Allen H. Brown's 1867 School Desk and Seat Patent
date: label: date made
content: 1867
label: patent date
content: 1867-12-10
name: label: patentee
content: Brown, Allen H.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Brown, Allen H.
notes: label: Description
content: Allen H. Brown from May's Landing, New Jersey, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 71970 was issued on December 10, 1867.
label: Description
content: This model features a wooden desk with metal hinges and bench sides similar to the sides of pews. The desk is hinged to the back of the bench and swings upon steel supporting arms. It has a flat front face and seat. The seat and backrest join together for lower back support. The desk lid lifts up with the help of metal hinges. It has bench-like sides with a design cut out on the front part of the legs.
label: Description
content: Allen Henry Brown was born in 1820 and educated at the University of New York and Columbia College. He graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1841 and became a Presbyterian minister. In 1846 he was sent to serve at the Presbyterian Church in May’s Landing, New Jersey. As the appointed missionary of West Jersey Presbytery, he was part of a mid-century revival of Presbyterianism and was instrumental in organizing many new congregations. His missionary work was directed towards improving school conditions, promoting education, and building schools. Brown died in 1907.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: New Jersey, Mays Landing
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.65.0343
label: catalog number
content: 65.0343
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 71,970
objectType: label: Object Name
content: school desk
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: 8 in x 5 in x 12 in; 20.32 cm x 12.7 cm x 30.48 cm