John A. Kimberly
Co-founder 1872Background
John A. Kimberly co-founded the Kimberly-Clark company in 1872, applying his industrial expertise to build a scalable paper manufacturing operation that would eventually pivot to become a global leader in disposable hygiene products.
Role at Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Kimberly-Clark possesses a historic, foundational founding story, rooted in the paper-milling industry of the American Midwest and defined by a revolutionary, accidental pivot that invented the modern feminine hygiene and tissue industries. The company was founded in 1872 in Neenah, Wisconsin, by four ambitious young businessmen: John A. Kimberly, Charles B. Clark, Frank C. Shattuck, and Havilah Babcock. They pooled a substantial $30,000 in foundational capital to build the Globe Mill. Initially they were a traditional, manufacturer of high-quality newsprint, heavily supplying the explosion of Midwestern newspapers. The world-changing pivot occurred during World War I. Facing a shortage of cotton for surgical dressings, Kimberly-Clark's brilliant research scientists invented 'Cellucotton,' an innovative, absorbent wadding made from processed wood pulp. It was heavily utilized by the US military and Red Cross hospitals across Europe. However, the foundational masterstroke occurred immediately after the war. The company had warehouses full of surplus Cellucotton. They famously observed that Army nurses in France were secretly using the absorbent Cellucotton as disposable sanitary napkins. Recognizing an untapped market (as menstruation was taboo and commercial products were practically non-existent), Kimberly-Clark courageously launched 'Kotex' in 1920. Furthermore, in 1924, they ironed the cellulose material thin and launched 'Kleenex' (originally marketed heavily to Hollywood actors as a cold cream remover). By inventing these necessary, disposable consumer categories, Kimberly-Clark transformed a traditional Midwestern paper mill into a globally dominant consumer products empire.