Bessie Blount Griffin facts for kids

Bessie Virginia Blount, also known as Bessie Blount Griffin, was an amazing American woman. Born in 1914, she became a nurse, a physical therapist, and a clever inventor. She also worked as a forensic scientist, helping police solve mysteries. Bessie Blount Griffin is best known for creating special devices that helped people who had lost the use of their limbs.

Early Life and Learning

Bessie Blount Griffin was born on November 24, 1914, in Hickory, Virginia. When she was a child, she went to Diggs Chapel Elementary School. This school was built for African American children after the Civil War. Bessie remembered that her school often didn't have new textbooks. They used books that white schools had finished with.

One day, her teacher disciplined her for writing with her left hand. Instead of giving up, Bessie saw this as a challenge! She decided to become ambidextrous, meaning she could use both hands equally well. She even taught herself to write by holding a pencil with her teeth and feet! This special skill helped her later in life.

After the sixth grade, Bessie had to stop school because there were no more classes for African American children in her area. Her family moved to New Jersey. There, Bessie kept learning on her own and earned her GED (a high school equivalency diploma). She then studied to become a nurse and later a physical therapist.

In 2008, Bessie visited her old school grounds in Hickory. She wanted to build a museum and library there to remember the students who had learned there. Sadly, she passed away the next year, and her project was not finished.

Helping Others as a Physical Therapist

After World War II, many soldiers came home with serious injuries. Some had lost their arms or legs. As a physical therapist, Bessie Blount Griffin helped these veterans. She used her own unique skills to teach them new ways to do everyday tasks. For example, she showed them how to use their teeth and feet.

Bessie noticed that one of the biggest challenges for these patients was eating by themselves. Being able to feed themselves would give them more independence and confidence. She realized there was a need for a special device to help them.

During her career, Bessie also worked closely with Theodore Edison, who was the son of the famous inventor Thomas Edison. They became good friends.

Clever Inventions

While working at a hospital in New York, Bessie invented an amazing electric self-feeding machine. This device had a tube that carried small bites of food to a patient's mouth. The patient would bite down on the tube, and the machine would then deliver the next portion of food.

The American Veterans Administration (VA) did not want to use Bessie's invention. So, in 1952, she gave the rights to her invention for free to the French government. She once said that her invention showed that "a colored woman can invent something for the benefit of humankind."

Bessie also invented a special neck frame. This frame could hold a bowl or cup close to a patient's face, making it easier for them to eat or drink. She received a patent for this in 1951.

Another one of her inventions was the emesis basin. This is a kidney-shaped disposable dish. It was made from flour, water, and newspaper, baked until it was hard. Hospitals use these basins for patients who are sick. Again, the U.S. showed no interest in her idea. So, Bessie sold the rights to a company in Belgium. Her design is still used in Belgian hospitals today!

Even though newer devices have been invented, Bessie Blount Griffin is remembered for being a pioneer. She created the very first electric device to help people with amputations feed themselves.

A Career in Forensic Science

In 1969, Bessie started a new career in law enforcement. She began researching forensic science for police departments. Forensic science uses scientific methods to solve crimes.

While working with patients, Bessie had noticed something interesting. She saw how a person's handwriting could show things about their health. This led her to write a paper about "medical graphology" (the study of handwriting).

Bessie was the first American woman to study at the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory in London, England. Her career in forensics grew quickly. She helped police departments in Virginia and New Jersey. Later, she became a chief examiner for the Portsmouth, Virginia, police department.

In 1977, the famous Scotland Yard police laboratory invited Bessie back to London for more advanced studies. When she returned, Bessie started her own business. She used her forensic skills to examine old documents, like slave papers from before the civil war. She also checked if Native American treaties with the United States were real. Bessie continued this work until she was 83 years old.

Media Appearances and Recognition

Bessie tried many times to get the U.S. Veterans Administration interested in her inventions. Even though her devices clearly helped people, they kept saying no. To show her inventions to more people, she appeared on a Philadelphia TV show called The Big Idea in 1953. Bessie Blount Griffin was the first African-American woman to be on that show. She proudly stated that she had proved "A black woman can invent something for the benefit of humankind."

Bessie also wrote a column for African-American newspapers.

Honors and Awards

Bessie Blount Griffin received several honors for her important work:

• In 1992, she was honored by The American Academy of Physical Therapy.
• In 2005, she was recognized by Virginia Women in History.

Personal Life

In 1951, Bessie married Thomas Griffin. They had one son named Philip.

Death

Bessie Blount Griffin passed away at her home in New Jersey on December 30, 2009. She was 95 years old. Her life showed how one person's cleverness and kindness can make a big difference in the world.

Images for kids

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  A robot, symbolizing invention and assistance.