Sarah E. Goode facts for kids

Sarah Elisabeth Goode (born in 1855 – died April 8, 1905) was an American businesswoman and inventor. She was one of the first African American women to receive a United States patent. She earned this patent in 1885 for her clever cabinet bed invention.

About Sarah E. Goode

This is the patent drawing for Sarah E. Goode's folding bed cabinet.

Sarah Elisabeth Jacobs was born in 1855 in Toledo, Ohio. Her parents were Oliver and Harriet Jacobs. When Sarah was young, her father worked as a waiter. Her mother took care of their home. Harriet also helped people seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad in Toledo.

Not much is known about Sarah's early life. Before 1870, her family moved to Chicago, Illinois. There, her father became a carpenter. Sarah married Archibald Goode and they had several daughters. Archibald worked as a stair builder and an upholsterer. Together, Sarah and Archibald opened their own furniture store.

Her Amazing Invention

Location of Sarah's furniture store in 1885.

In 1885, Sarah and her husband ran their furniture store in Chicago. Many of their customers were working-class people. They often lived in small apartments that didn't have much space for furniture. Sarah heard about this problem from her customers. She wanted to help people in Chicago with limited living space.

Sarah invented a special folding bed. It was a cabinet bed that could fold up into a roll-top desk. This desk even had compartments for writing supplies! Her invention was a clever way to save space. It was also a very early version of what we now call a Murphy bed. Sarah's goal was to make the bed easy to lift and hold in place. She also wanted it to be strong when unfolded.

In 1885, Sarah E. Goode received a patent for her folding bed. This made her one of the first African American women to ever get a US patent. She sent her invention paperwork in 1883. It took about twenty months of waiting and making adjustments before her patent was finally approved.

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  This diagram shows how Sarah Goode's cabinet bed folds up to create more space in a room.

Pioneering African American Women Inventors

Sarah E. Goode was the fourth African American woman known to have received a US patent. Before her, Martha Jones of Virginia received a patent in 1868 for a corn-husker improvement. Mary Jones De Leon of Maryland patented a cooking device in 1873. Judy W. Reed patented her dough roller in 1884, just one year before Sarah's cabinet bed.

At that time, the Patent Office did not ask people to state their race or gender on patent applications. They only needed to confirm that the inventor was an American citizen.

Challenges for Inventors in the Past

For many years, African Americans faced difficulties when trying to get patents. Before the Civil War, many African Americans were enslaved. Even if they invented something, they often couldn't own the patent or benefit from their ideas. Their owners would control everything.

A very important legal decision in 1857 made it harder for African Americans, whether they were free or enslaved, to be recognized as citizens. This meant they couldn't get patents for their inventions, among other rights. After the American Civil War ended, laws changed. African Americans were finally recognized as citizens and gained equal rights, which meant they could apply for and secure patents for their inventions.

Women also faced challenges in the patent process. While federal law allowed "persons" to seek patents, many states had laws that limited women's property rights. This made it harder for women to own patents. These limitations started to decrease in the mid-1800s. However, it was still harder for women to get advanced education in science and technology. Getting financial help and advice for inventions was also more difficult for women compared to men.

Sarah's Later Life and Recognition

This exhibit, organized by W. E. B. Du Bois, featured Sarah's patent and other African American inventors.

It's not clear if Sarah worked on more inventions after her folding bed. However, her husband Archie invented an automatic garbage box. This invention was praised by the Chicago Civic Federation in 1895.

In 1900, the Paris Exposition featured a special section. It was called The Exhibit of American Negroes. This exhibit showcased the achievements of African Americans. Sarah E. Goode was one of four women highlighted in this display of African American inventors.

Her Lasting Legacy

Sarah Goode passed away in Chicago on April 18, 1905. She is buried at Graceland Cemetery in the city.

In 2012, a school was opened in south Chicago to honor her contributions. It is called the Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy. This school focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It helps prepare students for future careers in these important fields. The academy is part of the Chicago Public Schools Urban Model High School program.

The Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy is also a P-TECH school. P-TECH programs connect students to job opportunities in growing fields. They also offer students the chance to take college courses while still in high school. This allows them to earn credits for both high school and college at the same time.

See also

In Spanish: Sarah E. Goode para niños