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BKFK Home Page | BKFK Kids | Inventors | Morgan, Garrett
Garrett Augustus Morgan
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- Garrett A. Morgan was born in Paris, Kentucky on March 4,
1877. Like many African-Americans youth of his day, Morgan had
to leave school at a young age to work. However the teenaged
Morgan hired his own tutor, and continued studying while working
as a sewing machine repairman.
- In 1907, Morgan opened his own sewing machine repair and
tailoring shop which employed 32 people. This was the first of
many successful businesses. He also established a newspaper, The
Cleveland Call, in 1920. Morgan became a wealthy and respected
business man. He is reported to have been the first African
American to own an automobile. It was Morgan's experience while
driving along the streets of Cleveland that led to his invention
of a new type of traffic signal.
- In 1912, Morgan invented the safety hood and smoke
protector. His invention became known nationally when he used it
to save 32 men stuck in a cave collapse near Lake Erie. Fire
Departments around the country wanted the gas masks. The
invention won gold medals from the International Association of
Fire Chiefs and the International Exposition of Sanitation and
Safety. When the U.S. entered World War I the Morgan gas mask
was used to equip American troops.
- Learn about more
African American inventors here.
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