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When we talk of inventors, especially Black inventors, one name doesn’t come up too often: Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner. Haven’t heard of her? You’re not alone.
Kenner did not receive any college degree or professional training, and she never became rich from her inventions, yet she was instrumental in creating something that has helped billions of women worldwide: the sanitary belt, the precursor to menstrual pads that women still use today.
Women like Kenner were kept out of most scientific establishments and academic institutions for centuries, but they carried on anyway. They transformed their bedrooms into laboratories, turned coat hangers into scientific equipment, and in the case of Kenner, saved and scraped and believed in their own patents.
Kenner was born in North Carolina and came from a family of inventors. Her father, who she credited for her initial interest in discovery, was Sidney Nathaniel Davidson (June 1890-November 1958). In her lifetime, he patented a clothing press which would fit in suitcases, though he ultimately made no money on the invention. Her grandfather also invented a light signal for trains, and her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith (1916–1993) invented and commercially sold board games.
She invented the sanitary belt with moisture-proof napkin pocket, which was not used until 30 years after she invented it. The company that first showed interest in her invention rejected it after they discovered that she was an African American woman. In 1957, she was finally able to save up enough money to get her first patent on the sanitary belt.
(Kenner’s patent rendering for the tissue paper holder)
“One day I was contacted by a company that expressed an interest in marketing my idea. I was so jubilant,” she said in an interview. “I saw houses, cars, and everything about to come my way.” A company rep drove to Kenner’s house in Washington to meet with their prospective client. “Sorry to say, when they found out I was black, their interest dropped. The representative went back to New York and informed me the company was no longer interested.”
During World War II in 1941, Mary found a job with the federal government. She worked for the Census Bureau, and later…
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