James S. Rankin's 1879 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1879
label: associated date
content: 1879-01-21
name: label: patentee
content: Rankin, James S.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Rankin, James S.
notes: label: Description
content: James S. Rankin from Muscoda, Minnesota, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 211521 was issued on January 21, 1879.
label: Description
content: This model has four seats with a slat of wood for a backrest and sits on a wooden base. The seats connect to each other, side by side, by a piece of wood that also connects to the desk, so two chairs share one desk. This desk model was considered an improvement in school desks because it was a double desk that would separate students like a single desk. The backs are elastic and adjustable. The backrest is made to fit under the shoulder blades and designed so that no hard points or surfaces are touching the spine. This would make the chair more comfortable to sit in. The chair was meant to support the students so they might have an "erect and natural position." It was considered easy to access and allowed easy sweeping of the floors.
label: Description
content: James S. Rankin was born in 1818. He served as a county and city superintendent of schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was known for the Rankin School Desk, which was popular because it was inexpensive and convenient. These desks were used in Louisville, Kentucky; Chicago, Illinois, and many other city schools. His desk was exhibited in the Mechanic’s Hall at the Indiana State Fair where it was recommended for first premium, a cash award. He died in 1897.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Minnesota, Muskoda
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.65.0349
label: catalog number
content: 65.349
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 211521
objectType: label: Object Name
content: school desk, part of
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: ferrous metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 1/4 in x 12 in x 6 in; 18.415 cm x 30.48 cm x 15.24 cm