Anna Connelly saved countless lives when she invented and patented the first modern fire escape in 1877. After the Civil War, Americans left land in droves to work in cities. Steam powered machines, factories and manufacturing plants led to mass employment and unstable conditions. Millions of Europeans emigrated overseas.
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Industrial revolutions in Europe also heralded discoveries in science, engineering and health, such as the discovery of the bacillus causing tuberculosis by German microbiologist Robert Koch in 1882. As overcrowded conditions increased the spread of disease, accident and fire hazards, building codes began to force higher standards.
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In 1860, a bakery in New York caught fire, with tragic results for families living above. At this time fire escapes were limited. Early attempts at creating fire escapes include a machine designed to bring a person to street level, an escape chute and portable ladders.
In 1870 fire safety laws in America stated "fireproof balconies must be connected by fireproof stairs". As building owners staggered at the cost, Anna Connelly saw the need for a better solution. She wanted to create a fire escape for the mass market to improve building safety and consistency in cities. In 1877 she received her first patent and continued making improvements to her fire escape.
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It was a simple but detailed design of metal ladders and handrails, and became the basis for the familiar fire escapes of today. These days fire escapes are found more often on older buildings as use of sprinkler systems and other fire safety developments increase.
In the late nineteenth century, patents, science and business were almost exclusively the man's domain. Anna Connelly was a pioneer and inspiration to many women who came to realize their own talents and skills.
Little is known about her early life. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Anna worked as a reeler at a cotton mill. 1920 census lists her as a widow. She died in Pennsylvania in 1969, at the age of 100.
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