Lyda Newman-clutch bag Sold

Another great easy to carry clutch leather handbag. Made of a soft sweet mustard color with the flap made of a complimenting embossed croc over a chocolate leather. The bag is fully lined and has two interior pockets ,trimmed with croc leather. The rear of this clutch is an additional carrying strap for your convenience.

Lyda Newman

 Lyda Newman was  born in Ohio 1885- death unknown. Newman was the inventor of the hair brush for black women. Newman’s hairbrush was patented in 1898 when she was 13 years old. Newman’s interest in making this newly designed hairbrush began when she would do her hair and started doing other women’s hair after moving to New York. In search to find a more efficient way to fix her clients’ hair, Newman invented the new hairbrush style. By getting it patented, she became the third black woman ever to receive a patent. Newman’s design was specifically made for African American hair and had synthetic bristles instead of animal hair. The synthetic bristles were firmer, lasted longer, and did not break as easily when used on ethnic hair. The synthetic bristles could be moved farther apart and combed through hair easier and they could be detached and reattached very quickly, which improved efficiency. Hairdressers could now take the bristles out and have a new brush much quicker than cleaning the entire brush between clients. Additionally, there was a compartment in the brush that debris such as dandruff and dirt would fall into and could easily be removed for cleaning .Newman’s brush was also unique because it had an air chamber that allowed airflow to the bristles, which helped the brush dry much faster. By making all of these changes to the brush and adding synthetic materials, the new hairbrush was cheaper and easier to manufacture.  Newman is also remembered for her women’s rights advocacy. By 1915 Newman was highlighted in multiple newspapers for her suffrage work. She was one of the organizers of an African American branch of the Woman Suffrage Party which fought to give women the legal right to vote.