Since Amye Everard Ball became the first woman to be granted an English patent in 1637, hundreds have been awarded to women but rarely cited. These overlooked women navigated legislation and social assumption of their times, to ensure their patents were registered as their own. Referring to themselves as housewives, widows, inventors, scientists, nurses, electricians and engineers, their patents were wide ranging including for industrial machinery, dishwashers, lifesaving equipment, safety devices for train travel, underwear for bicycle riding, stab proof vests, and the teaching of geometry.

Historically, women played important roles in scientific and technological development and innovation, as well as in running companies or fighting in the courts for ownership of their intellectual property. Inevitably, some of the patents have been surpassed by further improvements and developments, but they illustrate great ingenuity and thought.

This lecture will take some key characters and their patents to show their ingenuity.

About the Speaker

Deborah Jaffé is a cultural historian and author of eight books including Ingenious Women, from tincture of saffron to flying machines (Sutton 2003) and The History of Toys (Sutton (2006); and coeditor with Dr Stephen Wilson of Memories of the Future (Peter Lang 2019).

Deborah was the editor of Newcomen Links for 10 years and a member of the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood Trustees’ Committee; and has lectured widely on women and innovation, the history of toys and her current research on refugee related subjects.