Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner

1912

2006

Monroe, North Carolina, America

African American

1931- Graduated from Dunbar High School and started attending Howard University
1941- Became employed by the Federal Government where she remained here until the end of the decade
1950- Became a professional florist and ran her flower shop into the 1970s while inventing things in her spare time
1957- Received her first patent for the sanitary belt
1957- The Sonn-Nap-Pack Company got word of this invention in and contacted her intending to market her invention, however when they discovered that she was Black, they declined
1976- Patented an attachment for a walker or wheelchair that included a hardsurfaced tray and a soft pocket for carrying items.
1982- Received a patent, together with her sister, for the invention of a toilet paper holder
1987- Her final patent was granted for a mounted back washer and massager

Kenner was born on 17 May 1912, in Monroe, North Carolina. Her father was inventor Sidney Nathaniel Davidson. She had one sibling, her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith. Invention ran in the family. Her maternal grandfather Robert Phromeberger’s most notable inventions were a tricolour light signal for trains and a stretcher with wheels for ambulances. In 1914 her father patented a clothes presser that could fit in a suitcase. In 1980, her sister invented Family Treedition, a family board game.

Mary Kenner had many ideas as a child, including a convertible roof that would go over the folding rumble seat of the car, a sponge tip at the end of an umbrella that would soak up rainwater, and a portable ashtray that would attach itself to a cigarette pack. When her family moved to Washington DC in 1924, she walked the halls of the US Patent and Trademark Office to become familiar with the building and the patent process.

In 1931, Kenner graduated from Dunbar High School and started attending Howard University but dropped out after a year and a half for financial reasons.

After dropping out of Howard University, Kenner worked multiple odd jobs but in 1941 she was employed by the Federal Government where she remained until the end of the decade. In 1950, she became a professional florist and ran her flower shop into the 1970s while inventing things in her spare time.

Kenner’s first patent was in 1957 for the sanitary belt. While she originally invented the sanitary belt in the 1920s, she couldn’t afford a patent. Over time she improved her earlier version and other versions that were patented before hers. The sanitary belt aimed to prevent the leakage of menstrual blood on clothing, which was a common problem for women at the time. The Sonn-Nap-Pack Company got word of this invention in 1957 and contacted her intending to market her invention, however when they discovered that she was Black, they declined.
In 1976 Kenner patented an attachment for a walker or wheelchair that included a hardsurfaced tray and a soft pocket for carrying items. She and her sister invented a toilet paper holder they patented in 1982. Her final patent, granted on 29 September 1987, was for a mounted back washer and massager.

Kenner didn’t receive any awards or formal recognition for her work. However, her inventions and contributions helped pave the way for subsequent innovations. Kenner still holds the record (five) for the greatest number of patents awarded a Black woman by the US Government.

Mary Davison Kenner married James `Jabbo’ Kenner in 1951. He died in 1983. They were foster parents and adopted Woodrow, one of their five foster children.

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/mary-kenner-1912-2006/