On May 5, 1809, Mary Dixon Kies became the first woman to receive a U.S. Patent.  Many women during this time did not have patents because many states did not allow women to own property, and a patent is a form of property.  Mary Kies was the first woman to break that pattern with a patent directed to “a new and useful improvement in weaving straw with silk or thread.”  This method was supposed to be used in making women’s hats and bonnets.

Laurie Young                (612) 392-7309           Laurie.Young@nm-iplaw.com