Sarah Goode was an African-American inventor and an entrepreneur. In 1885, she became the first woman of her ethnicity to secure a United States patent. However, Judy W. Reed was the first African-American woman to receive a patent a year before Goode. But sadly, she used her mark (an X) rather than her signature to sign the application.
Goode, an Ohio native, was born into an enslaved family. She earned her freedom when the American Civil War ended. Following that, the family went to Chicago, Illinois, where she finally married Archibald Goode. They became parents to six children.
Goode rose to prominence after inventing a folding cabinet bed suitable for those living in limited spaces. It also allowed them to make better use of their available space. Her innovation became extremely popular in the years that followed. It is currently referred to as the hide-away bed. It was also a predecessor of the Murphy Bed.
Sarah Goode: Quick Facts
Full Name | Sarah Elisabeth Jacobs Goode |
NickName | Sarah Goode |
Date of Birth | 1855 |
Birth Place | Toledo, Ohio |
Age | Died at the age of 50 |
Sun Sign | Under review |
Father’s Name | Oliver Jacobs |
Mother’s Name | Harriet Jacobs |
Siblings | Seven |
Height | Under review |
Weight | Under review |
Nationality | African-American |
Sexuality | Straight |
Ethnicity | Mixed |
Body Measurements | Under review |
Eye Color | Under review |
Hair Color | Under review |
Shoe Size | Under review |
Education | Under review |
Body Type | Under review |
Marital Status | Married |
Net Worth | Under review |
Social Media Presence | None |
Table of Contents
Sarah Goode Bio | Education And Early Life
Sarah Elisabeth Jacobs Goode was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1855. Her exact birthday is still unknown to the general public. She was the second of seven siblings.
Sarah was born to Oliver and Harriet Jacobs. Oliver Jacobs was of Indiana native who worked as a carpenter. Sarah Goode was born a slave and gained her freedom at the end of the Civil War. Goode subsequently relocated to Chicago and eventually became a business owner.
Age And Body Measurements
Sarah, who played an important part in making people’s lives simpler, lived a very short life. She died in 1905, at the age of 50. There are very few photographs of the late entrepreneur available on the internet. With not much internet usage at that time and the world is expanded over various zones, things were hard to keep track of.
Dianna Agron Biography, Age, Height, Career, Relationship, Net Worth, and Social Media >>
As a result that, there is not much information available about her body measurements. Sarah looked like an average height woman who had a bodyweight that was not so huge. The diva maintained good outlooks even though she was silent about almost all of her body measurement stats.
Not only the height and weight but anything on her dress and shoe size is also far from the eyes of the media. Although she passed way too early if anything on the internet comes up readers will be made aware.
Invention
Goode traveled to Chicago after gaining her freedom at the end of the Civil War and eventually became a businesswoman. Before she became a successful entrepreneur, she ran a furniture shop with her husband. Let’s look at some of her innovations that have made her name eternal even after her death.
- Many of her clients, especially from the working class, lived in small flats with little space for furniture. Those clients could not adjust a full-size bed in their small houses.
- So, As a remedy, Goode designed a cabinet bed, which she characterized as a folding bed, which is now known as a Murphy bed. The bed could double as a roll-top desk with pockets for stationery and other writing equipment when not in use.
- The folding cabinet bed was of great use for those who live in small apartments and want to make the most of their space.
- When she developed this, New York City’s housing infrastructure was extending vertically. However, in 1885, the city issued legislation prohibiting structures from being taller than 80
- This regulation was enacted to combat the development of excessively tall commercial structures. It resulted in the emergence of the tenement system. It limited the heights of residential structures, making the housing structure unsuitable for middle-class individuals. The tenements were typically 25feet wide and 100 feet long.
Later Inventions of her life
- In such circumstances, not even a foot of space could be wasted.
- She decided to come up with a remedy after learning about the space problem in New York from her customers. Goode’s bed was a foldable one that resembled a roll-top desk. There was also extra storage space.
- On July 14, 1885, she got a patent for her invention, with patent number #322,177. Her creation is now known as the hide-away bed. It was also the forerunner of the Murphy Bed, which was named after its inventor, William Lawrence Murphy.
- Goode set out to create a bed in which the folding bed’s weight was divided to lift it effortlessly. She also made certain that the bed was solid on all sides to remain stationary while folding.
- She added extra support to the center of the bed for when it is unfolded.
- In 1988, she got a patent for a Laserphaco Probe, a technology she worked on for eight years.
- This is a laser technology that easily eliminates cataracts and allows the ophthalmologist to attach a new lens.
Honors
- She has three patents on the laser device, and in 2000 she was given a patent for a system that uses ultrasound to clear cataracts.
- In her honor, the Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy, a scientific and math-focused high school on Chicago’s south side, opened in 2012.
- It is a component of Chicago Public Schools’ Urban Model High School (UMHS)
- To assist pupils in preparing for future vocations, the school emphasizes science, technology, engineering, and math. There are IBM collaborations, and students are encouraged to graduate with industry credentials and two years of college credit.
- Students are also provided with professional mentors and internship opportunities.
Controversy
In African-American society, the controversy surrounding who was the first receipt of a patent number remains. According to some, Goode was the third or fourth African American woman to patent her innovation. At the same time, several others have cleared her as the first to acquire it.
Danielle Panabaker Bio, Age, Height, Career, Relationships, Net Worth, Social Media Presence >>
The only certain fact is that Goode patented her invention at a very young age, whether she was the first or the third. That was a historic moment in black women’s history in the United States.
Personal Life
Goode, who was born a slave, gained freedom when the American Civil War ended. Then she moved to Chicago, Illinois, with her family sometime after that, but before 1870.
Archibald “Archie” Goode, a native of Wise County, Virginia, became a friend of hers in Chicago. They started as friends, and by 1880, they tied the knot. They had six children, three of whom survived till adulthood.
Goode died on April 8, 1905. However, the reasons for her death are still unknown.
Net Worth | How Much Does Sarah Goode Earn?
Despite extensive study, her assets, net worth, or other financial information could not be determined. However, because she was a successful entrepreneur, her net worth is estimated to be substantial. Along with the net worth information, anything on the annual income and assets owned is also hidden.
Kerri Green Bio, Age, Height, Career, Relationships, Net Worth, Social Media Presence >>
Sarah was one of the well-known entrepreneurs of her time. The achievements she has received and the accolades donned in have sure helped her growth. However, the silence never helps the people who want to know a lot of details about her.
Social Media Presence | Is Sarah Goode Active On Social Media?
The great inventor died in the early 1900s, which was way before social media came into relevance. So, sadly she cannot be found on any social media platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Sarah E Goode well known for?
Goode created a foldable cabinet bed to accommodate into compact spaces. Goode wants to provide furniture that would fit in compact spaces for those who live in small dwellings. When folded up, the cabinet bed resembles a desk. On July 14, 1885, Goode became the first African American woman to acquire a patent.
- How did Sarah E Goode make a difference in the world?
Sarah E. Goode, born into slavery in 1850, was one of the first African American women to be given a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1885 for her creation of a folding cabinet bed.
- When did Sarah E Goode got married ?
Sarah E Goode got married before 1880. She married Archibald Goode, who worked as a carpenter.
- Is Sarah E Goode the first African-American woman to receive a patent?
There are a lot of different opinions regarding who was the first African-American woman to receive a patent. Some believe that Sarah was the first woman to achieve it while others believe that she was the third or fourth receiver. Nevertheless, Sarah is one of the greatest achievers of her times.
- When did Sarah Goode die ?
Sarah died on April 8, 1905. She died at the age of 50, living a very short life. But through her life-changing innovations, Sarah became immortal and is still remembered.