The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Shelby Davidson was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 10, 1868. He graduated from Howard University in 1893 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Davidson went on to practice law, but is most remembered as an inventor.
Davidson journeyed to Washington, D.C. in 1887. Working in the auditing department of the United States Post Office, the young African-American became interested in finding a more efficient way to handle government auditing functions. In 1908, after studying adding machines for two years, Davidson found his answer in the form of his first invention: a rewind device for adding machines. Davidson was convinced his device would greatly improve efficiency by reducing both paper usage and the time clerks spent in paperwork. The government agreed with him and officially began utilizing the invention that same year.
Davidson was also keenly interested in mechanical tabulation and in 1911 patented a device designed to help postal clerks. This "automatic fee device," which Davidson continued to improve, paved the way for more efficient processing of postal fees.