Garrett Augustus Morgan, Sr., (1877-1963) was an African American inventor who originated a respiratory protective hood (similar to the modern gas masks), invented a hair-straightening preparation, and patented a type of traffic signal. He is renowned for a heroic rescue in which he used his hood to save workers trapped in a tunnel system filled with fumes. He is credited as the first African-American to own an automobile.^[1] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Paris is a city that was settled in 1775 and is in Bourbon County, Kentucky, 113 miles (182 km) east of Louisville Ky. ... is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Cleveland redirects here. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Belgian 1930s era L.702 model civilian mask. ... This article is about a traffic control device. ...

Life and career

Garrett A. Morgan was born on March 4, 1877 in Paris, Kentucky to former slaves,^[2] Sydney Morgan and Elizabeth (Reed) Morgan, and seventh of eleven children. He spent his childhood attending school and working with his brothers and sisters on the family farm. When he was fourteen, he moved north to Cincinnati, Ohio, in search of employment.^[2] is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Paris is a city that was settled in 1775 and is in Bourbon County, Kentucky, 113 miles (182 km) east of Louisville Ky. ... Cincinnati redirects here. ...

Morgan spent most of his teenage years working as a handyman for a wealthy Cincinnati landowner. Like many African-Americans of his day, Morgan had to quit school at a young age, in order to work. However, the teen-aged Morgan hired his own tutor, and continued his studies while living in Cincinnati.

In 1895, Morgan moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked as a sewing machine repairman for a clothing manufacturer. He married Madge Nelson in 1896, but the marriage ended in divorce. News of his skill at fixing things and experimenting spread quickly throughout Cleveland. Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Cleveland redirects here. ...

In 1907, Morgan opened his own sewing machine and repair shop. It was the first of several businesses he would own. In 1909, he expanded his business to include a tailoring shop. The company made coats, suits, dresses, etc. - all sewn with equipment that Morgan himself had made. Morgan experimented with a liquid that gave a sewing machine needles a high polish and prevented the needle from scorching fabric, as it sewed. Accidentally, Morgan discovered that this liquid not only straightened fabric but also hair. He made the liquid into a cream and began the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company. Morgan also made a black hair oil dye and a curved-tooth Iron comb in 1910, to straighten hair. Year 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

In 1908, Morgan helped found the Cleveland Association of Colored Men. That same year, he married Mary Anne Hassek (1884-1968), and together they had three sons. Year 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

In 1920, Morgan moved into the newspaper business when he established The Cleveland Call.^[2] As the years passed, he became a prosperous and widely respected business man, and he was able to purchase a home and an automobile.^[2] Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Inventions

Safety Hood

Morgan invented the safety hood and smoke protector after hearing about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. He was able to sell his invention around the country however, in many instances, he would have a white partner take credit as the inventor in order to further sell his product. His invention became known nationally when he used it to save several men from a tunnel explosion under Lake Erie. Garrett was awarded a gold Medal of Bravery by prominent citizens of Cleveland, but his nomination for the Carnegie Medal was denied, in large part because of his race. Efforts by Morgan and his supporters over the years to correct this injustice have not, so far, been successful. Nevertheless. Morgan's invention won gold medals from the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Exposition of Sanitation and Safety.^[3] The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the largest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York, causing the death of 146 garment workers who either died from the fire or jumped to their deaths. ... Cleveland redirects here. ...

It has often been claimed that Morgan invented the first "gas mask", however, the first gas mask was invented by Scottish chemist John Stenhouse in 1854. A precursor to the "gas mask" had been invented by Lewis Haslett in 1847 and granted US Patent no. 6529 in 1859. Numerous other inventors, including, Charles Anthony Deane (1823), John Tyndall (1871), Samuel Barton (1874), George Neally (1877), Henry Fleuss (1878), before Morgan's invention that was patented in 1914 (US Patent numbers 1090936 and 1113675), but does not diminish Morgan's heroism in using his mask to rescue the men trapped in the tunnel explosion, which was undertaken at considerable personal risk. Belgian 1930s era L.702 model civilian mask. ... John Stenhouse (October 31, 1809 – December 31, 1880) was a Scottish chemist. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1859 (MDCCCLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... John Tyndall. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Colonel Samuel Barton (January 1749-May 1810) was a Patriot of the American Revolution but perhaps will be remembered more for his contributions in the founding of Nashville, Tennessee. ... Year 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Henry Albert Fleuss invented an early type of rebreather in 1878. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Some claim that Morgan did not invent the first "gas mask", however, those references are usually in reference to the "respirator." Morgan invented the safety hood and later revised it,^[4][5] which was used to save trapped workers in the Lake Erie Crib Disaster of 1917.^[6] His safety hood eventually evolved to become a type of gas mask.^[7] Belgian 1930s era L.702 model civilian mask. ... It has been suggested that gas mask be merged into this article or section. ...

The Garrett Morgan traffic signal

Patent drawing of Morgan's signal

It was Morgan's experience while driving along the streets of Cleveland that led to his invention of a traffic signal device.^[8] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 380 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (938 × 1481 pixel, file size: 226 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Patent drawing for Garrett A. Morgans traffic signal, US patent 1,475,024, Nov. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 380 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (938 × 1481 pixel, file size: 226 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Patent drawing for Garrett A. Morgans traffic signal, US patent 1,475,024, Nov. ...

The first American-made automobiles were introduced to U.S. consumers not long after the turn of the century. It was not uncommon for bicycles, animal-powered wagons and new gasoline-powered motor vehicles to share the same streets and roadways with pedestrians. According to tradition, it was after witnessing a collision between an automobile and a horse-drawn carriage that Morgan became convinced that something should be done to improve automobile safety.

The Morgan traffic signal was a T-shaped pole unit that featured three hand-cranked positions: Stop, Go and an all-directional stop position. This third position halted traffic in all directions to allow pedestrians to cross streets more safely.^[9] Its one advantage over others of its type was the ability to operate it from a distance using a mechanical linkage. Morgan sold the rights to his traffic signal to the General Electric Corporation for $40,000.^[2] This article is about a traffic control device. ... The General Electric Company, or GE, (NYSE: GE) is a multinational technology and services company. ...

Though an ingenious invention, it was neither the first mechanical traffic signal invented, nor the precursor to the modern traffic light.^[10]

Awards and recognitions

At the Emancipation Centennial Celebration in Chicago, Illinois in August, 1963, Morgan was nationally recognized. Although in ill-health, and nearly blind, he continued to work on his inventions; one of his last was a self-extinguishing cigarette, which employed a small plastic pellet filled with water, placed just before the filter. Shortly before his death, in 1963, Morgan was awarded a citation for his traffic signal by the United States Government.^[2] Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... For other uses, see August (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ...

In Prince George's County, Maryland, Garrett A. Morgan Boulevard and the adjacent Washington Metro's Morgan Boulevard Station are named in his honor. In 1991, the Division Avenue Water Works in Cleveland was renamed the Garrett Morgan Treatment Plant. Also in his honor is the Garrett A. Morgan Cleveland School of Science in Cleveland, Ohio. Not to be confused with Prince George County, Virginia. ... The Washington Metro, or simply Metro, is the rapid transit system of Washington, D.C., and neighboring suburban communities in Maryland and Virginia, both inside and outside the Capital Beltway. ... Morgan Boulevard (Summerfeild) is a Washington Metro station in Prince Georges County, Maryland on the Blue Line; it began service on December 18, 2004. ...

Grave of Garrett A. Morgan

Morgan was an honorary member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter organization established for African Americans. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Nicknames: Alphas, A Phi A Founded December 4, 1906 International Headquarters Baltimore, Maryland Official Colors Black and Old Gold Official Flower Yellow Rose Official Symbols Sphinx, Ape, Pharaoh Coat of Arms Motto: First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity website Alpha Phi Alpha... The Greek alphabet (Greek: ) is an alphabet consisting of 24 letters that has been used to write the Greek language since the late 8th or early 8th century BC. It was the first alphabet in the narrow sense, that is, a writing system using a separate symbol for each vowel... The terms fraternity and sorority (from the Latin words and , meaning brother and sister respectively) may be used to describe many social and charitable organizations, for example the Lions Club, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Rotary International, Optimist International, or the Shriners. ...

Garrett A. Morgan, Sr. died on August 27, 1963, at the age of 86 and was buried at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Lakeview Cemetary, Cleveland, Ohio Founded in 1869, Lake View Cemetery sits on 285 acres (1. ... Cleveland redirects here. ...

References

Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Garrett A. Morgan: Affordable Gas Masks. PBS
• Garrett Augustus Morgan (1877-1963) Gas Mask and Traffic Signal Inventor African Americans.com
• http://education.dot.gov/aboutmorgan.html
• The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History - Waterworks Disasters
• Images from Morgan's patents
• The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History - biography
• Google Images concerning Garrett Morgan