15: Philip B. Downing: The Inventor Who Revolutionized the Mail Box

Legacy Makers: Stories of Black Inventors and Icons

Date: December 04, 2024 Legacy Makers: Stories of Black Inventors and Icons Title and Show Info Episode #15. Philip B. Downing: The Inventor Who Revolutionized the Mail Box Featuring: Toni Davis (Host & Storyteller). Summary Image: It’s 1891, and sending a letter means braving the weather, trudging miles to the nearest post office, and hoping your parcel survives the elements. But in October 1891, Philip B. Downing, the Rhode Island-born innovator says, “What if mail could meet us halfway?” With a genius design that’s now known as the mailbox, Philip doesn’t just give us convenience—he revolutionizes communication. Born in 1857 to a family of trailblazers, including a prominent abolitionist father and a grandfather whose Manhattan oyster house is the toast of the town, Philip B. Downing is destined for greatness. From engineering street-railway switches to perfecting envelope moisteners (yes, those were a thing!), his knack for solving everyday problems leaves a legacy of ingenuity. But the mailbox isn’t just a clever box on legs—it’s a leap toward modern connectivity. Downing’s patented hinged door safeguards mail from rain, snow, and prying eyes, making snail mail faster and more reliable. Little does he know, his invention will pave the way for over 150,000 collection boxes used daily across the United States. This week, we dive into Philip B. Downing’s life, from his Boston-based career at the Custom House to the 1989 US postal stamp commemorating his contributions. Join us for a witty, whirlwind tour of the man who made it easier for love letters, bills, and postcards to find their way home. Got mail? Thank Philip Downing!

Highlights: 01:00- INTRO. 01:23- PHILIP B. DOWNING’S BIRTH. 01:37- HIS FATHER GEORGE T. DOWNING. 01:45- HIS MOTHER SERENA L. DEGRASSE. 02:01- HIS GRANDFATHER THOMAS DOWNING. 00:23- THE UNITED ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY OF THE CITY OF NY. 03:34- PHILIP MOVES TO BOSTON, MA. 03:49- MARRIES EVANGELINE HOWARD. 03:57- THE COUPLE HAVE TWO CHILDREN. 04:05- CLERK AT THE BOSTON CUSTOM HOUSE. 04:55- FILES A PATENT APPLICATION FOR A MECHANICAL DEVICE TO OPERATE STREET RAILWAY SWITCHES. 05:08- GRANTED PATENT FOR HIS DEVICE. 06:55- DEVISES THE STREET LETTER BOX AKA THE MAIL BOX. 07:10- GRANTED A PATENT FOR THE MAILBOX. 07:49- PATENTS AN IMPROVED VERSION OF THE MAILBOX. 08:21- PATENTS AN ENVELOPE MOISTENER. 08:37- PATENTS ACCESSIBLE DESKTOP NOTEPAD. 09:14- RETIRES FROM THE BOSTON CUSTOM HOUSE AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE. 09:32- PHILIP B. DOWNING PASSES AWAY. 10:00- RECEIVES A US POSTAL SERVICE COMMERATIVE STAMP. 10:29- CONCLUSION. Subscribe to the podcast.

Links To Additional Resources:

Philip B. Downing (1857-1934) • Black Inventor Philip Downing is the reason for mailboxes and then some Philip Downing - The Black Inventor Online Museum Philip Bell Downing: Black Creativity Seen in Everyday Objects – BlackPressUSA Black in the Day…You Got Mail - BLACK WITH NO CHASER Philip Downing invented the modern-day letterbox - Face2Face Africa Philip B. Downing Facts for Kids Philip B. Downing Philip Downing