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| National Inventors Hall of Fame | |
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 The National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio as viewed from across the street. |
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| Abbreviation | NIHF |
| Formation | 1973 |
| Type | NPO |
| Legal status | Organization |
| Purpose/focus | "Honor[ing] the women and men responsible for the great technological advances that make human, social and economic progress possible." |
| Headquarters | 520 S. Main St., Suite 2423 Akron, Ohio 44311 |
| Location | Akron, Ohio and Alexandria, Virginia |
| Region served | United States |
| Membership | 405 inventors |
| Official languages | English |
| President | Mr. Robert W. Briggs |
| Affiliations | Invent Now America |
| Website | invent.org |
The National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation (NIHF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human, social and economic progress possible. As of 2009[update] there were 405 inductees. New inductee announcements are made in mid February.
The National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation was founded in 1973 on the initiative of H. Hume Mathews, then chairman of the National Council of Patent Law Associations (now called the National Council of Intellectual Property Law Associations).[1] The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office became a cosponsor of the NIHF the following year.[2] The Hall is currently headquartered in Akron, Ohio with satellite offices in the Washington, D.C. area and in Los Angeles. Originally housed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Hall outgrew its location and moved to Akron. The Hall of Fame building in Akron, which also housed hands-on interactive exhibits, opened to the public in 1995. The Hall is currently closed for construction of the National Inventors Hall of Fame School Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning.
During the annual induction ceremony, a new class of inventors is recognized. Inventors must hold a U.S. patent to be considered, and the invention must have contributed to the welfare of mankind and have promoted the progress of science and the useful arts. A National Selection Committee and Blue Ribbon Panel select inductees.
The Hall takes part in physical activities that embody the inventive spirit. The Hall promotes future generations of inventors through Invent Now Kids, a major subsidiary of the organization, and the Collegiate Inventors Competition. In addition, the Hall is involved with ventures such as developing and designing exhibits for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Museum, as well as special projects with national partners.
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Location
The National Inventors Hall of Fame was initially located in Washington D.C. near the Ronald Regan Airport. In 1986, a committee was formed to find a more prominent location. In 1987, Akron, Ohio patent attorney, Edwin (Ned) Oldham, a newly appointed representative to the National Council of Patent Law Associations, while at a site-selection meeting, learned that the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia was the frontrunner for the new location of the NIHF, prompting Oldham to wonder if Akron might have a chance. Through Oldham's efforts, the NIHF new location came to be Akron, construction on the facility was completed in 1995.[3]
U.S. Patent and Trademark Museum
The National Inventors Hall of Fame operates the U.S. Patent and Trademark Museum at the headquarters of the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia. The museum features exhibits about all the honorees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, including digital portraits. Other exhibits include artifacts and documents from the collections of the Patent and Trademark Office.
Inductees
See also
- List of African-American inventors and scientists
- NASA spinoff
- Science and technology in the United States
- Technological and industrial history of the United States
- Timeline of United States inventions
- Timeline of United States discoveries
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Yankee ingenuity
References
- General
- Akron Life and Leisure magazine, Baker Publishing, J. McGarrity, June 2003
- Specific
External links
- National Inventors website
Coordinates: 41°04′43.23″N 81°31′01.10″W / 41.078675°N 81.516972°W
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