Beatrice Kenner and Midred Smith: Sister Inventors

Jul 30, 2025

Discover the incredible inventions of sisters Beatrice Kenner and Mildred Smith, who revolutionized women's health and everyday life. Beatrice tackled menstrual protection, creating products that enhanced comfort and accessibility, while Mildred's innovations stemmed from her personal battle with disability. Their stories highlight resilience in a male-dominated industry and challenge misconceptions about their legacies. Dive into their family history, showcasing the struggles of Black inventors, and explore how their creativity sparked change in society!

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ANECDOTE

Sister Inventors' Distinct Paths

Beatrice Kenner and Mildred Smith were sisters and inventors with distinct focuses.\n- Beatrice worked on inventions easing daily life including menstrual products, while Mildred created family-focused inventions influenced by her disability.

INSIGHT

Racism Hindered Grandfather's Invention

Their grandfather, Robert Pink Fronbarger, was a Black inventor whose designs were stolen.\n- He couldn't defend his invention due to systemic racism, showing historical barriers Black inventors faced.

ANECDOTE

Early Life in Segregated South

Beatrice Davidson was born in Monroe, NC in 1912, and Mildred in Charlotte in 1916.\n- The family lived in a predominantly white area with no public schools for Black children, causing them to attend private schools.

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Beatrice Kenner’s inventions were focused largely on making life easier and less annoying for herself and the people around her, including period products. Mildred Smith’s invention was about family, and it grew from her disability after she developed multiple sclerosis.

Research:

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Byram, W.F. and R.P. Phronebarger. “Current Supply System for Electric Railways.” U.S. Patent 1,134,871. 4/6/1915.
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