On the intersection of Leavitt and 137th Streets in Flushing, Queens (in District 20), is the Lewis Latimer House museum. Latimer was a Black inventor, who was born in 1848 and passed away in 1928. Latimer lived in this house for the last 26 years of his life – a life lived to the full.
In an interview, the museum’s Executive Director Ran Yan describes how Latimer’s legacy is being carried forward in the house itself and its relationship with its surrounding community.
Lewis Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, to parents who had fled slavery in Virginia. At 16, he enlisted in the Union Navy during the civil war.
Then, with no formal education, he taught himself mechanical drawing and became a chief draftsman, patent expert and inventor. His most well-known invention is a version of the carbon filament in light bulbs, which meant that they could become far more accessible and affordable. He eventually became the chief draftsman at the Edison Electric Light Company. Latimer also prepared the technical drawings for Alexander Graham Bell’s patent application for the telephone.
As Ran describes, Latimer’s work and impact extends far beyond his inventions. He wrote poetry and plays, played the flute, and advocated for the education and advancement of Black people.
Latimer’s legacy is reflected in the museum’s emphasis on STEAM education: Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. It hosts free “STEAM Saturdays” for local families.
Ran’s involvement with Lewis Latimer House began during a fellowship program with New York Historic Houses, reimagining how historic houses interact with their communities. “Through some initial programming at the house I learned about the history and felt it was inspiring for an immigrant like me…I can relate to the spirit of overcoming barriers,” she says. Part of her role at the time was providing bilingual tours in Mandarin and English for local residents in Flushing, many of whom come from China.
“It was really fulfilling seeing people from all kinds of backgrounds relate to Lewis Latimer’s story and feel inspired”
The museum now has the ambitious goal of reaching 10 percent of all students in Queens between 3rd and 8th grade, over the next three to five years. It aims to inspire them with the “Lewis Latimer mindset”, which the museum describes as reflecting “Latimer’s unique approach to problem-solving: one that fearlessly engages and challenges the world, regardless of the circumstances or obstacles it presents”.
The mindset has three attributes – imagination, connection, and resilience.
The Latimer mindset is reflected in the downstairs rooms of the house, where five exhibits hone in on different aspects of Latimer’s life.
The exhibits were created during the renovation of the house, supported by the Mellon Foundation. Ran tapped into her architectural training for the renovation – even though she had “realized after architecture school [in Shanghai] I prefer working with people rather than buildings!” A wide community advisory group provided input on their vision for the future of the house.
“From the very beginning, the planning, through the designing and fabrication and installation it took about two years and the building was closed for about seven months. It was a long-term project for us, and to finally see everything come to life, it was really incredible.”
Ran is also an advisory board member of a network called Arts.Culture.Queens, together with representatives of other Queens cultural organizations like Queens Theater and the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company. The network recognizes the importance of strengthening connection among the borough’s cultural organizations, especially given that Queens currently does not have an Arts Council.
As Ran puts it:
“We have so much talent and assets just among the community in Queens. The different languages we speak, the different disciplines and even artistic practices that everyone has brought in from where they migrated from is incredibly diverse. This also presents a challenge…or a mandate, for coalitions like Arts.Culture.Queens to make extra efforts to ensure that we connect with all kinds of groups that are active and thriving in Queens…”
Reflecting on her journey with Lewis Latimer House, Ran adds:
“The board have been incredibly supportive. And other community groups like the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Queens Chapter, and the Local 3 electrical workers union, are among many community partners who have been working to ensure that Lewis Latimer’s legacy is preserved and celebrated. There are so many people working towards that goal.”
The museum’s STEAM Educator, Shane Coleman, says:
“Whenever we have children here they go onto the porch, and they think ‘oh I know this porch, I see this porch through history’ – and it helps them connect. You come here, and you hear multiple stories.”
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- Watch a short video about the house produced by the Simons Foundation
- Check out the story behind Lewis Latimer House’s brand, created by masters students in branding at the School of Visual Arts
- Visit the Lewis Latimer House website, on Instagram, and YouTube