Lyda D. Newman facts for kids

Lyda D. Newman (born around 1885 – date of death unknown) was an amazing African-American inventor. She also worked hard as an activist for women's suffrage, which means she fought for women's right to vote. Lyda Newman is famous for inventing a strong hairbrush that had synthetic bristles, not animal hair.

Early Life and Work

Lyda Newman was born around 1885 in Ohio. We don't know her exact birth or death dates.

She spent most of her life living and working in Manhattan, New York City. She lived in a neighborhood called San Juan Hill. Records show she was likely of mixed heritage.

Throughout her life, Lyda worked with hair. She was often listed as a "hair specialist" or "hairdresser" in New York City records.

She also worked in Newport, Rhode Island, during the summer. In 1903, a newspaper ad showed she was a "Hair and Scalp Specialist." She offered treatments and shampooing.

Her Famous Hairbrush Invention

In the late 1800s, Lyda Newman invented a special hairbrush. Most brushes at that time used animal hair. But Lyda's brush used synthetic bristles, which made it much stronger.

Her brush was also easy to clean. It had a part at the bottom that could be taken out. This made it simple to remove dirt and hair.

She filed for a patent for her brush on July 11, 1898. She received the patent, U.S. Patent 614,335 , on November 15, 1898. Her patent described the brush as "simple and durable" and "very effective."

Lyda's invention changed hair care. Her design made hairbrushes cheaper and easier to make. They also worked well on all hair types, especially textured hair. Modern hairbrushes still use many of her ideas!

Before her brush patent, Lyda also had a trademark. In 1894, she got a trademark for "VIDACABELLO." This was the name for her hair and scalp preparation.

Fighting for Women's Rights

Besides being an inventor, Lyda Newman was a very active community member. She was a strong supporter of women's suffrage in the early 1900s. This movement worked to give women the right to vote.

As a suffragist, she spent time going door-to-door in New York City. She also held street meetings to teach people about women's voting rights.

Lyda helped the Woman Suffrage Party. She even started the Negro Suffrage Headquarters in Manhattan. This office focused on getting African-American women involved in the movement.

In 1915, New York Times wrote about her work. They noted that Lyda was doing "excellent work for suffrage among her own people."

The newspaper also reported on a big outdoor meeting she organized. She even arranged for a street to be closed. This way, mothers could attend meetings and watch their children play safely outside.

In 1924, seven years after women won the right to vote, Lyda Newman was listed as a registered voter in New York City. This showed her dedication to the cause.

Lyda Newman's exact date of death is not known. However, her memory lives on through her amazing invention and her important work for women's rights.

Gallery

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  The hairbrush invented by Lyda Newman, 1898