Always Has Been: Chapter 1: Beulah Louise Henry's 1899 Sewing Apparatus and Its Impact

In 1899, inventor Beulah Louise Henry, often called "Lady Edison," created a sewing apparatus intended to enhance efficiency in the textile industry. While the invention aimed to streamline the sewing process, it inadvertently led to the displacement of workers, as companies required fewer personnel due to increased automation. This sparked significant discourse and protests over the economic impact of technological advancements on job security, highlighting early concerns about automation's role in labor markets.