5 Forgotten Female Inventors Throughout History

Throughout the years, women have been shown appreciation for their beauty, style, self-value, education, etc., but they’ve less often been shown appreciation—or recognition for that matter—for the contributions that they have made to the rapid development of the world. We all know that Garrett Morgan invented the traffic light, and it’s no secret that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, so why don’t we know about the creations that are results of women inventors this well?  Let’s take a look at some of the most unique female inventors and their grand inventions throughout history.

Eva Ekeblad: Discovered the ability to make alcohol from potatoes

Here’s a list of things that can be made from potatoes: fries, mashed potatoes and alcohol. Yes, alcohol. Swedish aristocrat and agronomist Eva Ekeblad developed methods for distilling alcohol from potatoes to create alcoholic beverages. This achievement earned the pioneer the honor of becoming the first woman to become a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1748. On behalf of everyone who has had a drink or plans on having one: thank you, Eva.

Margaret Knight: Inventor of the flat-bottomed paper bag

Born in York, Maine, Margaret Knight’s crafty skills earned her the opportunity of being widely recognized as the first female inventor in the late 19th century. Her first invention, a safety device for textile looms, cut, folded and glued shopping bags, making it unnecessary for workers to assemble them by hand. Her amazing contribution earned her a patent in 1871 and the nickname “the lady Edison”.

Mary Anderson: Inventor of windshield wipers

Imagine driving in pouring rain with no windshield wipers to push the water off of your windshield. This is what life was like for automobile drivers before Mary Anderson gave them another option. In 1922, Cadillac became the first manufacturer to include Anderson’s invention, the windshield wiper, on its vehicles. Shortly after, the wipers became standard equipment for all vehicles. So, the next time you’re driving during s rainstorm, yet are still able to see where you are going, take a brief moment to appreciate the efforts of Mary Anderson.

Grace Hopper: Helped invent the modern computer

If you’ve ever used a computer to type a paper, conduct research, or even make a Skype call, you have Grace Hopper to thank. This admirable female scholar and Yale University graduate helped develop the first commercial electronic computer in 1949 and naval applications for COBOL (common-business-oriented language). One of Hopper’s famous quotes, “You don’t manage people; you manage things. You lead people,” is just another example of the courage and leader-like characteristics that she possessed and that make her such a great example for women today.

Marie Van Brittan Brown: Inventor of the home security system

Because of our tendency to be viewed as vulnerable, many women feel the need to protect themselves during odd hours of the day and night. When this problem presented itself to her during the 1900’s, Marie Van Brittan Brown realized that she needed to be able to see what was going on outside of her home—without having to open the door. Her concern for her safety inspired her to create a system of four peep holes and a movable camera that connected wirelessly to a monitor in her bedroom. This contraption included a two-way microphone that allowed her to communicate with anyone who was outside of her home, and buttons could sound an alarm to unlock the door. After receiving a patent for this invention in 1969, Brown received an award from the National Science Committee for her honorable creation.