Lyda D. Newman, was born in Ohio c. 1885, the year of her death is unknown. It is known that she was living in NY.

She was an inventor, as well as a Black women’s rights activist.

She applied for and was granted a patent for her modified hairbrush design at age 14, the youngest Black woman to have done so at the time.

She spent the majority of her life living and working in Manhattan, New York City, specifically in the neighborhood San Juan Hill.

Records indicate that she may have been of mixed race as she was cited interchangeably recording her race as mulatto and black on various papers.

Throughout her life, Newman's primary occupation was hair care as she listed “hair specialist” or “hairdresser” in various New York City Directories and US Government Federal and New York City censuses.

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.

In the late 1800s, Newman invented a hairbrush that used synthetic bristles instead of the animal hairs commonly used for brushes at the time, making it more durable.

It could also be taken apart easily for cleaning because it contained a compartment at the bottom that could be removed from the back and be cleaned.

The U.S. Patent 614,335 was filed on July 11, 1898 and granted on November 15, 1898. The hairbrush she invented is described in her patent as "simple and durable in construction" and being "very effective when in use".

(See Photo collage with this post for diagram of the hairbrush)
#IrememberOurHistory

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."

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 spent her time canvassing neighborhoods in New York City, hosted street meetings to educate passing people, and to support the Woman Suffrage Party, Newman started the Negro Suffrage Headquarters in Manhattan.

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)."

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)."

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

Source: Wikipedia
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From Find A Grave Website:
Lyda D Newman invented a improved brush and received patent #614,335 on 11/15/1898.

Born in Ohio in 1885, Newman was the daughter of a steelworker and a housewife.
Not much is known about her early life. By the time she was 13 she was living with her family in New York City.
She applied for a patent for her hairbrush design at 14, the youngest Black woman to have done so at the time. Even more remarkable, the patent was granted.

Newman lived and worked in Manhattan in New York City.

The hairbrush she invented is described as "simple and durable in construction" and being "very effective when in use".

Widely separated slots allow for hair to flow through the brush easily. The brush could then be removed from the holder and be cleaned.

Lydia Newman was also one of the most active Black women's rights activists of her time.

She worked closely with suffragettes to raise awareness for the women's vote. She was involved in canvassing the boroughs of New York City as a young woman. She was instrumental in eventually securing the vote for women.

Very little information is known about her personal life, primarily due to the fact that she was a Black woman during a period in which Black and women's history was not documented extensively.

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From Massachusetts Institute of Technology Website:

Lyda Newman
Hairbrush with synthetic bristles
CONSUMER DEVICES

Lyda Newman was a remarkable Black woman inventor who patented the first hairbrush with synthetic bristles.

She is the third Black woman to ever receive a patent. She is also known for her activism in the women’s voting rights movement of the early 20th century.

Lyda Newman was born in Ohio sometime between 1865 and 1885. Little is known of Newman’s personal life because women, especially Black women, were treated with disregard at that time.

However, census records show that she spent most of her life living in New York City, working as a hairdresser, specifically in the neighborhood San Juan Hill.

Newman’s decision to improve the design of the hairbrush derived from her own experience as a Black woman and as a hairdresser.

She wanted the process of brushing hair to be more hygienic and efficient. Most hairbrushes at the time were made using animal hair, but the material was too soft to effectively treat the thicker texture of African American hair.

Newman used synthetic fibers which were more durable and easier to clean. The brush contained evenly spaced rows of bristles with open slots to clear debris away from the hair into a recessed compartment.

The back could be opened with a button for cleaning out the compartment.

Newman received a patent for her invention on November 15, 1898.

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyda_D._Newman

Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/133599307/lyda-d_-newman

Source: https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/lyda-newman