Charles J. Higgins's 1876 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1876
label: patent date
content: 1876-07-25
name: label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: patentee
content: Higgins, Charles J.
label: inventor
content: Higgins, Charles J.
notes: label: Description
content: Charles J. Higgins from Marion, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 180233 was issued on July 25, 1876.
label: Description
content: This model features an improved arrangement of the brackets and an improved method for securing the brackets to the desk. These brackets require fewer screws while using less desk space to attach the seats together. The desk has a shelf inside for storing materials. The oak seat is attached behind it, and both are curved. The backrest slats are compressed to create horizontal grooves in the chair, and each slat alternates between a light and dark wood. Its wooden legs are attached to a base.
label: Description
content: Charles J. Higgins founded Higgins Bent Wood School Furniture Co.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Indiana, Indianapolis
topic: label: general subject association
content: Education
label: classified
content: Patent Models
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Education
label: See more items in
content: American History Education Collection
label: See more items in
content: Cultures & Communities
label: See more items in
content: Patent Model School Seats and Desks
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: CL.65.0400
label: catalog number
content: 65.0400
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 180,233
objectType: label: Object Name
content: model
label: Object Name
content: desk model
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 10 1/2 in x 8 in x 10 1/2 in; 26.67 cm x 20.32 cm x 26.67 cm
label: Measurements
content: seat: 4 1/2 in x 7 1/4 in x 1/4 in; 11.43 cm x 18.415 cm x .635 cm