Curated OER
Black Inventor Online Museum: Lewis Latimer
The biography of the fascinating African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. In addition to finding out about his development of the carbon filament for the incandescent lamp, you can read about his expertise in patent law, his association...
Library of Congress
Loc: Learning Page: Thomas Edison
This resource provides lesson plans and information about Thomas Edison and his inventions.
Rutgers University
Thomas Edison Papers: Latimer's Patents
Find a list of patents issued to African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer, to him individually or with another inventor. Clicking on the invention takes you a diagram of the invention as well as its description submitted to the U.S....
Rutgers University
Blueprint for Change: The Life and Times of Lewis H. Latimer
An extensive look at the inventor, Lewis Latimer, from the Thomas Edison Papers at Rutgers University. Read essays about his life and inventions, the culture in Boston which encouraged his work, and his life outside his inventions. A...
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Tracing the Roots of America's Motion Picture Industry
In the late 1800's, Thomas Edison and his fellow inventors were key in the American film industry's boom.This web site provides a podcast and accompanying transcript tracing the roots of the film industry in America. Podcast [21:27]
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Thomas Edison's Places of Invention
An article by Paul Israel from the Prototype newsletter discusses the various laboratories used by Thomas Edison as he was developing his inventions.
Curated OER
National Park Service: The Invention Factory:thomas Edison's Laboratories
This Teaching With Historic Places lesson plan about Thomas Edison's laboratories is filled with maps, readings, critical thinking questions, and photographs related to Edison's labs and inventions. This site explains and details the...
New York Times
New York Times: 32 Innovations That Will Change Your Tomorrow
If you don't know that the incandescent light was a failure before it was a success, it's easy to write off some modern energy innovations like solar panels because they haven't hit the big time fast enough. Worse, the fairy-tale view of...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Greenhouse Effect Lab
Students measure temperature changes inside soda bottles filled with CO2 and air as incandescent light is shined on them to model the Greenhouse Effect.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Lewis Howard Latimer
This is an excellent biography of Lewis Howard Latimer. It discusses his joy of learning throughout his entire life, and also includes additional links to help illustrate the topics presented.
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Invention Features: Lewis Latimer
Smithsonian site features the life and many accomplishments of Lewis Latimer, the famous African-American inventor.
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame: Thomas Alva Edison
This site honorsThomas Alva Edison as a historic inventor and focuses attention on his invention of the electric lamp.
PBS
American Experience: Technology Timeline: 1752 1990
Short descriptions of important technological innovations produced in America and the date of their introduction.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Inventors & Inventions 1801 1850
This site from Enchanted Learning presents several brief overviews of major early nineteenth century inventors and their inventions. The information is accessible by clicking on the corresponding link.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Technology Timeline 1750 1990
Did you ever wonder who invented something, and when it was invented? Go to this interactive timeline that highlights inventors/inventions from 1750-1990. Click on the topic to read a brief paragraph about that invention.