Ellen Eglui

Who is Ellen Eglui?

Ellen Eglui was the inventor of a clothes wringer for washing machines. She lived in Washington D.C.. In 1888, she sold the patent to an agent who made a lot of money off it. When later asked why she sold it for so little, she replied:

You know I am black and if it was known that a Negro woman patented the invention white ladies would not buy the wringer, I was afraid to be known because of my color, in having it introduced into the market, that is the only reason.