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February 2, 1897
Black Inventor Patents Ice Cream Scoop
The story of African-American history is told not only by landmark events, but also by the more mundane pursuits that illustrate the broad range of contributions by black men and women to American history, society and culture. On this date in 1897, Alfred Cralle, who worked as a porter in Pittsburgh, was awarded U.S. Patent #576395 for the invention of the now-familiar lever-operated ice cream scoop.