Mary Kenner, a groundbreaking inventor, changed everyday life with her smart and practical creations. Despite facing racial and gender barriers, she secured multiple patents, including the sanitary belt, improving personal care for women. Her resilience and creativity continue to inspire innovators today.
Mary Kenner:
The Black Inventor who transformed the Menstrual Pad.
Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner (1912–2006) faced persistent sleep disturbances during her upbringing in Charlotte, North Carolina. The creaking sound of the back door, as her mother departed for work each morning, consistently roused her from sleep. At the tender age of six, she expressed her frustration to her mother, suggesting the possibility of inventing a self-oiling door hinge. Undeterred by her young age, Kenner approached the challenge with unwavering determination, driven by the innate curiosity and creativity of an aspiring inventor. Despite experiencing discomfort while experimenting with potential solutions, she persevered in her pursuit of a door mechanism that would alleviate the disturbance. Although she eventually set aside this particular endeavor, the seed of innovation planted in her mind remained steadfast.
One could argue that talent and innovation were inherent in Kenner’s family lineage . Her maternal grandfather, credited with inventing a tricolor light signal for guiding trains, and her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith, who later patented a family board game and successfully marketed it, exemplify this legacy. Even her father, Sidney Nathaniel Davidson, a preacher, endeavored to turn the family’s inventive spirit into a profession. Around 1914, Sidney patented a portable clothes presser designed to fit into a suitcase, ideal for pressing trousers while traveling. Despite receiving a tempting $20,000 offer from a New York company, he opted to pursue manufacturing and selling the invention independently. Regrettably, his venture ended in disappointment; he managed to produce only one presser, selling it for a mere $14.
Despite her father’s unsuccessful venture, Kenner remained undeterred in her pursuit of invention, with the concept of the door hinge igniting a profound passion within her. Her mind teemed with new ideas, often disrupting her sleep as she meticulously drafted designs and constructed models. While her peers indulged in fanciful drawings of airplanes and cars, Kenner focused on practical innovations, envisioning a convertible roof for car rumble seats to shield backseat passengers from the elements and devising a sponge tip for umbrellas to absorb dripping rainwater. She even devised plans for a portable ashtray that could conveniently attach to a cigarette packet.
This pragmatic, hands-on approach characterized her inventions throughout her life. Despite their practicality, Kenner recognized her unique talent early on. Upon the family’s relocation to Washington DC in 1924, Kenner, at just 12 years old, eagerly explored the halls of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, diligently researching existing patents to ensure her ideas were original. To her relief, she found no prior patents for her inventions, confirming her distinctive skill set.
In 1931, Kenner completed her high school education and secured admission to the esteemed Howard University . However, financial constraints compelled her to withdraw from her studies after a year and a half. To make ends meet, she engaged in various odd jobs, including babysitting, before securing a position as a federal employee. Despite her employment, she persisted in her tinkering endeavors during her free time. The persistent challenge she faced was financial; obtaining a patent was, and remains, a costly endeavor. Today, the filing fees for a basic utility patent can amount to several hundred dollars.
In 1957 , Kenner reached a significant milestone by obtaining her first patent: a belt designed for sanitary napkins. At a time when disposable pads were not yet commonplace, women relied on cloth pads and rags during menstruation. Kenner’s invention featured an adjustable belt with a built-in, moisture-proof pocket for holding the napkin, reducing the likelihood of menstrual blood leakage and clothing stains.
Reflecting on this achievement, Kenner recalled being approached by a company interested in marketing her invention. She felt elated at the prospect, envisioning a future filled with financial success. A representative from the company visited Kenner at her home in Washington for a meeting. However, her joy was short-lived when the company discovered she was black. Suddenly, their interest waned, and the representative returned to New York to inform Kenner that the company was no longer interested .
Unfazed by challenges, Kenner persisted in her inventive pursuits throughout her adult life. Over time, she amassed a total of five patents, a record unmatched by any other African-American woman in history. Her inventions continued to be inspired by everyday experiences. When her sister Mildred faced mobility challenges due to multiple sclerosis and relied on a walking frame, Kenner devised and patented a serving tray and a soft pocket that could be affixed to the frame, facilitating Mildred’s ability to carry items with her. Additionally, Kenner patented a toilet tissue holder ensuring convenient access to the loose end of a roll, as well as a back washer designed to be attached to a shower wall, aiding individuals in cleansing hard-to-reach areas of their back.
Despite lacking a college degree or formal training, and despite not attaining wealth from her inventions, Kenner’s dedication to her craft mirrored that of her father and grandfather before her. For her, the pursuit of invention was driven by passion rather than financial gain. Above all, Kenner believed in the innate creative potential within every individual, asserting, “Every person is born with a creative mind. Everyone has that ability.”
Read more on Mary Kenner: https://www.uniquecoloring.com/articles/mary-beatrice-davidson-kenner
The Author:
Leisha Toory is the founder of the Human Rights Award-nominated Period Priority Project, a current volunteer of Help A Girl Out (HAGO), a consultant with the United Nations Institute for Social Development and United Nations Institute for Training and Research, an Amnesty Canada Gender Rights Specialized Team member, and holds a BA in Political Science from Memorial University.