The exact date and location of Lyda D. Newman's birth remain unknown, but it is estimated to be around 1885. As an African American woman born in the late 19th century, her early life likely presented numerous challenges due to racial and gender biases prevalent in American society at the time.

Lyda Newman demonstrated her ingenuity by filing a patent application for an improved hairbrush design. This act reveals her awareness of everyday needs and her ability to innovate solutions. The application itself marks a crucial step in her journey as an inventor, placing her within the broader narrative of African American innovation during a period when their contributions were often overlooked.

The U.S. Patent Office granted Lyda D. Newman patent number US616058A for her hairbrush design. This patent highlights key improvements such as enhanced ventilation, easier cleaning, and separated bristles. Specifically, the brush featured evenly spaced rows of bristles held in place by air-filled chambers. These chambers provided ventilation, improving drying time and making the brush easier to clean. The brush was intended to be more hygienic than earlier designs. Receiving this patent was a monumental achievement, securing her intellectual property rights and allowing her to potentially profit from her invention.

During the early 20th century, Lyda D. Newman became an active participant in the women's suffrage movement in New York City. Her involvement demonstrates a commitment to social justice and a belief in equal rights. Her affiliation with suffrage organizations suggests she worked alongside other activists to campaign for women's right to vote, contributing to the national movement that eventually led to the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Lyda Newman served as an organizer for the Negro Suffrage Committee. This involvement highlights her commitment to securing voting rights for all women, particularly Black women, who faced intersectional discrimination based on race and gender. This activity showed her focus on bringing suffrage to all women despite facing racial discrimination within the suffrage movement. Her work was crucial to ensuring the voices of Black women were heard and represented in the fight for equality.

The details of Lyda D. Newman's later life remain largely unknown. Further research is needed to uncover more information about her personal and professional life beyond her patent and suffrage activism. Despite the limited information currently available, her legacy as an inventor and a champion for women's rights is secured through her patent and suffrage work. Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring inventors and activists, especially women of color, to pursue their passions and fight for a more just and equitable world.