Jo Ann A. Mathews's Blog, page 3

Women and Adversity: Lorraine Hansberry, Lesbian, Playwright, Civil Rights Activist

Women and Adversity:
Lorraine Hansberry
 Lesbian, Playwright,
Civil Rights Activist

Lorraine Hansberry Speaking to an audience

 In December I always repeat a post I think people will appreciate reading about again. Since I’m from the Chicago area–specifically Joliet, Illinois–I like to recognize my home state. For Pride Month I featured Chicagoan, playwright and civil rights activist Lorraine Hansberry.

Her most popular play is 1959’s A Raisin in the Sun,  about racial discrimination against African Americans in Chicago. She garnered several firsts with the play:

First Black woman to have a Broadway show producedFirst Black playwright to receive the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American PlayYoungest American to receive the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American PlayFirst Black American to win the Drama Desk Award

Hansberry spoke out about racial discrimination and associated with Malcolm X, Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois and others. In 1953 she married writer-activist Robert Nemiroff, who was Jewish. The couple separated in 1957 and divorced in 1962, although they remained friends. After she moved to Waverly Place in Manhattan, she began a relationship with Dorothy Secules, a white woman who lived in the building. Hansberry didn’t officially declare she was a lesbian, but she was known to have had several relationships, although she remained with Secules to her death. In 2014 her estate revealed diaries in which she revealed she was a lesbian.

Bio:

          1930  – Born May 19 in Chicago, the youngest of four children. Her father was a real estate broker, and her
                        mother was a teacher.
          1938  – Her family moved to a white neighborhood. Neighbors protested, some violently.
          1940  – The Supreme Court ruled the Hansberry family could stay in the white neighborhood
          1948-50 – Attended University of Wisconsin in Madison
          1950-53  –  Moved to New York and was a writer and editor for the Black newspaper Freedom
          1953-56 –  Waitress and cashier and spent time writing
          1957 –  Contributed letters as L.H. to The Ladder about feminism and homophobia, exposing her lesbianism
          1960 –  Bought a building on Waverly Place in Manhattan with the proceeds from A Raisin in the Sun
          1963 –  Active in the civil rights movement            

          Hansberry died of pancreatic cancer January 12, 1965 at the age of 34.

More Information:
www.gordonparksfoundation.org/education/features/a-raisin-in-the-sun
makinggayhistory.org/podcast/lorraine-hansberry
www.chipublib.org/lorraine-hansberry-biography

My ebooks are available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com:
Honoring 23 Black Women, Recognizing 23 Notable Mothers, Saluting 23 Faithful Suffragists

 

 

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Women and Adversity: Marlena Fejzo, Ph.D., Geneticist, One of Time’s 2024 Women of the Year

Marlena Fejzo, Geneticist (fw24-science-summit-ls-marlena-fejzo.jpg)

Women and Adversity
Marlena Fejzo, Ph.D.
Geneticist
One of Time’s 2024
Women of the Year

 

Pregnant women can thank Marlena Fejzo (Fay⸍zō), Ph.D. for connecting their extreme nausea and vomiting to genetics. Time magazine recognized her achievement and named Fejzo one of its 2024 Women of the Year. Forbes magazine named her in its 50 Over 50 list of high-achieving women.

Fejzo had experienced extreme vomiting and nausea for weeks during her first pregnancy, but it wasn’t until her second she was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum—HG—a condition that confirms this condition during pregnancy and affects 1-3% of pregnancies. She lost weight, had a feeding tube and was bedridden and ultimately lost the fetus. Her doctor dismissed her illness saying she wanted sympathy, but Fejzo knew that wasn’t so. “There was something biological going on,” she says.

In 2018 she published a paper in Nature Communications which suggested the genetic connection, and in 2023 her paper in Nature showed that a hormone produced by the fetus and the mother’s sensitivity to it triggers nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Bio:

1968 – born Marlena Schoenberg on February 20 in Santa Monica, California1989 –  degree in applied math from Brown University, Providence, RI1995 –  Ph.D. in genetics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA1999 –  diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, HG, severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, lost the fetus

Career:

2000-2020 – research ovarian cancer in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the laboratory of Dennis J. SlamonAlso did research at University of California, San FranciscoAlso at this time did research on HGNow is on research faculty at the University of Southern California, Keck School of MedicineHER Foundation, research directorFebruary 21, 2024 – Chief scientific officer of Harmonia Healthcare

Personal life:

a sontwin daughters born with a surrogateinformation about her husband isn’t publicgranddaughter of Austrian composers Arnold Schoenberg and Eric Zeislthe great-granddaughter of Austrian physician and endocrinologist Rudolf Rafael Kolisch

Further information:

www.hyperemesis.org 
keck.usc.edu/news/usc-geneticist-marlena-fejzo
www.nytimes.com/2023/03/14/well/marlena-fejzo-hyperemesis-gravidarum.html
time.com/collection/women-of-the-year/6691524/marlena-fejzo

 My ebooks available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com:
Honoring 23 Black Women, Recognizing 23 Notable Mothers, Saluting 23 Faithful Suffragists

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Women and Adversity: Janet Murguía One of Forbes 50 Over 50 President and CEO of UnidosUS

Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS (at the Alma Awards 2012 www.hispaniclifestyle.com)

Janet Murguía
President and CEO UnidosUS

Janet Murguía became president and CEO of UnidosUS, formerly the National Council of La Raza, on January 1, 2005. It is the largest civil rights advocacy organization for the Latin community. She testifies before Congress about issues that affect Latinos. This can include educational and healthcare issues, immigration reform and the economy.

She grew up in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas. Her father worked at the steel plant, and her mother stayed home with their seven children. Murguía says her parents instilled in the children the belief they could achieve anything they set their hearts to. Four of the children are lawyers, including Janet. Murguía worked in President Clinton’s administration and was proud to usher her parents to the Oval Office to meet the president.

A definitive advocate to promote Latino issues and strengthen the Latino voice, she is on several boards and has received numerous awards. Including:

One of  Forbes 50 Over 50In 2022 one of USA Today‘s Women of the Year, which recognizes women who have made a significant impact.One of  Washingtonian magazine’s “Washington’s 100 Most Powerful Women”People en Español’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics”One of Hispanic Business magazine’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics”

Bio: 

Born –  September 6, 1960 in Kansas City, KansasTwin sister, Mary Murguía1982 – bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish, University of Kansas at Lawrence1985 – doctorate in law, school of Law, University of Kansas2011 – honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from California State University Dominguez Hills

Career:

Began her career as legislative counsel to former Kansas Congressman Jim Slattery1994-2000 – at the White House, ultimately serving as deputy assistant to President Clinton2000 – Deputy campaign manager and director  of constituency outreach for Al Gore’s
Presidential campaign2001 – Executive Vice Chancellor for University Relations at University of Kansas2005-present  –  President and CEO of UnidosUS, formerly La Raza

Personal life:

Married to Mauro Morales, staff director of the U.S. Commission on Civil RightsNo information about children the couple may have

Further information:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoXZbTtPRJk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWiMRoOElrw
https://nul.org/basic-page/janet-murguia

  My ebooks available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com:
Honoring 23 Black Women, Recognizing 23 Notable Mothers

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Jacqueline “Jacqui” Patterson: A 2024 Time Woman of the Year; Received Time 2024 Earth Award

Jacqueline”Jacqui” Patterson; Time Woman of the Year; Time Earth Award (Headshot_Jacqui-Patterson-500×500-metgroup.com_-e1729715358301.jpg)

Jacqueline “Jacqui” Patterson
2024 Time Woman of the Year
Time 2024 Earth Award

Climate justice activist Jacqueline “Jacqui” Patterson receives dozens of accolades for her dedication to helping underserved communities receive proper environmental equality.  The most recent recognition she received is Time magazine including her in its 2024 Women of the Year and Time presenting her with a 2024 Earth Award.

Patterson grew up on the south side of Chicago, probably in the Altgeld Gardens community where power plants had emitted hazardous gasses.  In July 2021, I featured Hazel M. Johnson (1935-2011), Mother of Environmental Justice and Founder of People for Community Recovery, who lived in Altgeld Gardens. Just like Patterson, several of Johnson’s relatives and friends had health issues and died of cancer before reaching old age. It wasn’t until Patterson was in the Peace Corps in Jamaica that she connected the way major companies ignored the environment to the detriment of people’s health.

She received a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. No dates were given when she received them. The only personal information I found about Patterson was that her father was from Jamaica, and she was 47 years old in 2015 (born in 1968??) and lived in Baltimore, Maryland at that time. The articles containing this information were not available.

She visited Sandbranch, Texas and discovered the residents didn’t have running water and burned trash in the backyard. This inspired her to found the Chisholm Legacy Project in 2021. She named the project after Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress. The Project advocates for those affected by environmental and social injustices.

Career:

2007-present –  Coordinator and co-founder of Women of Color United2009-2021 –  founding director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program2021 – founded and became executive director of the Chisholm Legacy Project. She named the project after Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress. The Project advocates for those affected by environmental and social injustices.

Other titles:

Senior Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice ProgramSteering committee for the Interfaith Moral Action on ClimateAdvisory board for the Center for Earth EthicsBoard of directors on seven boards: Institute of the Black World, The Hive: Gender and Climate Justice Fund, American Society of Adaptation Professionals, Greenpeace, the Bill Anderson Fund, People’s Solar Energy Fund, National Black Workers Center Project

Further information:
thechisholmlegacyproject.org
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgd8ELjKrd0
sps.columbia.edu/person/jacqueline-patterson

My ebooks available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com:
Honoring 23 Black Women, Recognizing 23 Notable Mothers, Saluting 23 Faithful Suffragists  

 

 

 

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Women and Adversity: Greta Gerwig Director of Barbie

Greta Gerwig, Director of Barbie at Barbie Movie Reception (headshot).jpg

Women and Adversity:
Greta Gerwig
Director of Barbie

Growing up I was never into dolls, although I had some, so when the movie Barbie came out, I didn’t run to the theatre even though Greta Gerwig directed it. She earned acting credits since 2006 and added writing and directing to her resume. I hesitated to feature an actress on this blog, but Time magazine named her one of the most influential women in the world in 2018, and this year—2024—she was one of Time’s Women of the Year. That was enough of an endorsement for me.

Although she was denied entry into playwriting programs and was considered snubbed by the Academy Awards because she wasn’t nominated Best Director for Barbie, it turns out Gerwig is brilliant. Lady Bird in 2017 and Little Women in 2019,  both of which she wrote and directed, earned Best Picture nominations and other nominations. She co-wrote Barbie with her now-husband Noah Baumbach, a filmmaker, but directed the film herself. It is the highest grossing film in the world directed solo by a woman. It made $1.4 billion worldwide. She is worth a blog post.

Bio:

Born August 4, 1983 in Sacramento, California2002 – graduated from St. Francis High School in Sacramento2006 – cast in a minor role in LOL  and Baghead 2006 – earned a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Barnard College

Career:

2007 – co-wrote Hannah Takes the Stairs with Joe Swanberg2008 – co-wrote and co-directed Nights and Weekends with Swanberg2010 – cast with Ben Stiller in Greenberg2012 – cast in Wood Allen’s To Rome with Love; starred in and co-wrote
with Baumbach Frances Ha2015 – Mistress America, collaborated with Baumbach2016 – played first lady’s social secretary in Jackie; had a supporting role
in 20th Century Women

Quote:  “I want to produce women’s films, because I think women want to see films made by people who know what they’re talking about, what the experience is,” Gerwig said at the 2017 Women in Entertainment Summit.

  Personal life:

Married Noah Baumbach in 2023, if not beforeThe couple have two sons, Harold, 5; and another son, 1. They haven’t revealed this son’s name.

More Information:

www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/greta_gerwig
time.com/collection/women-of-the-year/6692799/greta-gerwig-interview

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Women and Adversity: Ada Limón U.S. Poet Laureate

Ada Limón, U.S. Poet Laureate (San Francisco by Christopher Michel, Cmichel67)

Women and Adversity:
Ada Limón
U.S. Poet Laureate

I thought I would feature Ada Limón, the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, to highlight National Poetry Day, which this year is October 3.

Poetry is a special kind of writing that activates people’s emotions and stimulates inspiration and motivation. Carla Hayden of the Library of Congress says Limón’s poems “speak of intimate truths, of the beauty and heartbreak that is living, in ways that help us move forward.”

Limón’s title is Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, a position she began July 12, 2022. Her work is so influential that she was reappointed for a two-year term, which began on April 24, 2023 and will end April 2025. Limón’s signature project is “You Are Here,” which launched during National Poetry Month in April 2024. This involves poems being installed on picnic tables at seven national parks. Five installations have already been made, and Limón traveled to the parks to unveil the installations. She will be at the remaining two:

October 8 – Everglades National Park, Florida, featured poem, “the earth is a living thing,” by Lucille Clifton

December 3 – Saguaro National Park, Arizona, featured poem, “Na:nko Ma:s Cewagĭ / Cloud Song” by Ofelia Zepeda.  This poet writes in O’odham, an Indigenous language. The other installations are listed at www.adalimon.net.

Bio:

Born March 28, 1976 in Sonoma, California of Mexican ancestry.Her mother, Stacia Brady, is an artist whose paintings are on the covers of Limón’s books.Her father, Ken Limón, is a school administrator.Parents divorced and married others.1998 – Bachelor’s degree in drama from University of Washington, Seattle.2001 – Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry from the creative writing program at New York University.

Career:

In marketing department at Conde Nast for about 12 years2005-10 – published three books of poetry.2011 – moved to Kentucky to be with her future husband, Lucas Marquardt.2014 –  began teaching in the creative writing program at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina.2015 – published Bright Dead Things, a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award.2018 –   The Carrying won the National Book Critics Circle Award. It covered themes of infertility, chronic pain and caring for aging parents.2021 –  Limón took over as host of The Slowdown, a poetry podcast initiated by Tracy K. Smith during her tenure as the 22nd poet laureate of the United States.2022–  The Hurting Kind, which critics described as more experimental.

Personal life

Spouse – Lucas Marquardt, award-winning journalist for the Thoroughbred Daily News. He started his own company, ThoroStride, in 2011. It makes inspection videos of thoroughbred racehorses going to auction.Limón’s health is compromised by scoliosis and bouts of vertigo.

More Information:
www.kentuckymonthly.com/poet-for-the-people
www.topsinlex.com/Read/11909/US+Poet+Laureate+Ada+Lim%C3%B3n#:~:text=She%20fell%20in%20love%20first,that%20live%20in%20Kentucky%20now
www.npr.org/2024/05/23/1244130906/poet-laureate-ada-limon-ghosts-premonitions-forgiving-yourself

 

 

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Women and Adversity: Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano, President of Gallaudet University

Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano, President, Gallaudet University (USDA Photo by Ken Melton)

Women and Adversity:
Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano
President of Gallaudet University

I’ve reached into the 21st century to feature women changing people’s lives today, and I discovered Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano. She is the first deaf woman president of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. It is the school founded in 1864 and dedicated to providing education for the deaf by using American Sign Language. It is the only liberal arts university in the world for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Cordano has held the office since January 1, 2016 and is also openly LGBTQ. Her parents are graduates of Gallaudet. Of their three daughters, two are deaf.  Both her parents were successful, her mother in the medical field, her father in the sports arena.

   She was named a USA Today 2023 Women of the Year honoree. Cordona believes everyone should be taught sign language from birth. This, of course, bridges the gap between hearing and deaf. She is a founding member of the pre-K-8 Metro Deaf School in St. Paul, MN, and left that board to build Minnesota North Star Academy, for the graduates of the Metro Dead School. In 2010 the two schools merged as K-12 Metro Deaf School.

Bio:

Born November 29, 1963 in Wisconsin1978-1982 – Delavan-Darien High School, Delavan, WI1981 – Foreign exchange student in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a hearing family“It was a huge transformational experience for me,” she said. “I learned how the
hearing world and culture works.”1982-1986 – Bachelor of Arts degree from Beloit College, Beloit, WI1987-1990 – Law degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School

Career:

Assistant Attorney General, State of MinnesotaAssistant dean for the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, U. of MNVice president of programs for Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, Saint Paul, MNInterim president for Center of Healthcare Innovation at Allina Hospital ClinicPresident of Park Nicollet InstituteVice President of Park Nicollet Health Services

Personal life

Spouse – Mary BaremoreSons – Elliot and Jonathan

 

More Information:
https://gallaudet.edu/about
https://www.twincities.com/2015/12/11/st-pauls-bobbi-cordano-to-continue-her-work-for-the-deaf-as-president-of-gallaudet-university
www.facebook.com/robertacordano

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Elizabeth Magie Phillips, portrait from a poetry book she...

Elizabeth Magie Phillips, portrait from a poetry book she wrote. (Wikicommons Media)

Women and Adversity:
Elizabeth Magie Phillips
Inventor of Monopoly

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie was that rare woman in the 1800s who believed women could achieve as much as men even though they didn’t get credit for it. She was a woman’s advocate and bought an ad in a Chicago newspaper selling herself “to the highest bidder.” She is quoted as saying the goal was “to make a statement about the dismal position of women. We are not machines. Girls have minds, desires, hopes and ambition.”

She developed The Landlord’s Game in 1903 based on Georgist economics, known as the single tax movement. Wikipedia explains it: “People should own the value that they produce themselves, while the economic rent derived from land—including from all natural resources, the commons and urban locations—should belong equally to all members of society.”

Magie’s father, James Magie, was a newspaper publisher and friend of Abraham Lincoln and believed in Georgist economics.

Magie’s family moved to Washington, D.C. in the early 1880s. She worked as a stenographer and typist. She also was a stage actress, feminist, writer of short stories and poetry and an inventor.

On January 5, 1904 she received a patent for The Landlord’s Game and received another patent in 1924 for another version of the game. She included in the application that “the object of the game is not only to afford amusement to the players but to illustrate to them how under the present or prevailing system of land tenure, the landlord has an advantage over other enterprises and also how the single tax would discourage land speculation.”

Her game was popular, and Charles B. Darrow became interested in it. She sold the rights of  The Landlord’s Game to Parker Brothers in November 1935. Darrow made a few changes and called the game Monopoly. He earned a patent for it in December 1935 then sold it to Parker Brothers without him or Parker Brothers mentioning Phillips’ game. In 1936 the D.C. newspaper The Evening Star ran an article about Phillips and noted that Monopoly was similar to The Landlord’s Game.

Bio:

Born Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie May 9, 1866 in Macomb, Illinois.1880s — family moved to Washington, D.C.1892 — received a patent for an invention allowing paper to run more smoothly through the rollers of a typewriter1900-1902 — became a stenographer and typist1904 — moved to Brentwood, Maryland; granted a patent for The Landlord’s Game on January 51905 — had a part in Hedda Gabler1906 — moved to Chicago, ran the ad in the Chicago paper1910 — married Albert W. Phillips1924 — granted another patent under her married name1932 — Adgame Company of D.C. published a 2nd edition of The Landlord’s Game.1935 — sold The Landlord’s Game to Parker Brothers1935 — Darrow sold Monopoly to Parker Brothers. Neither party mentioned Phillips’ game1939 — created another version of The Landlord’s Game1970s — patent dispute between Parker Brothers and Ralph Anspach, creator of the Anti-Monopoly game, revealed Phillips as the true creator of Monopoly. Elizabeth Magie Phillips died in 1948 at the age of 81. More information:The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World’s Favorite Board Game by Mary Pilon
The Billion Dollar Monopoly Swindle by Ralph Anspach, who created the Anti-Monopoly game published in 1973.
https://theglindafactor.com/lizzie-magie-phillips
https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/monopolys-lost-female-inventor#:~:text=By%20the%20turn%20

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Liquid paper products Womens Museum.jpg, Photo: User FA20...

Liquid paper products Womens Museum.jpg, Photo: User FA2010 (From Wikimedia Commons)

Women and Adversity:
Bette Nesmith Graham
Inventor of Liquid Paper

Bette Nesmith Graham’s story is miraculous and what most people dream would happen for them. This Texas native dropped out of high school to attend secretarial school. She got a job at Texas Bank and Trust and worked her way to executive secretary to the chairman of the board.

In the 1950s IBM electric typewriters were popular but caused secretaries headaches because the keys were sensitive to the touch and typed fast. The carbon ribbons didn’t make corrections feasible, and when secretaries made mistakes, they had to retype an entire page. Graham began using white, water-based tempera paint to cover her typing errors. When it dried, she could type over the mistake. She mixed various chemicals in a blender to get the perfect combination, and her final product was Liquid Paper.

Her personal life didn’t have happy endings. She married Warren Nesmith when she was 19, and had a son, Michael, while Nesmith was fighting in World War II. When he returned, the couple divorced. Bette married Robert Graham in 1962, but he tried to take control of the Liquid Paper company, so she divorced him in 1975.

She sold Liquid Paper to Gillette Corporation for $47.5 million in 1979.

Her son Michael made a name for himself as a member of the popular 1960s rock group, The Monkees.

  Bio:

Born Bette Clair McMurry March 23, 1924 in Dallas, Texas. Raised in San Antonio.1941 —  quit high school to marry her high school sweetheart, Warren Nesmith;  attended secretarial school.1942 — Warren went in the Army; Bette went to night school to earn her GED.December 30, 1942 — their son Michael was born.1946 — the couple divorce.1951 —  Bette becomes executive secretary for W.W. Overton, chairman of the board of Texas Bank and Trust.1954 —  began experimenting with chemicals and white tempera paint to make a liquid to cover up typing errors. Hired her son Michael and his friends at $1 an hour to fill nail polish bottles with the liquid. They cut the brushes at an angle for better application and applied labels by hand.1956 — Graham started to sell “Mistake Out.”1958 — fired from her bank job because she was spending too much time making her product. Renamed her product “Liquid Paper”  and applied for a patent and trademark.1962 — married Robert Graham.1967 —  her company had corporate headquarters, automated production plant and sales of more than one million units per year.1975 —  moved operations to a 35,000 square foot international Liquid Paper headquarters in Dallas. The company was making 25 million bottles of Liquid Paper each year. Divorced Graham.1976 — established the Gihon Foundation for women in the arts.1978 — established the Bette Clair McMurray Foundation for women in need.1979 —  sold her company to Gillette Corporation for $47.5 million.

Bette Nesmith Graham died of a stroke May 12, 1980 in Richardson, Texas at the age of 56.

More Information:
blueoceanthinking.substack.com/p/inspirational-entrepreneur-bette
www.marybakereddylibrary.org/research/women-of-history-bette-graham

 

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Women and Adversity:Josephine CochraneInventor of the Dis...

Women and Adversity:
Josephine Cochrane
Inventor of the Dishwasher

Josephine Cochrane, Inventor of the Dishwasher

Josephine Cochrane was that rare woman in the 1800s who flaunted her independent spirit. One example is the spelling of her name. She married William Cochran but decided to add an -e to her last name so it was spelled Cochrane. It is printed both ways in various publications. Her in-laws didn’t appreciate this change.

She developed the idea for a dishwasher because when the servants washed her priceless China that dated from the 1600s, they chipped the dishes. In 1886, it is reported that Cochrane said, “If nobody else is going to invent a dishwashing machine, I’ll do it myself.”

William passed away in 1883, leaving Josephine at 45 years old with many debts, which was her motivation to design a dishwasher model in the shed behind her home. It was a hand-operated mechanical appliance and unusual because it used water pressure to get the dishes clean. Previous models others had designed used brushes to get the dishes clean. She unveiled her dishwasher at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The average homemaker was unimpressed, but hotels and restaurants ordered them. Around 1898, Cochrane opened her own factory, Cochran Crescent Washing Machine Company. The company eventually became KitchenAid.

Cochrane was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006 for patent No. 355,139.

Bio:

Born Josephine Garis March 8, 1839 in Ashtabula County, Ohio.Raised in Valparaiso, Indiana, where she went to private school until the school burnedMoved to Shelbyville to live with her sister Irene Garis Ransom.October 13, 1858 — married William Cochran, who became a prosperous dry goods merchant and Democratic Party politician. However, he was an alcoholic.The couple had two children. Son Hallie and daughter Katharine. Halle died when he was 2.1870 — Moved into a mansion and threw parties using her heirloom China dating from the 1600s.1883 — William died, leaving Josephine with many debts.December 31, 1885 — applied for a patentDecember 28, 1886 — received a patent1898 — opened her own factory, Cochran’s Crescent Washing Machine Company1917 — posthumous patent for an improved version of the dishwasher2006 — inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for her design for the mechanical dishwasheJosephine Cochrane died August 3, 1913 in Chicago at the age of 74.

 

More Information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBo1jhXzGLc
https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/journeys-innovation/historical-stories/ill-do-it-myself
https://online.kidsdiscover.com/quickread/meet-the-woman-who-invented-the-automatic-dishwasher

 

 

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