Steven Mitchell

Meet Lewis Howard Latimer, an African American innovator whose significant contributions have been overlooked by history. Let me share his remarkable journey with you. Latimer's parents had escaped slavery in Virginia and found refuge in Massachusetts. Despite lacking access to formal education, Latimer enlisted in the Union Navy during the Civil War. Following an honorable discharge, he embarked on a career at a patent law office, where he independently learned mechanical drawing and quickly ascended to the role of draftsman. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell enlisted Latimer to draft the patent application for his telephone invention, a task Latimer completed with unwavering dedication. His submission, made on February 14, 1876, occurred just hours before a competing submission from Elisha Gray. In 1880, Latimer joined the U.S. Electric Lighting Company, owned by British inventor Hiram Maxim, a chief rival to Thomas Edison. Here, Latimer significantly enhanced Edison's incandescent electric light bulb by creating one with a durable carbon filament. His invention paved the way for the widespread use of electric lighting in both public and domestic spaces. This was a remarkable advancement, as Edison's original light bulb, created in 1879, cost $40,000 (equivalent to over a million dollars today) and only burned for 14.5 hours. Latimer's expertise earned him a position with Edison in 1884, where he filed patents and served as an expert witness in Edison's legal battles against competitors. Latimer's inventive spirit didn't stop there. He designed an early prototype of an air conditioner, an "apparatus for cooling and disinfecting." Additionally, he contributed to safer elevator designs and co-invented specialized train toilets. Beyond his technical achievements, Latimer found time to teach English and drafting to immigrants and was an early advocate for civil rights. He passed away on December 11, 1928. Today, Latimer's former residence serves as a museum, located at 34-41 137th St, Flushing, NY 11354, where you can learn more about his incredible legacy.