Episode 266: Hoes of History: Anna Sutherland Bissell

The Homance Chronicles

Anna Sutherland Bissell was a Canadian-American businesswoman who was the first female CEO in the United States.

Anna became a teacher at just 16 years old and then married Melville Bissell three years later. They had five children together. They moved from Wisconsin to Kalamazoo, Michigan to Grand Rapids, Michigan where they settled and had a successful crockery business.

Anna was involved in the business from the start and inspired the invention of the carpet sweeper. She was having a hard time keeping the shop clean from all the dust coming out of new cases of dishes. So, Melville stepped in determined to find a solution.

He created a rotating brush that swept the dust into an attached container, known as the first carpet sweeper. They patented the invention together and immediately began selling it to retailers.

Then, Melville passed away unexpectedly and Anna became CEO of the Bissell company. Her leadership transformed the company into a household name and led to further inventions, like the vacuum. She was also instituted policies like workman's compensation, pensions, and vacations unlike any other manufacturers or companies in the 19th century.

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