Between 1863 and 1913, approximately 1,200 inventions were
patented by minority inventors. Many more were unidentified
because they hid their race to avoid discrimination or sold
their inventions to others. The following stories are about a
few of the great minority inventors. Elijah McCoy earned about
50 patents, however, his most famous one was for a metal or
glass cup that fed oil to bearings through a small-bore tube.
Elijah McCoy was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1843, the son of
slaves who had fled Kentucky. He died in Michigan in 1929. More
about Elijah McCoy Benjamin Banneker created the first striking
clock made of wood in America. He became known as the "Afro-
American Astronomer." He published an almanac and with his
knowledge of mathematics and astronomy, he assisted in the
surveying and planning of the new city of Washington, D.C. More
about Benjamin Banneker Granville Woods had more than 60
patents. Known as the "Black Edison," he improved Bell's
telegraph and created an electrical motor that made