Home/ Supporting Innovation/ Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor
Supporting Innovation Details

Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor

"With her sketchbook labeled My Inventions and her father's toolbox, Mattie could make almost anything – toys, sleds, and a foot warmer. When she was just twelve years old, Mattie designed a metal guard to prevent shuttles from shooting off textile looms and injuring workers. As an adult, Mattie invented the machine that makes the square-bottom paper bags we still use today. However, in court, a man claimed the invention was his, stating that she "could not possibly understand the mechanical complexities." Marvelous Mattie proved him wrong, and over the course of her life earned the title of "the Lady Edison. "With charming pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, this introduction to one of the most prolific female inventors will leave readers inspired" (Amazon).

By McCully, Emily Arnold
Audience
Grades 3-5
Keywords
Female inventors

About this resource

"With her sketchbook labeled My Inventions and her father's toolbox, Mattie could make almost anything – toys, sleds, and a foot warmer. When she was just twelve years old, Mattie designed a metal guard to prevent shuttles from shooting off textile looms and injuring workers. As an adult, Mattie invented the machine that makes the square-bottom paper bags we still use today. However, in court, a man claimed the invention was his, stating that she "could not possibly understand the mechanical complexities." Marvelous Mattie proved him wrong, and over the course of her life earned the title of "the Lady Edison. "With charming pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, this introduction to one of the most prolific female inventors will leave readers inspired" (Amazon).

Metadata & audience

Author / CreatorMcCully, Emily Arnold
FormatBook
AudienceGrades 3-5

Keywords

Female inventors