Sarah E. Goode: The First Black Woman to Receive a U.S. Patent

Sarah E. Goode was an entrepreneur, inventor, and educator whose work addressed a problem that still exists today: the lack of space in urban housing. In 1885, she became the first African American woman known to receive a U.S. patent, marking a major milestone in American innovation.

Her invention laid the groundwork for modern space-saving furniture and opened doors for generations of Black women inventors who followed.

Early Life

Sarah Elisabeth Jacobs was born around 1855–1856 in Toledo, Ohio, to parents Oliver and Harriet Jacobs, who had been enslaved. Following the end of the Civil War, Sarah gained her freedom and later relocated to Chicago, Illinois, a city that would become central to her life and legacy.

In Chicago, she married Archibald Goode, a skilled carpenter originally from Virginia. The couple married in 1880 and eventually saved enough money to purchase and operate their own furniture store, an impressive achievement for a Black family in the late 19th century.

The Invention That Changed Urban Living

While running their furniture business, Goode noticed a recurring problem among her customers. Many lived in small apartments with limited space and could not comfortably fit traditional furniture, especially beds.

To solve this, she invented the folding cabinet bed, a piece of furniture that could function as a desk or cabinet during the day and be unfolded into a bed at night. Her design allowed people to maximize limited living space without sacrificing functionality.

In July 1885, Sarah E. Goode was granted U.S. Patent No. 322,177 for her invention. This innovation is widely considered a precursor to the Murphy bed, which would not be patented until more than 30 years later, in 1916.

A Note on Patent History

There is occasional debate regarding whether Judy W. Reed received a patent before Goode. Reed was granted a patent in 1884 for a dough-kneading machine. However, Reed signed her patent with an “X,” likely due to literacy barriers, and very little is known about her life.

Both women deserve recognition. This post focuses on Sarah E. Goode’s documented contributions, which were clearly tied to her business, community presence, and long-term influence on design and entrepreneurship.

Family and Community Life

Census records from 1880 show Goode living in Chicago with her husband, their daughter, and several boarders. Over time, the couple had six children, three of whom lived to adulthood.

Goode was deeply involved in Chicago’s Black community. She was affiliated with Olivet Baptist Church and the Colored Women’s League, organizations focused on education, self-sufficiency, and advancement for African Americans.

Correcting the Record

Sarah E. Goode was not an actress, a claim that appears in some poorly sourced biographies. There is no historical evidence supporting that assertion. Her documented roles were those of inventor, entrepreneur, and educator.

Why Sarah E. Goode Still Matters

Sarah E. Goode died in 1905 in Chicago and was laid to rest at Graceland Cemetery. Her legacy lives on not only through her invention but through the doors she helped open.

In her honor, Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy in Chicago bears her name, inspiring students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

She didn’t just invent furniture. She invented possibility.