James S. Rankin's 1862 School Desk and Bench Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1862
label: associated date; patent date
content: 1862-02-18
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 Madison, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 34448 was issued on February 18, 1862.
label: Description
content: This model features a row of desks and benches held together with a central beam. This design resulted in sufficient support using the least amount of material and simplified the cost and construction of the desk.
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: Indiana, Madison
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.249602.582
label: catalog number
content: 249602.582
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 34,448
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: ferrous metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 3 3/4 in x 4 3/4 in x 5 1/2 in; 9.525 cm x 12.065 cm x 13.97 cm