History of crayons

National Geographic has published a book we have in the library called An Uncommon History of Common Things. For more history of everyday items, stay tuned to this blog or come see this book and others like it in the library!

History of crayons

"The word 'crayon' is French for chalk or pencil, but when an American mentions 'crayons,' others know that she's referring to the colorful wax writing instruments perfected by entrepreneurs Edwin Binney and Harold Smith in the late 19th century. Binney & Smith first produced deep red pigments for barns and country buildings but soon began manufacturing slate pencils, and then dustless chalk for teachers. While traveling to schools for that product, the pair saw a need for reliable colored drawing implements, and their combo of paraffin wax and pigment went on the market for the first time in 1903 as Crayola, a name that signifies 'oily chalk.'"