Rogers, LH
Name: Lebbeus Harding Rogers
Achievements:
Born: July 26, 1847; Cincinnati, Ohio
Died: Unknown
Field & Discipline: Business; Exploration; Invention
Language: English.
Father: Hiram Rogers
Mother: Cordelia Harding.
Siblings: Unknown.
Spouse: Laura Effie (m. December 1871)
Children: L Harding Jr.; Homer A.
Education: Woodward College, Cincinnati, Ohio
Life & Times:
Rogers was a man of many interests who followed a variety of disciplines in his lifetime. As an explorer, he investigated the North Forks of the Humboldt, the cave dwellings of New Mexico and the Black Hills.
Following a hot air balloon flight in 1868, he was interviewed by Associated Press. While he was in their offices, he saw a sample of [promoted invention of] Dalkin’s* carbon paper for the first time and realised the potential of the product. Within five years, he had made great improvements to the paper and, when he showed it to [offered carbon paper to] Remington*, the company immediately saw its potential for use with their new typewriter.
Rogers was an original inventor, registering forty-four patents during his life. He was a senior member of several business corporations including Rogers Manifold & Carbon Co., of which he was both president and director.
He was socially responsible in his attitude and supported a number of charitable organisations, many of which were religious. These included the Board of Trustees of St. James Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Rogers was President, and he was also President of the Methodist Social Union of New York City.
He was on the Committee of Management of the New York Bible Society and a member of the YMCA Harlem Branch, the New York City Church Extension Society and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Apart from all of these good works, he found time to be an author as well, publishing “The Kite Trust” in 1900, “The Temples of Paestum” the following year and “Alma Vista” in 1904.
On the more social front, Rogers was a member of the Society of American Authors, the Ohio Society, the Canadian Camp and he belonged to the Authors, Explorers, Lawyers and Twilight Clubs. Rogers died in his home in Portland, Oregon on December 16, 1932.[1]
Assessment: In bringing carbon paper to the attention of Remington, he changed the nature of office work.
Oneliner: Lebbeus Rogers, journalist who promoted carbon paper
Extra Connctions:
Rogers was the founder of Mount Morris Bank in Harlem, New York.[1] and the inventor of the system of burying utilities underground in flexible tubing.[1] Roger held over 50 patents and was the author of four books.[1][2] In 1870, Rogers founded the Rogers Manifold Carbon Paper Company in New York City, the first company in America, and possibly in the world, to produce carbon paper, even before the advent of typewriters.[1] ^[3]
A good friend of inventor Alexander Graham Bell, Rogers turned down an offer to purchase a tenth share of Bell's telephone patent, which would have ultimately made Rogers a very rich man.[1]
Bibliography:
- Leonard, J. W., in “Who’s Who in New York City and State” 3rd edition, 1907.
- “Who’s Who in America,” 1908-09.
- Herringshaw, T W, “Herringshaw’s National Library of American Biography,” Volume 5, 1909-14.