Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Question: Who was the first black woman to receive a U.S. patent?

Answer: Martha Jones of Amelia County, when it was issued on this day in 1868. She was awarded Patent No. 77,494 for the “Improvement to the Corn Husker, Sheller.” Her device pulled the corn husk off and cut it into strips while stripping the kernels from the cob.