Bessie Blout Griffin/Physical Therapist, Inventor

Dates: November 24, 1914 -
Occupation: physical therapist, inventor
Also known as: Bessie Blount Griffin
Bessie Blount’s Inventions Help Patients



Bessie Blount was born in Hickory, Virginia on November 24, 1914. She studied Physical Education at Panzar College in New Jersey. Prior to graduating from Panzar, she moved to Chicago where she completed her education. After graduating, she began working with injured World War II amputees. While she worked at helping her patients regain their independence, she found that eating was the most difficult task for them to manage by themselves. In response to her patients’ difficulty, Blount invented a device to assist them. A mouthful of food was delivered through a tube each time the patient bit down on the tube. The device could be used while lying down or sitting up.
In 1951, Blount moved back to Newark, New Jersey where she began teaching physical therapy at the Bronx Hospital in New York. She tried to market her device, but was unsuccessful. Instead, she decided to patent another device called the portable receptacle support. While its purpose was the same, this device was composed of a brace that was worn around the patient’s neck and was used to support a bowl or other dish.
Blount was unable to market this device and the Veteran's Administration was disinterested in using it. She signed over the rights to both of her inventions to the French government in 1952. According to Blount, despite not being able to promote her inventions, she was able to prove that "a black woman can invent something for the benefit of humankind."
Blount Works in Forensics
In 1969, Blount began conducting forensic science research for police departments in New Jersey and Virginia. In 1977, she was sent to Scotland Yard in England for training. After she stopped working for police departments, she started her own business using her forensic training experience to examine pre-civil war documents. She remained active in her business until she was 83.