News & Events

Second graders in Dr. Valerie Thornton's class led Lower School Chapel on February 18, teaching about prominent Black historical figures in an interesting way.

Dr. Thornton opened the chapel, noting this month marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. Carter G. Woodson, a teacher and historian, initiated the first celebration in February 1926. 

From there, the students took over. They walked through the day of an average young student, explaining that so much of the technology and inventions they come in contact with on a regular basis were invited by Black people. Among them:

• Inventor Sarah Boone designed major improvements to the ironing board.
• Walter Sammons invented the hot comb.
• Women's suffrage activist Lyda Newman held a patent for a novel hairbrush.
• Lloyd P. Ray patented an improved dustpan in the late 1800s.
• George T. Sampson invented the clothes dryer.
• John Love patented a portable pencil sharpener.
• Joseph Gammel invented the supercharge system for internal combustion engines.
• Garrett A. Morgan patented the first three-position traffic signal.
• John Standard patented an improved refrigerator design.
• Alice Parker patented a natural gas-powered furnace.
• Alexander Miles improved the elevator.
• Surgeon and researcher Dr. Charles Drew organized the first large-scale blood bank in the United States.
• Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed the world's first successful heart surgery in 1893.

Quite the impressive list to learn about in this Year of Inquiry!