While much praise is given to famous inventors, the contributions of those who drafted patents for inventions are often overlooked.
Lewis Latimer's achievements as a draftsman, inventor, author and engineer are examples of why the work of those behind the scenes should be acknowledged.
Born in 1848 as the youngest of the four children of former slaves, Latimer passed away in 1928 in New York.
At the age of 15, Latimer enlisted in the Union Navy by forging the age on his birth certificate.
After being honorably discharged, Latimer was employed as an office boy for the patent law firm, Crosby Halstead and Gould.
While working in the office, Latimer began the study of drafting – learning how to use an L square, ruler and other tools.
Later, Latimer's boss recognized his talent for sketching patent drawings and promoted Latimer to the position of head draftsman.
Latimer drafted and co-patented multiple amounts of great inventions. In 1874, he co-patented the Water Closet for Railroad Cars, which was an improved toilet system for railroad cars.
In 1876, Latimer was employed by Alexander Graham Bell to draft the drawings needed to receive a patent for Bell's telephone invention.
Lattimer was also employed by Hiram Maxim, who was known as the chief rival of Thomas Edison.
Hiram Maxim, who was the founder of the U.S. Electric Lighting Company and the inventor of the Maxim Machine Gun, hired Latimer as an assistant manager and draftsman.
While working for Maxim, Latimer received a patent for the "Process of Manufacturing Carbons," which was an improved method for the production of carbon filaments for the Maxim electric incandescent lamp.
Later, Latimer helped install the first electric plants and supervised the installation of electric lights in New York City, Philadelphia and Montreal.
Thomas Edison's Edison Electric Light Company hired Latimer as the chief draftsman and patent expert.
While working for Edison, Latimer co-authored one of the world's most thorough books on electric lighting, "Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System."
Latimer was also the only African-American member of the "Edison Principles," which was a group of people deemed responsible for helping to create the electrical industry.
"Latimer was essential in helping make Edison's vision and ideas of light reality," said senior print journalism major Nikole Pegues.
After working for Edison, Latimer continued to devise ways of improving everyday life.
Latimer improved the safety of elevators, created locking racks for clothes and hats in public areas such as restaurants, and improved book supporters.
Latimer also created the apparatus for cooling and disinfecting, which was a method for making rooms more sanitary and climate controlled.
In addition to his many achievements as a draftsman and inventor, Latimer was a known philanthropist and worked to improve the civil rights of African Americans in the United States.
The achievements and contributions of Latimer are evidence of how hard work can pay off and why gratitude and acknowledgement should be given to those who are not as publicly known, but who were instrumental in developing significant innovations.
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