Photo of Judy Woodford  Reed

Judy Woodford Reed

1826 - 1905
Seamstress and Homemaker
USA USA

Personal Information

Born: 1826

Died: 1905

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: Black

Education

unknown-probably illiterate as patent application is signed with an X

Professional Life

Field of Study: Seamstress and Homemaker

Institution/Corporation: none

Degrees & Memberships: none

Awards & Achievements

Awards: none

Achievements: only known records are patent application & census reports beginning in 1870

Believed to be the 1st African-american female to receive a US patent

1st appeared in the 1870 census as a 44 year old seamstress in Albemarle county, VA with husband Allen & their 5 children

The census lists both her & her husband as illiterate & her patent is signed with an X

Patent & census record are the only records of her

Invented dough kneader & roller