By: Fred Smith
Marie Van Brittan Brown was an African American inventor best known for creating one of the earliest home security systems in the United States. Born on October 30, 1922, in Queens, New York, Brown lived during a time when crime rates were rising and police response times in some neighborhoods were slow. Concerned for her safety and that of her family, she used her creativity and determination to develop a solution that would eventually influence modern security technology.
In the 1960s, Brown and her husband, Albert Brown, who was an electronics technician, designed a closed-circuit television security system for their home. Their invention included peepholes at different heights in the front door and a camera that could slide up and down to view visitors. The camera transmitted images to a monitor inside the house, allowing homeowners to see who was outside without opening the door. This was a groundbreaking idea at the time.
The system also featured a two-way microphone so the homeowner could communicate with the person outside. In addition, Brown’s design included a remote-controlled door lock that allowed the door to be unlocked from a safe distance. For added protection, there was even an alarm button that could alert security or police. These features are common in today’s security
systems, but in the 1960s, they were highly innovative. In 1966, Marie Van Brittan Brown and her husband filed a patent for their home security system, and it was officially granted in 1969. Their patent, titled “Home Security System Utilizing Television Surveillance,” became the foundation for many modern surveillance and security technologies. Over the years, other inventors referenced their patent when developing updated security systems.
Brown’s invention gained recognition in The New York Times, helping to bring attention to her work. Although she did not become widely famous during her lifetime, her contributions had a lasting impact on the security industry. Today, video doorbells, intercom systems, and home monitoring cameras all trace their roots back to her original idea. Marie Van Brittan Brown passed away on February 2, 1999, but her legacy lives on. She is remembered as a pioneer in home security technology and as an important figure in Black history and women’s history. Her story shows how one person’s desire to solve a problem can lead to an invention that benefits millions of people around the world.
