oil dripped onto the metal, the hinges would stop making noise. She invented the first self- oiling hinge at the age of six years old. It was from then on that she realized that she had a talent for inventing things. Unfortunately not everyone agreed. She sent in many patents letters, but because of prejudice she had a hard time receiving patents for her ideas. She finally received her first patent in 1956. This was the beginning of a long career of inventing items that we still use today, such as toilet paper holders, curling irons, and an attachment to carry items on a walker. Beatrice had a sister who was as inventive as she. Mildred received her first patent later in life. She invented a game that encourages people to study their family tree. She received a patent for the game in 1980. Mildred died in 1993, but the gift to invent survived in Beatrice, who is still thinking of ways to make the world better.
Elijah McCoy made an automatic oil cup that was used for trains and heavy machinery. This is similar to the invention made by Beatrice Kenner.
Another African American inventor is George Washington Carver. To find out about a resource on young women inventors, look at this web site. There is also a web site that shows African American women inventors.
Outline
Beatrice Kenner
I. Act out the first part of the story.
A. Pretend that screechy door hurts ears.
B. Look for the problem.
C. Fix problem with cup of imaginary oil.
II. Continue with rest of the story, by displaying props.
A. Show toilet paper holder (when it comes up in the story).
B. Show curling iron.
C. Show walker with carrier.
III. Conclude story
IV. Materials
A. plastic cup
B. toilet paper holder
C. curling iron
D. walker and carrier.
Sources
"The Real McCoy: African-American Invention, and 1619-1930. By Portia P. James (Washington, D.C.: Simthsonian Institution, 1989). Tells the story of more than four hundred years of African American invention. (Grade 5 and up.)
"Women Inventors" Cobblestone Magazine, June 1994
Extension Activities:
- Have students make their own inventions and present them to the class. Have them explain its use and why they felt it necessary to make.
- Have students do a report on another famous inventor, whether from the past or the present.