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History of Paper
Mankind has always sought to improve ways of communicating and recording
thoughts. Early attempts at achieving this involved the use of waxed boards,
leaves, bronze, silk, and clay tablets. It wasn't until the invention of paper
that information could be recorded and passed on cheaply and in greater
quantity.
4,000 B.C.
Ancient Egyptians invented the first substance
like paper as we know it. Papyrus was a woven mat of reeds, pounded together
into a hard, thin sheet. The word "paper" actually comes from the word
"papyrus". Later on in history, the Ancient Greeks used a kind of parchment made
from animal skins for the same purpose.
A.D. 105
Paper as we know it was invented by
Ts'ai Lun, a Chinese court official. It is believed that Ts'ai mixed
mulberry bark, hemp, and rags with water, mashed it into a pulp, pressed out the
liquid and hung the thin mat to dry in the sun. Paper was born and this humble
mixture would set off one of mankind's greatest communication revolutions.
Literature and the arts flourished in China.
A.D. 610
Bhuddist monks gradually spread the art to
Japan. Papermaking became an essential part of Japanese culture and was used for
writing material, fans, garments, dolls, and as an important component of
houses. The Japanese were also the first to use the technique of block
printing.
A.D. 751
Samarkland. Chinese and Arab armies clash after
decades of peaceful trading. The chinese are defeated and many are taken
prisoner. Among the prisoners are paper makers who attempt bargain for their
freedom by teaching the Arabs the secrets of paper making.
A.D. 1009
It took about 400 years for paper to traverse
the Arab world to Europe. The first paper mill in Europe was built by the Arabs
in Xativa, Spain. Paper making continued here under Moorish rule until 1244 when
European armies drove them out. Paper making then began to gradually spread
across Christian Europe.
A.D. 1250
Italy becomes a major paper producer. The
Italians vigorously produced the material and exported large amounts of it,
dominating the European market for many years.
A.D. 1338 - 1470
French monks begin producing paper for
holy texts. France quickly adopts this new technology and becomes a
self-sufficient and competitive paper producer.
A.D. 1411
The first paper mill in Germany is converted
from a flour mill with assistance from the Italians. Germany greatly improved
the craft and made the finest papers available. In 1453 Johann Gutenberg
invented the movable type printing press. The printing press was the next stage
in the communication revolution. Previously, books were owned only by
monasteries, royalty, and scholars, very few people could even read. For the
first time, the impoverished masses had access to books, and more importantly
knowledge. With the availability of books, literacy increased. As literacy
increased, the demand for books - and paper increased as well.
A.D. 1588
England begins to make its own paper.
A.D. 1680
The first paper mill in the new world is
established by the Spanish in Culhuacan, near the capital of Mexico.
A.D. 1690
A German immigrant to North America named
William Rittenhouse founded the first paper mill in North America near
Philadelphia. This is also where the first American paper makers were
trained.
A.D. 1719
Rene Antoine Ferchault de Reaumur suggests that
paper could be made from wood in response to a critical shortage of paper making
materials. At the time all paper was made from old clothes and rags. There were
not enough rags to supply the ever increasing demand for paper. Reaumur was
inspired by observing wasps building their nest.
A.D. 1798
Nicholas Robert invented the paper making
machine. His hand-cranked device made paper on a continuous revolving screen.
However he was unsuccessful at finding investors. Hearing of Robert's invention
from a mutual acquaintance, the Fourdrinier brothers of England create their own
paper making machine. Although they did not use their invention, paper making
machines bear their name to this day.
A.D. 1850
Friedrich Gottlob Keller of Germany devises a
method of making paper from wood pulp. However the paper is of poor quality.
A.D. 1852
Hugh Burgess, an Englishman, perfects the use
of wood pulp by 'digesting' the wood with chemicals.
A.D. 1867
C.B. Tilghman, an American chemist, improved
the process of making paper from wood by using sulfites during the pulping
process.
A.D. 1879
C.F. Dahl, a Swede finally perfected the use of
wood by adding yet another chemical. His 'sulfate' method spread rapidly and
reached the United States in about 1907.
A.D. 1883
Charles Stillwell invented a machine to make
brown paper bags for groceries in Philadelphia. Today more than 20 million paper
bags are used annually in supermarkets. Many of these are recycled into new bags
and boxes.
A.D. 1889 - 1900
Economical, mass produced paper became a
reality. Paper production doubled to about 2.5 million tons per year.
Newspapers, books, and magazines flourished. Paper found its way into schools,
replacing the writing slate.
Article by Mead Corporation
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