Lewis Latimer (1848–1928) was a true Renaissance Man. When not inventing devices, he wrote poems, played musical instruments, installed large-scale lighting, co-founded a church, and even taught himself mechanical drawing. And of course, the African American lived in Queens, and his house is now a museum and historic landmark.
To celebrate Black History Month, the Lewis Latimer House Museum has launched Latimer’s Legacy Contests for K-12 students in three categories. The details follow.
Grades K-5 Invention Contest: Elementary school students are encouraged to submit drawings and brief descriptions of original inventions tackling problems big or small.
Grades 6-8 Poetry Contest: Middle School students are asked to write an original poem or haiku inspired by Latimer’s life and contributions.
Grades 9-12 Art Contest: High schoolers are invited to create original artworks inspired by Latimer’s legacy.
The prizes include $175 gift cards, Steph Curry’s “Black History Month edition” Lewis Latimer sneakers (Under Armour Curry 1 Retro), Scholastic books, and when it opens this spring, a class trip to Latimer House’s new permanent exhibition which will provide an immersive experience.
The submission deadline is March 31. All entries should go to [email protected] and should include the contestant’s full name, grade, school, and the title of the work. The subject line should include the name of the contest. Click here for more information.
“We invite students to channel their inner inventors, poets, and artists,” stated Education Manager Adriana Burkins. “These contests not only honor Lewis Latimer’s enduring legacy but also provide an educational platform for students to connect with history in a meaningful way.”
Executive Director Ran Yan added: “Lewis Latimer not only left an indelible mark on science but also passionately advocated for the fusion of arts and sciences. Latimer’s legacy stands as a testament to the interconnectedness of these disciplines and reminds us that creativity is the catalyst for scientific breakthroughs.”
Latimer, whose father was a fugitive slave, worked with Alexander Graham Bell on the telephone and Thomas Edison on the light bulb. On his own, he got patents for a railroad car toilet, an early air conditioner, and a socket which allowed light bulbs to screw into fixtures. His biggest invention was durable carbon filament for electric bulbs that made them cheaper and longer-lasting. (They soon replaced more dangerous gas lights, changing urban street illumination.) That’s only part of the story, the Renaissance man also found time to co-found the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Queens and teach himself mechanical drawing and drafting while mastering patent law, playing the flute, and writing poetry.
From 1903 until his death in 1928, he lived in a wood-framed, Queens Anne style residence in Flushing. The property remained in the Latimer family until 1963, although the house was moved from Holly Avenue to its present location in 1988. Today, the house, which was constructed between 1887 and 1889, is owned by NYC Parks and operated by the Lewis H. Latimer Fund as a public institution dedicated to sharing Latimer’s legacy and those of other scientists of color.
Images: Lewis Latimer House Museum