Cotton Canvas Tote Bag Garrett Morgan “Invented to Save. Designed to Inspire.

Garrett Morgan, —One the most brilliant minds in Black American history.

🔧 Early Life & Drive

• Born March 4, 1877, in Paris, Kentucky, to formerly enslaved parents.
• Left school after sixth grade and moved to Cincinnati at age 14 to work and continue learning through private tutoring.
• Eventually settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began repairing sewing machines—a skill that sparked his inventive spirit.

💡 Inventive Genius

Garrett Morgan’s mind was a fountain of practical innovation:

• Safety Hood (1914): A precursor to the modern gas mask, used to rescue workers trapped in a tunnel explosion under Lake Erie in 1916.
• Traffic Signal (1923): Created a three-position traffic light to prevent accidents—adding a “caution” phase between stop and go.
• Hair Care Products: Accidentally discovered a chemical that straightened hair, leading to the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company, which sold hair creams, dyes, and combs.

📰 Civic Leadership & Legacy

• Founded the Cleveland Call newspaper in 1920 to uplift Black voices.
• Active in civil rights and community organizations like the Cleveland Association of Colored Men and the NAACP.
• Built a country club for African Americans in Wakeman, Ohio, during segregation.

🕊️ Later Years & Impact

• Despite developing glaucoma and losing his sight later in life, Morgan continued inventing—including a self-extinguishing cigarette.
• Died on July 27, 1963, at age 86 in Cleveland.
• Honored with schools, water treatment plants, and streets named after him—including Garrett A. Morgan Boulevard in Maryland.

Garrett Morgan didn’t just invent—he saved lives, challenged racial barriers, and paved the way for future generations.