Stuff You Missed in History Class30 Jul 2025

Beatrice Kenner and Midred Smith: Sister Inventors

Beatrice Kenner’s inventions were focused largely on making life easier and less annoying for herself and the people around her, including period products. Mildred Smith’s invention was about family, and it grew from her disability after she developed multiple sclerosis.

Research:

“Deaths.” Evening Star. 11/27/1956. https://www.newspapers.com/image/869672410/
“Mildred E. Smith.” Obituary. Washington Post. 8/19/1993. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1993/08/19/n-hugh-mcdiarmid-dies-at-86/beab0fdf-9aec-4ac1-bd0a-cfcef223f1fa/
Byram, W.F. and R.P. Phronebarger. “Current Supply System for Electric Railways.” U.S. Patent 1,134,871. 4/6/1915.
Coren, Ashleigh, et al. “The Many Inventions of Beatrice Kenner.” Side Door. Smithsonian Institution. 4/6/2022. https://www.si.edu/sidedoor/many-inventions-beatrice-kenner
Davidson, S.N. “Pants Presser.” U.S. Patent 1,088,329.
Hambrick, Arlene. “Biographies of Black Female Scientists and Inventors: An Interdisciplinary Middle School Curriculum Guide. ‘What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black?’” Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts. Doctor of Education Dissertation. 1993. DOI: 10.7275/14756666
Hodal, Kate. “Cloth, cow dung, cups: how the world's women manage their periods.” The Guardian. 3/14/2019. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/13/cloth-cow-dung-cups-how-the-worlds-women-manage-their-periods
Jeffrey, Laura S. “Amazing American Inventors of the 20th Century.” Enslow Publishers, Inc.. 1996, 2013.
Kenner, Mary Beatrice. “Busch Traffic.” Daily Press. 11/12/1984. https://www.newspapers.com/image/234268212/
Kijowska, Wiktoria. “Sanitary suspenders to Mooncups: a brief history of menstrual products.” Victoria and Albert Museum. https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/a-brief-history-of-menstrual-products
King, Helen. “From rags and pads to the sanitary apron: a brief history of period products.” The Conversation. 4/25/2023. https://theconversation.com/from-rags-and-pads-to-the-sanitary-apron-a-brief-history-of-period-products-203451
O’Sullivan, Joan. “Disease Victim Creates Game.” The Orange Leader. 10/8/1982. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1008083420/
Ravey, Julia and Dr. Ella Hubber. “Unstoppable: Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner.” Unstoppable. BBC. 6/17/2024. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5rmq
Sluby, Patricia Carter. “African American Brilliance.” Tar heel junior historian [2006 : fall, v.46 : no.1]. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/tar-heel-junior-historian-2006-fall-v.46-no.1/3700440?item=5369779
Smith, Mildred E. “Family Relationships Card Game.” U.S. Patent 4,230,321. 10/28/1980. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/4230321
Tsjeng, Zing. “Forgotten Women: The Scientists.” Cassell Illustrated. 2018.
Tsjeng, Zing. “The Forgotten Black Woman Inventor Who Revolutionized Menstrual Pads.” Vice. 3/8/2018. https://www.vice.com/en/article/mary-beatrice-davidson-kenner-sanitary-belt/
Washington Afro American. “Jabbo Kenner Leads Boys to Clean Life.” 11/15/1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1042304374/
Washington Daily News. “Mrs. Kenner Is In Clover.” 6/2/1958. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1042178951/

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