Lyda D. Newman (c. 1885 – ?) was a hairdresser and inventor who was also an activist for women's suffrage. She held a patent for a novel durable hairbrush with synthetic bristles.^[1]

Early life

Newman was born approximately in 1889 in Ohio,^[1] but there is no information regarding her exact dates of birth or death.^[2] She spent the majority of her life living and working in Manhattan, New York City, specifically in the neighborhood San Juan Hill.^[2] Records indicate that she may have been of mixed ancestry as her race was cited as "mulatto" on some documents and 'black' on others.^[2] Throughout her life, Newman's primary occupation was hair care and she listed “hair specialist” or “hairdresser” on various New York City Directories and US Government Federal and New York City censuses.^[2][3][4][5]

In addition to her work in New York City, Newman appears to have worked with hair in Newport, Rhode Island, during the summer season. The Newport Daily News contains the following advertisement in its July 20, 1903, edition:

“Lyda NEWMAN, OF NEW YORK. HAIR and SCALP SPECIALIST, Begs to announce that she has arrived for her ninth season in Newport and will be glad to receive calls from those desiring treatment. My original method of magnetic manipulation positively cures nervous exhaustion. Shampooing a specialty. 56 BATH ROAD.”^[6][7]

Newman’s marriage status was listed as single from 1905-1925, so it appears she never married, which was uncommon for a woman in the early 1900’s. Her exact date of death is unknown.

According to some accounts, Lyda D. Newman served as a hairdresser for a private family during her thirties, demonstrating not only her commitment to women's social duties and rights but also her innate sense of creativity and aesthetics. Driven by her passion, Lyda D. Newman pursued the invention of a new hairdressing technology while concurrently practicing as a hairdresser. She gained popularity for her hairbrush, designed to enhance hairstyling, ensure cleanliness, improve hygiene, offer ease of use, and maximize efficiency. This invention remains associated with her legacy, serving multiple purposes in ethnic hair care.

Patent and invention

In the late 1800s, Newman invented a hairbrush that used durable synthetic bristles rather than weak animal hair bristles used at the time.^[8] When working as a hairdresser, Newman noticed how hard it was to effectively style textured hair with brushes made from animal hair. Because of this, she created a hairbrush with synthetic bristles, which were more durable and easier to clean. The design of her new hairbrush contained evenly spaced rows of bristles with open slots to clear debris away from the hair and into a recessed compartment, which made it effective for cleaning the device. The brush also had a button that when clicked, the bristle part would detach and a new one could be put in..^[9][10][11]

All of these features came together to create an effective product to easily style ethnic hair. The synthetic materials are not only more durable, but are cheaper. This means that the hairbrush is sold for a cheaper price and is easier to manufacture. This made the brush accessible to many women of different backgrounds. The market for hair products made for people with textured hair at that time was very small. Women would not be able to style their hair in appropriate ways since African American hair acts differently than white hair and needs specific products and care. [1]

The U.S. Patent 614,335^[12] was filed on July 11, 1898 and granted on November 15, 1898, making her the third Black woman to hold a U.S. patent. The hairbrush she invented is described in her patent as "simple and durable in construction" and being "very effective when in use".^[12] Modern hairbrushes still use Newman’s design, with the only changes being aesthetic. Lyda’s invention changed the hair-care industry, due to the fact that her design made hairbrushes less expensive, easier to manufacture, and effective to use on textured hair. See gallery for diagram of the hairbrush.

The hairbrush invented by Lyda Newman, 1898

Newman was familiar with the United States Patent Office prior to filing for a patent for her brush. In the July 17, 1894, issue of the Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, page 126, the issuance of Trademark number 25,022 is noted for the name "VIDACABELLO, 'A PREPARATION FOR THE HAIR AND SCALP.' LYDA D. NEWMAN, New York, N.Y. Filed June 19, 1894. The 'Essential feature' of the Trademark is the word 'VIDACABELLO.' Used since August 1892."^[13]

Lyda became the third African American woman to receive a patent. She was only 13 years old when she created and patented the hairbrush. The innovation of the hairbrush revolutionized the cosmetics sector, enabling more women to enter the fields of engineering and design. Newman’s advocacy for women’s suffrage laid the groundwork for the 20th-century feminist movement, and her enduring legacy continues to inspire women and girls to pursue their aspirations and overcome barriers. [2] Newman stood among the pioneering African Americans who secured patents in the history of the USA, alongside notable figures like Miriam Benjamin, Sarah Goode, and Judy Reed. Following this achievement, she continued her career as a private hairdresser in New York throughout her lifetime. [2]

Activism

As well as creating her patented invention, Newman was an active community member and organizer for women's suffrage in the early 20th century. As a suffragist, she canvassed New York City neighborhoods, hosted street meetings to educate passing people, and opened the Negro Suffrage Headquarters in Manhattan. ^{[3] [2]}

Lyda D. Newman collaborated with numerous esteemed female activists of her era, showcasing remarkable networking, communication, and team-building skills. Her integrity drove her efforts in uplifting women in society. Actively engaged in various women’s organizations such as the Equal Suffrage League and the National Organization of Colored Women, Newman frequently delivered speeches and lectures advocating for women’s rights, leaving a lasting impact.[3] This organization championed the civic and political rights of American women. Collaborating with white women's groups within the Suffrage Party, they jointly raised awareness among New York residents about the necessity of women's emancipation.

On August 29, 1915, the New York Times noted under "Suffrage Centre for Negroes", "The Woman Suffrage Party is to open a suffrage headquarters for colored people at 207 West Sixty-third Street on Wednesday. This will be in charge of Miss Lyda Newman, who is doing excellent work for suffrage among her own people. The headquarters will be gayly decorated with suffrage posters, flags and streamers. Many colored women have been asked to play hostess at the new headquarters while Miss Newman goes canvassing among voters in the neighborhood (sic)."^[14]

On Thursday, September 2, 1915, the New York Times followed up with a second news blurb under "Negro Suffrage Headquarters", "Headquarters for the work of the negro suffragists were opened at 207 West Sixty-third Street last evening with a big open-air meeting outside the building. Miss Lyda D. Newman is in charge of the work, and will continue canvasing and organizing street meetings through the thirteenth Assembly District from now until election day. Dr. Mary Halton and Miss Portia Willis were among the speakers last evening. Sixty-third Street was opened yesterday as a play street with no traffic from 3 to 9 P.M., and mothers are invited to the headquarters and watch their children play from the windows (sic)."^[15]

In 1924, seven years after women's suffrage was achieved in the year 1917, Lyda Newman can be found on the 51st election district for New York City voter list as a registered voter. ^[2]

Even though there isn't much information about her life and death, Newman is known for being ahead of her time. She took something only wealthy people had and made it something everyone uses every day. Ever since Newman created the hairbrush, people everywhere use it to style their textured hair with ease. Both wealthy and less fortunate people have variations of her hairbrush. She changed society by making a simple change to something to make it more accessible to a wider range of people.A hundred years after she made it, the world still uses her brush. There are different versions now, but they all focus on lasting long and being easy to use, just like her original idea.

References