Before gaining freedom and becoming an inventor in Philadelphia, what was Thomas Elkins' status?
Answer
He was born enslaved
The text mentions that Elkins was born enslaved before eventually gaining his freedom and establishing himself as an inventor and entrepreneur.
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Thomas Elkins / Did You Know a Black Man Invented the Toilet?
Related Questions
What specific aspect of the modern toilet did Thomas Elkins patent improvements on in 1879?In what year was Thomas Elkins awarded his patent for improvements related to the water closet?What was a primary goal of Elkins' focus on the enclosure and housing of the toilet fixture?Before gaining freedom and becoming an inventor in Philadelphia, what was Thomas Elkins' status?What pattern in historical narratives often leads to the omission of Black inventors like Elkins?How does the text characterize the development of the modern toilet system?While some contemporaries focused on valve systems, what specific area did Elkins' expertise seem to bridge?What term is used to describe Elkins' role in refining an existing flush concept into a marketable domestic standard?What challenges specific to African Americans in the late 19th century might have obscured Elkins' recognition?What research strategy does the text suggest for uncovering the work of inventors focused on fixture refinement, like Elkins'?