Published on: 02/01/2023 10:10 AM
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Found on Baker’s list: Henry Baker and George Washington Murray
 In 1894, U.S. Representative George Washington Murray read a list of African American patent holders into the Congressional Record. Murray himself was on the list, which was compiled by patent examiner and civil rights activist Henry Baker. Their lives, connected by the list, tell a story of public service, activism through invention, and how innovative minds can build a better and more just world.
Read the story now .
Each month, our Journeys of Innovation series tells the stories of inventors or entrepreneurs who have made a positive difference in the world. This month’s story, which marks the 50th original Journeys of Innovation, is dedicated to the work of civil rights activist and patent examiner Henry Baker and the Black inventors whose work he chronicled throughout his life.
On February 24, as part of our Black Innovation & Entrepreneurship series, we will be honoring Henry Baker and the inventors on his list with the premiere of America’s Ingenuity, a documentary short focusing on the story of Richard F. America, one of the youngest inventors on Baker’s list who held three patents. The documentary, created in partnership with the National Inventors Hall of Fame, features an interview with his son, the only known living child of an inventor on Baker’s list.
Do you know of an inventor who should be included on Baker’s list, or want to collaborate with us on getting the word out? Email historian@USPTO.gov for more information.
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