Beulah Louise Henry

An American inventor known as 'Lady Edison' for her prolific contributions to household and industrial innovations.

Beulah Louise Henry (1887–1973) was a trailblazing inventor who held over 110 patents, revolutionizing everyday life with her creative solutions. Dubbed "Lady Edison" by the media, Henry’s inventions spanned sewing machines, dolls, vacuum ice cream freezers, and typewriter attachments.

Henry’s most notable invention was the protographic sewing machine (1936), which allowed users to duplicate patterns automatically. She also developed the first bobbinless sewing machine and a vacuum-sealed ice cream container. Her work in optics led to the dolly eyes for dolls, which became an industry standard.

Despite the male-dominated field of early 20th-century engineering, Henry’s ingenuity earned her recognition in publications like The New York Times. She founded two companies and licensed her patents to major firms like Mergenthaler Linotype. Learn more about her here.

Henry’s legacy lies in her ability to merge practicality with creativity, improving both industrial efficiency and domestic life. Her story highlights how perseverance and innovation can break barriers, inspiring future generations of female inventors.