Meet the 2026 Inductees

The age old expression "the real McCoy" is attributed to this brilliant Canadian born African American  inventor whose automatic  lubricating  cup for locomotives  became synonymous with originality and authenticity.

Because of his color and a lack of capital, his name seldom appeared on any of his invention.  The patent rights were  often sold to his employers  and many  others would copy his invention but none would ever measure up to  "The real McCoy"

McCoy was nominated into the National Hall of Fame in 2018.  Perhaps McCoy's most important contribution was the influence that he had on many black entrepreneurs that followed him, particularly in the role of manufacturing.   

In 1920, toward the end of his life, McCoy formed the Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company to produce lubricators bearing his name.  McCoy amassed over 60 patents

The first African American known to apply for and be denied a patent because he was born a slave and slaves could not own property including patents.  So unjust was the stance on non slave ownership that even Montgomery's slave master could not be granted the patent rights because it would require Montgomery's name  to be placed on the patent.  Although there were Blacks at the time who managed to patent their inventions like Thomas L. Jennings of New York in 1821, the system wasn't always fair or equal. In some instances to avoid discrimination, Black inventors would use white people as third parties as in the case of Montgomery.  However, the circumstances were a lot different and more difficult. Joseph Holt, head of the Patent Office at the time, felt that a free Black man who escaped to the North simply did not have the right to patent an invention. 

Montgomery patented a unique propeller for steam boats.

Having played second fiddle to the likes of Edison and Bell for far too long,  Latimer's art and genius left an indelible mark on both the  present day light bulb and the telephone.  Latimer worked in the labs of both Edison and Bell and it is his invention and application of the  of the carbon filament that led to the extended life of bulbs as we know them today.  Many believe that Bell would not been able to secure his telephone  patent ahead of his competitor if not for the remarkable speed and efficiency demonstrated by a young Latimer who was tasked with having to do all of the patent drawings for the phone.  As for Edison, Latimer  was also the only African American member of the twenty four engineers in the engineering division of the Edison Company. In 1890, Latimer published a book entitled “Incandescent Electric Lighting." 

Sarah E. Goode was born with an entrepreneurial spirit and she demonstrated that spirit during a time when it was not fashionable for women to be heard from. Goode invented a folding cabinet bed which helped people who lived in tight housing to utilize their space efficiently.  At the time of her invention, housing in New York City was expanding upwards, but became restricted in 1885 when New York City passed a law that restricted buildings to be under 80 feet . The first African American woman to be officially awarded a patent 

Carver is a household name in many communities and classrooms across the country.  Yet even today there remains a common misconception - no he did not invent peanut butter - and a lack of credit when it comes to recognizing his important role in advancing agriculture.   Carver is for ever slighted because of the three patents that he acquired, non are directly attributed to making tons of money.   This prolific  scientist and inventor promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion. Thus revolutionizing a worldwide industry. He was the most prominent black scientist of the early 20th century.   Carver provides the best example of a forgotten genius when Time Magazine all but failed to acknowledge Carver in its' 2018 special feature article citing 100 Most Important American Inventors.  A simple check of their archives department would have reminded the magazine that in 1941 they referred to Carver as the Black Leonardo and considered him one of the top agricultural scientist in the world at the time.