Richard Montgomery (1820-1874) was a New York City based inventor who held numerous patents related to corrugated metals. Here at Hagley, we have his patent model for an Improved Defensive Armor for Ships and Other Batteries (Patent No. 37,633), which was granted a patent on February 10, 1863.
In looking through the patents granted to Montgomery, we noticed that a few of them were assigned to an individual named Elizabeth Montgomery. And then, after Elizabeth’s death in 1863, Richard begins assigning some of his patents to a Mary Jane Montgomery. We suspect that these three were likely siblings. It is possible that Richard was assigning some of his patents to relatives in order to provide them some sort of income.
But the plot thickens! By researching Richard Montgomery, we learned that Mary Jane Montgomery was an inventor herself! She patented a War Vessel, and then a Car Wheel in 1864, a Metal Punch in 1866, and a Bridge in 1868. Richard Montgomery’s patent model was our lens into the life of Mary Jane, and for that, we are grateful!
In 1869, the Burlington Free Press gave some attention to Mary Jane’s Metal Punch invention:
“…one woman’s model out of the hundred and fifty thousand is of equal benefit to both sexes when carried into the experiences of actual life. Let her name be written on the scroll of fame…. The employees of the Patent Office paid her a high compliment by saying ‘that she made no more trouble around that building than a man.’ According to the best information to be gained, all other inventions by women, with the exception of cradles, pertain to ladies’ wearing apparel.”
Today we know very well that, even by 1869, women were inventing in a multitude of industries – not just “ladies’ apparel.” This article takes us back to a time in the Patent Office when women’s inventions were undercounted and underrepresented. Hagley’s patent model collection showcases this fact quite well through inventors like Clarissa Britain, Emily Tassey, and Mary Carpenter.
Ladies, keep making all the trouble you possibly can in the Patent Office. Happy Women’s History Month!
Special thanks to Trudi Koston, Inventor Research Project volunteer, for this information on Richard and Mary Jane Montgomery.
Caroline Western is the Museum’s Curator of Collections at Hagley Museum and Library.