Inventor Granville T. Woods patents an induction telegraph allowing communication with moving trains, improving railway safety.
At a Glance
- Date
- 11 October 1887
- Location
- United States
- Key people
- Granville T. Woods
- Category
- Science, Medicine & Invention
- Source
- U.S. Patent records (1887) · U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
What It Meant Then
His innovations in electric rail and communication earned him the nickname 'Black Edison.'
What It Means Now
Woods's patents advanced 19th-century transportation technology.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Granville T. Woods Patents a Telegraph System.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/granville-t-woods-patents-a-telegraph-system/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Granville T. Woods Patents a Telegraph System. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/granville-t-woods-patents-a-telegraph-system/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Granville T. Woods Patents a Telegraph System.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/granville-t-woods-patents-a-telegraph-system/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.