Lewis Howard Latimer was a renowned African American inventor, draftsman, and engineer who worked for Thomas Edison and Hiram Maxim. He played a role in the development of carbon filament light bulbs, which made electric lighting more practical and accessible. This blueprint likely pertains to one of his own inventions or engineering designs. The inclusion of his signature suggests this may have been a working draft, an official document, or part of a patent application. Latimer worked at 120 Broadway in Manhattan, the address he inscribed on the blueprint, twice in his career: In 1880 for Hiram Maxim, and between 1902 and 1910 for the Edison companies.

Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]