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Joseph Parker, Paper Tiger
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Business New Haven
10/23/1995
By:
BNH
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Occupation: First U.S. producer of book-paper made from cotton waste; first producer of blotting paper
Joseph Parker gave New Haven and the nation two products that benefited thousands: high quality book-paper produced from cotton waste and blotting paper.
Born in Litchfield South Farms (now Morris) on July 19, 1810, Parker was the son of a successful physician. Parker's business career began at age 14 when he left home to work in country stores in Bethlehem and Woodbury. At age 19 he moved to New Haven, remaining in the Elm City the first time for only a couple of years before moving on to seek his fortune.
It was a business failure that brought Parker back. He had gone to New York City in 1832 where he entered the hardware business, but the failure of the United States Bank and the financial crisis that followed brought his hardware career to an end. Not easily discouraged, Parker was observant and creative, and it was these attributes that gave him an idea that would result in a made-in-the-U.S.A. product that would benefit succeeding generations.
Before 1840, American cotton mills had no use for the sweepings known as cotton waste. Parker believed that the waste would make a high-quality paper through a process already being used in England. He found himself a partner, J.K. Herrick, a wholesale stationer in New York City, and returned to New Haven to turn his idea into reality.
Parker hired a businessman from England who claimed to understand the process to supervise the manufacture of quality paper made from cotton waste. The Englishman failed to master the technical aspects of the production, and it was Parker who figured it out, manufacturing the first sheets of fine and superfine book paper manufactured the U.S.
West Rock Paper Mill, as Parker's company was first known, was located on Whalley Avenue. Producing a paper noted for purity and excellence, the company paid $20 per gross ton for cotton waste, transforming it into book papers at $125 per ton that matched the quality of those produced overseas. The manufacture of a high quality, cotton-based paper was a great success, one that was soon imitated by others.
Parker's older brother Frederick joined the organization in 1841, and the company's name subsequently changed to J.H. Herrick & Co. Four years later Herrick retired. Over the years others joined the partnership and the company underwent several name changes, incorporating in 1892 as the Joseph Parker & Son Co. But in 1845, Parker was still far from finished in developing creative products.
A trip to a New York City stationers in 1856 gave Parker his next idea for a product. Seeing the first case of blotting-board imported into this country, he happened to have some sample sheets of cardboard with him. Parker had a test conducted to see if this cardboard could be used as blotting-board. It not only could, but was better than the product manufactured in Europe.
Parker's company became the first in the nation to produce blotting paper, soon becoming a world leader in the field. Until blotting paper was introduced, most people used a salt-shaker-like container filled with sand to dry wet ink.
The company Parker founded dropped the production of book paper and concentrated on blotting paper, shipping the product all over the world. Joseph Parker & Son Co. continued producing blotting paper until it closed in 1970. The company Parker had founded had survived, on paper, for 130 years.
- Priscilla Searles
New Haven Firsts: On July 14, 1868, patent No. 79,965 was issued to Alvin J. Fellows for a tape enclosed in a circular case with a lock to hold the tape at a desired point. The invention was called a tape measure.
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