Lyda D. Newman born in 1865 (no exact date known) was a patented inventor and involved activist for women's suffrage. She is known for the invention of the first synthetic hairbrush. Lyda spent the majority of her life living and working in New York City.
Newman's primary occupation was hair care as she listed “hair specialist” or “hairdresser” in various New York City Directories and US Government Federal and New York City censuses.
In the late 1800s, Newman invented a hairbrush that could be taken apart easily for cleaning because it contained a compartment at the bottom that could be removed from the back and be cleaned. The U.S. Patent 614,335 was filed on July 11, 1898 and granted on November 15, 1898.
Even more important than creating her patented invention, Newman was an active community member and organizer for women's suffrage in the early 20th century. The suffrage movement was a push for women's right to vote in elections. As a suffragist, she spent her time canvasing neighborhoods in New York City, hosted street meetings to educate passing people and to support the Woman Suffrage Party, Newman started the Negro Suffrage Headquarters in Manhattan.
On August 29, 1915, the New York Times noted under "Suffrage Centre for Negroes", "The Woman Suffrage Party is to open a suffrage headquarters for colored people at 207 West Sixty-third Street on Wednesday. This will be in charge of Miss Lyda Newman, who is doing excellent work for suffrage among her own people. The headquarters will be gayly decorated with suffrage posters, flags and streamers.”
Unfortunately, just as in her birth there is no record of what year in which she died, however what is undeniable is that she used her money and resources to advance the cause for all women's rights.
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