Alabama has been home to some of the greatest inventors whose influence has spanned from the state to reach international impact. Many Alabama inventors, such as Dr. George Washington Carver, Lonnie Johnson, and Jimmy "Jimbo" Wales, have become household names that are still recognized today. There are other inventors from the state whose names may not be easily recognized, but their creations have significantly improved the plight of humankind. Thus, it is vital to highlight the significant contributions of natives and citizens from the state of Alabama, the inventions they created, and the effect these inventions have had on our society.
Dr. George Washington Carver was born in Diamond Grove, Missouri; however, he spent most of his life in Tuskegee, Alabama, as a professor at Tuskegee University. Dr. Carver created numerous inventions using peanuts, soybeans, pecans, and sweet potatoes. While he did not patent all his inventions, he attained a patent for a few. The three patents obtained under Carver Products Company included US patent no. 1522176, US patent no. 1632365, and US patent no. 1541478 (Goles, 2023). Today, implementing Dr. Carver's sustainable food and food waste management is vital. Another significant inventor during Dr. Carver's time was Miller Reese Hutchinson from Montrose, Alabama. Hutchinson was the inventor and electrical engineer known for creating the electrical hearing aid and a unique vehicle horn. Hutchinson was known as the right-hand man of Thomas Edison and his chief engineer (Kazak, 2020). Today, hearing aids are effective assistive devices for many groups of people, and the vehicle horn is a significant component of modern transportation. Interestingly, another major component of modern transportation was an invention by a woman from Greene County, Alabama, named Mary Anderson. After noticing a trolley car driver could not see past the falling sleet, Mary Anderson is responsible for inventing the windshield wiper.
The 20th century would produce other notable inventors from the state of Alabama. Some of these inventors included Robert Jemison Van de Graaf of Tuscaloosa, Waldo Semon of Demopolis, James W. Justus of Birmingham, and George F. Kirchoff of Birmingham. These inventors were responsible for discoveries in diverse fields that vastly improved efficiency. Some of these inventions included vinyl, open rescue vessels, and automobile airbags.
Today, the legacy of innovations in Alabama is going strong. Modern-day inventors from Alabama include
Jimmy "Jimbo" Wales of Huntsville and Lonnie Johnson of Mobile. In this revolutionized information age, the creation of Wikipedia by Jimmy "Jimbo" Wales was unique because it provided the public with a free online encyclopedia. This online encyclopedia, which is the result of diverse contributors, has been used by 4.4 billion people across the globe (Statista, 2024). Another popular invention an Alabamian created is the Super Soaker water gun by Tuskegee University alum Lonnie Johnson. This toy was placed in the market in 1991 and instantly became the number 1 selling toy (Prokes, 2018). This water gun and advanced versions of it are still available and popular in today's toy market. While he is most known for creating the Super Soaker water gun, engineer Lonnie Johnson has patented over 100 creations. These patented creations include diverse types of batteries, rocket launchers, hair tools, and more.
From the 19th century to the 21st century, Alabama has produced some of the most acclaimed creators globally. These diverse inventions have improved people's lives in many aspects. From improved vehicle conditions to increased information navigation and advanced recreation methods, the world has truly benefitted from the innovations of Alabamians. It will be exciting to see the future discoveries that arise from this impressive state.
Sources
Goles, K. (2023, February 14). Peanuts, Potatoes, Patents, and Plants – The Life and Times of George Washington Carver. https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2023/02/peanuts-potatoes-patents-and-plants-the-life-and-times-of-george-washington-carver/
Kazak, K. (2020, September 4). 11 ways Alabamians changed the world. https://www.al.com/living/2014/09/11_ways_alabamians_changed_the.html
Prokes, B. (2018, July 6). Former NASA engineer and inventor of Super Soaker speaks on power of perseverance. https://lonniejohnson.com/news/.
Statista. (2024). Total global visitor traffic to Wikipedia.org 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1259907/wikipedia-website-traffic/.
By: Constance M. Caddell, Ph.D.
Date: December 12, 2024