Born into Slavery in 1850, Sarah E. Goode understood the cramped quarters many Americans living in poverty feel today. The average slave quarters in 1850 measured 20-by-20 feet and that 400-square feet was home to a minimum of four to six slaves. Most likely this is one of the reasons that Goode, whose father was a carpenter, set out to provide quality furniture for families with limited space. Her invention, a folding bed that transforms into a roll-top desk with compartments for writing supplies was approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on July 14, 1885, making her the first African-American woman to receive a U.S. Patent. Goode’s fold-up bed is similar to today’s fold-down beds, also known as the Murphy Bed. American inventor