Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner: Her Vision was Accessibility

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner
May 17, 1912 – Jan 13, 2006
Photo source: CreativeDevs https://creativedevs.com/
May 17, 1912 – Jan 13, 2006
Photo source: CreativeDevs https://creativedevs.com/

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner was born May 17, 1912 in Monroe, NC. Her story is impressive because she’s been inventing throughout her entire life. Her earliest invention was creating self-oiling hinges. This was her idea at the age of 6!

She invented a serving tray that could be attached to walkers and wheelchairs, a back washer on the shower wall, a toilet paper holder that was easier to reach & ensure the proper position for the toilet paper, and a portable ashtray that would hold a cigarette carton.

Her most notable invention was the sanitary belt which paved the way for modern menstrual products we use today.

She originally made her invention in the 1920s but it took nearly 30 years for her work to be acknowledged. The reason? Racism and financial inaccessibility. She couldn’t afford the patent. When a company wanted to market her product, they changed their mind when they learned the inventor was a black woman.

By the 1970s, the sanitary belt became obsolete as companies began producing menstrual products that no longer required the belt to be held in place.

Kenner now has a total of 5 patents under her belt (pun absolutely intended).

Her motive for creating so much is that she wanted to improve the quality of life for everyone. Some of her inventions were inspired by creating items to assist her sister, who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

This is a woman of innovation and she deserves to be recognized for the world she envisioned for all of us. Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, we honor you.

https://youtu.be/512qBdHuGx0

https://www.diversityinc.com /womens-history-month-profiles-mary -beatrice-davidson-kenner-inventor/

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