Thread by @Sheril_

Did you know Monopoly was invented by a woman named Elizabeth Magie in 1903? She created board games to express her political beliefs.

Originally called ‘The Landlord’s Game,’ it was designed as a protest against the big monopolists of her time like Carnegie & Rockefeller. 1/

The Landlord’s Game was intended to show that an economy rewarding wealth creation is better than one where monopolists work w few constraints.

It demonstrates how families build wealth & amass fortunes. There were diff versions before Parker Brothers released theirs in 1935. 2/

Monopoly aside, you should know more about Elizabeth Magie.

Her father, James Magie, was a abolitionist & newspaper publisher who traveled w Abraham Lincoln around Illinois. He introduced Elizabeth to Henry George’s best-selling 1879 book, “Progress & Poverty.” 3/

Magie supported herself & didn’t marry until 44. She worked as a stenographer & secretary & wrote poetry & short stories. She performed comedy & created the famous game.

But it was Charles Darrow who sold Monopoly to Parker Brothers, becoming a millionaire. So what happened? 4/

When Magie applied for a patent for her game, women represented <1% of all patent applicants.

And even though she owned her own home (unusual for a women) & was also an inventor, she found herself still struggling to make ends meet alone on a stenographer’s meager salary. 5/

That’s where things get interesting. Mocking marriage, Magie took out an ad offering herself for sale to the highest bidder to make a statement about the dismal prospects for women.

“We are not machines,” she told reporters. “Girls have minds, desires, hopes & ambition.” 6/

Anyway, back to Monopoly...

Magie’s ‘Landlord’s Game’ game caught on at college campuses & among Quakers, who added modifications.

Charles Darrow, an unemployed salesman, played the Quaker version & eventually sold it to Parker Brothers 30+ yrs after Magie’s patent. 7/

After the deal w Darrow, Parker Brothers purchased Magie’s patent for $500 so they would have sole control of Monopoly.

Parker Brothers credited Monopoly w saving their company & Darrow went on to become a very wealthy & celebrated rags to riches legend. 8/

At least 1B ppl in 111 countries speaking 43 languages have played Monopoly.

Elizabeth Magie died in 1948 w no recognition for inventing the game, while Darrow’s legend lives on.

To learn more, read the sensational The Monopolists by @marypilon amazon.com/Monopolists-Ob…

Several aspects of Elizabeth Magie’s life capture my imagination or infuriate me.

Her story also makes me think of Rosalind Franklin & wonder how many innovations & discoveries of women we attribute to the men who took credit for their novel ideas. 10/

nature.com/scitable/topic…