Anna Connelly

Anna Connelly, a pioneering American inventor from Pennsylvania, left an indelible mark on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) during her lifetime from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. Her most notable achievement was the invention of the precursor to the modern outdoor fire escape, a innovation that has saved countless lives over the past century and a half. Connelly's groundbreaking work is particularly notable because she was one of the first women in the United States to submit a patent application independently, without male assistance. Her contributions to safety and innovation continue to resonate, making her a trailblazer in the history of American invention.