Lewis Latimer: Engineering Wizard

Gr 3-6–Lewis Howard Latimer (1848–1928) was an African American Civil War veteran, draftsman, engineer, specialist in patent law, and inventor who worked with some of the most famous inventors of his time, including Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. His parents, George and Rebecca Latimer, had risked their lives to escape from a Virginia plantation for Boston, MA. Latimer’s fierce determination allowed him to break through racial barriers. In 1881, while employed at the U.S. Electric Lighting Company, Latimer patented a carbon filament for the incandescent light bulb. This chapter book biography features accessible but richly phrased text and black-and-white illustrations. The text also includes information about other African American trailblazers (such as Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois), the laws that enabled and perpetuated slavery, the history of African Americans’ military service, and the Industrial Revolution. These additional facts are highlighted in callout boxes within each chapter. The text is honest about Latimer’s struggles, but the overall tone is hopeful and inspiring. This title is simple enough for younger readers, and older readers will appreciate the wealth of information and details. The back matter includes a list of Latimer’s patents, a time line, a list of other African American inventors, a bibliography, and further reading.