Entrepreneur Sarah E. Goode Invented the Cabinet Bed
Sarah E. Goode was an African American inventor and businesswoman who was born into slavery in 1855. She went on to become the first African American woman to receive a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Goode’s invention of the folding cabinet bed, designed to save space in small apartments, has earned her recognition and fame. Her invention was innovative because it combined a bed and a desk or cabinet in one piece of furniture, allowing people to make the most of their limited living space. During the day, the bed folded up into a cabinet, freeing up space for other activities, and easily pulled down into a bed at night. Goode’s invention helped to meet the needs of people in growing cities who were looking to make the most of their limited living space.