#021 - The Wringer

Episode Title: The Wringer Topic: Ellen Eglin – Inventor of the clothes-wringer Summary: Ellen Eglin, a Black laundress in 19th-century Washington, D.C., invented the clothes-wringer—a device that changed domestic work forever. Fearing racial backlash, she sold the rights anonymously. This episode explores how her quiet courage shaped an everyday revolution. Key Themes: • Black women in invention history • Labor-saving household devices • Erased innovators • The intersection of race, gender, and invention Recommended Reading: • Hidden Figures of American Invention (Smithsonian profiles) • U.S. Patent Office (for wringer derivatives) • Black Inventor Online Museum – Ellen Eglin Entry