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⚙️ The Story of Frederick McKinley Jones
On This Day: June 27, 1939
Filed Patent No. 2,163,754 – Ticket Dispensing Machine
Today’s story isn’t about cold facts—it’s about the man who invented cold.
On June 27, 1939, Frederick McKinley Jones, a self-taught Black inventor from Cincinnati, was granted a patent for a ticket-dispensing machine. But this patent was just the tip of the iceberg. Jones would go on to secure over 60 patents, with his most revolutionary invention being the portable refrigeration unit—a system that changed the world’s supply chain forever.
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❄️ The Man Who Cooled the World
Born in 1893 and orphaned by age 9, Jones was a classic “teach-yourself-everything” type. He dropped out of school early, taught himself engineering, and later served in WWI as an electrician.
But the turning point came in the 1930s, when he co-founded Thermo King and developed a refrigeration unit for trucks. The tech allowed food to be transported long distances without spoiling—a radical shift for American agriculture and logistics.
Then came World War II. Jones’ refrigeration units were repurposed to preserve blood, medicine, and perishables on the battlefield. In short, his inventions didn’t just feed people—they saved lives.
💡 Why It Still Matters
When we talk about Black excellence in STEM, Frederick Jones should be front and center.
He didn’t just beat the odds—he rewrote the standard. His work paved the way for modern cold-chain logistics, influencing everything from how your groceries arrive to how vaccines are distributed globally.
And yet—most of us never hear his name. No parades. No textbook chapter. Just cool brilliance, waiting to be remembered.
“Refrigeration isn't sexy. But saving lives is.”
— Probably someone who studied Frederick Jones.
🧠 Fast Facts:
First Black person to receive the National Medal of Technology (posthumously, 1991).
Served as chief engineer for the U.S. Office of Scientific Research during WWII.
Pioneered automatic movie projectors and x-ray machine advancements.
Never had a formal college degree.
Next time you open a fridge, grab a frozen meal, or get a temperature-sensitive package delivered on time—remember, that’s Frederick’s legacy humming in the background.
He didn’t make headlines. He made systems.
And that quiet genius? That’s Black history, too.
See you next week, where we’ll keep uncovering the minds, movements, and moments that shaped more than just history—they shaped how we live.
✊🏾 Stay cool. Stay curious.
— Gio