BHS Day 12: Frederick McKinley Jones

Hi! Today I wanted to focus on someone who has a little of all three of this Spotlight's categories but his best known profession is inventor, and I love talking about Black inventors. Inventors in general are a favorite topic of mine because especially in the case of everyday items, it's hard to picture life without them. So thinking back to times when it was commonplace not to have them, I love seeing the initial effect that these inventions had on society. Everything in our world, apart from nature, started with an idea and it's always fun for me to learn about the people who had such ideas. Let's get started!

Name: Frederick McKinley Jones, 1893--1961

Profession: Inventor, engineer, electrician, entrepreneur

Why is the Spotlight on him today? For his innovative mind and his contributions to the food, electronics and technology industries

Notables and accomplishments:
--Developed a patent for automatic refrigeration, which opened the door for safe blood and food transportation by the military, trains and long-distance trucks
--Because of the refrigeration improvement, helped give birth to the frozen food industry
--Was behind the creation of the US Thermo Control Company, which was a partnership between he and another inventor, Joseph Numero
--Throughout the course of his life, applied for and received over 60 patents
--Developed an air conditioning unit for military hospitals and a refrigerator for military kitchens; modified versions of these devices are still in operation today
--Used to be one of the most well known racers in the Great Lakes region due to his mechanic skill with building and racing exhibition cars
--While serving in the Army during World War I, was able to rewire his camp for electricity, telegraph and telephone service
--Helped advance production techniques for the film industry due to his improvements on combining moving pictures with sound, which is what led to his partnership with Numero
--Was the first African-American inventor to be awarded the National Medal in Technology for his inventions and improvements in different industries
--Developed what was probably the first portable x-ray machine for hospitals, but didn't apply for the patent
--Created a machine to dispense tickets and give change for movie theaters and sold the patent to RCA
--Was the first African-American elected to the American Society of Refrigeration Engineers
--Was inducted into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame
--Developed a self-starting gasoline motor
--Was a consultant for the US Department of Defense and Bureau of Standards

Research resources and further reading links: BlackPast | Biography | Minnesota History Center | Black Inventor | AA Registry

Quote of the Day:
"I remember being in a history lesson and saying to my teacher, 'How come you never talk about Black inventors or scientists?' And she looked at me and said, 'Because there aren't any.' "
--Malorie Blackman, author