The Precursors:
* 1860s: Scott Paper Company began manufacturing paper towels for industrial use.
* Late 1800s: Kimberley-Clark (formerly known as the Kimberly Paper Company) developed a process to produce a softer, more absorbent paper, laying the groundwork for what we know as tissue paper.
The Key Players:
* 1924: Earl W. Scott, an employee of Kimberly-Clark, is credited with inventing "Kleenex," the first commercial facial tissue. He noticed that the company's absorbent paper, used for cleaning industrial machinery, was being repurposed by workers to remove makeup and as disposable handkerchiefs. He saw the potential of this and marketed it as a consumer product.
Evolution of Tissue:
* 1920s-1930s: Kleenex gained popularity as a disposable alternative to handkerchiefs, especially during the flu pandemic of the 1920s.
* 1930s-1940s: Tissues became more widely available and began featuring different designs, colors, and textures.
* Today: Tissues are ubiquitous, coming in various forms, including facial tissues, toilet tissues, paper towels, and napkins.
In conclusion, while Earl W. Scott is often credited with inventing the tissue, it's more accurate to say he invented the first commercially successful facial tissue (Kleenex). The development of tissue paper itself was a result of earlier innovations in paper manufacturing.
