Judy W. Reed: First Known Black Woman to Receive a U.S. Patent

Judy W. Reed holds a unique place in American history as the first known African American woman to receive a United States patent, a remarkable achievement in an era when both women and Black inventors faced deep systemic barriers to recognition and economic opportunity. While much of Reed’s early life remains undocumented, historians recognize her inventive spirit through her patented creation and her contribution to domestic technology.

In 1884, Judy W. Reed was granted a U.S. patent for a dough kneader and roller, a tool designed to make the process of preparing dough for baking easier and more efficient. At a time when most household labor was manual and time consuming, Reed’s invention offered a practical improvement that could benefit homemakers and small scale bakers alike. The design included a mechanism that helped mix and flatten dough with less effort, a simple yet creative solution to a common domestic task.

Reed’s achievement is historically significant not only because of the utility of her invention, but because of the context in which she created it. In the late nineteenth century, African American women had extremely limited access to formal education, business networks, or financial support for technological development. Securing a patent required navigating a complex legal system at a time when many inventors struggled to protect their ideas, and Black inventors often faced additional prejudice and legal obstacles.

Despite the lack of detailed records about Reed’s personal life, her documented role as an inventor highlights the often overlooked contributions of Black women to American innovation. Her work paved the way for other Black inventors, especially women, to pursue patents and to claim a place in the nation’s technological history.

Today, Judy W. Reed is celebrated as a pioneering inventor whose patented design reflects both ingenuity and resilience. Her legacy reminds us that innovation has always been shaped by diverse voices, even when those voices were excluded from mainstream recognition. Reed’s contribution to American invention underscores the importance of acknowledging figures who expanded the possibilities of technology and opportunity for future generations.