African-American Pioneers in the Printing Industry

Credit from www.history.com and www.medium.com

George Washington Carver invented printer’s ink. Which was made with legumes to make them more advantageous. In other cases they were made with cowpeas, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and peanuts. Carver became the most notorious naturalist of his time.

Today, printer ink is mainly made of linseed or soybean oil as a stabilizer to blend pigments. This kind of ink evaporates when it dries.

Credit from www.medium.com

William Lavalette made improvements and arrangements of parts to the printing press. He was awarded the patent number, 208184, for his advancements. He was living in Northeast Washington when he received this patents.

Credit from www.allenpress.com

Rev. Peter Williams, Jr. and William Hamilton co-founded the first African American newspaper, The Freedom’s Journal, which was printed in March 1827. The goal for this newspaper was to inform and encounter unfavorable beliefs of African-Americans. The Freedom’s Journal employed the first two African American newspaper editors, Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm. 

The newspaper featured:

Available resources

If you’re interested in learning more about Black inventors, designers and engineers, or if you’re interested in grants for aspiring inventors, you may want to check out the following resources:

• The Black Inventor On-Line Museum: This online museum highlights male and female African American innovators that often go without recognition and representation.
• The Smithsonian: National Museum of African American History and Culture: This Washington, D.C. museum highlights the African American experience and how it has helped shape the United States.
• BestColleges: BestColleges lists contain tips for finding scholarships as an African American student.
• Scholarships from the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME): NACME offers more than $3 million in scholarships every year to minority students studying engineering and computer sciences.
• Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Grant Program (WAMS): This government grant program is designed to increase participation in STEM by historically underrepresented minorities.