From Lemelson MIT
Jessie T. Pope, a Black, female inventor, invented the thermostatically controlled curling iron for hair. Due to a lack of historical records for women, especially Black women at the time, little was documented about her life.
From Back Then History
It was a Black female inventor and beautician named Jessie T. Pope who solved the issue of curling irons burning hair when she invented the thermostatically controlled curling iron. As a hairstylist working in Detroit, Pope realized it was important to control and maintain the temperature of electric curling irons and she decided to invent her own device. First Lady Elanor Roosevelt was so impressed by Pope’s creation that she offered to help her file for a patent. On October 22, 1946, Pope was granted a patent for her invention. In 1958, Pope founded a company to manufacture her thermostatically controlled curling iron, which was mass-produced and quietly revolutionized the hair industry. Today, improvements to the curling iron have continued and many brands offer unique versions with various proprietary technologies. These range from expensive options with high-tech designs from companies like Dyson to more traditional and affordable curling irons from drugstore brands like Conair.
From MIEmpowerment
POPE, Jessie, African-American, beautician. The Inventor of a thermostatically controlled curling iron for hairdressing. Eleanor Roosevelt gave her help and support, which enabled patent applications to be filed in 1946. Many years later, in 1958, Jessie managed to start a company to manufacture them (Curling Inc). Because of the commercial significance, the patents were filed in Canada and the USA. This was one of the first applications of thermostats, the process took less than 15 minutes. From 1946-58, Jessie struggled making them by hand and never fulfilled all the orders, after 1958 with financial backing her new company started mass production of this excellent product.
1 comment:
Never heard of her. Thanks for the drop, Snitch.
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