How do you make history?
To Charles Clark, success meant finding ways to serve his family, community, and country. He is best remembered as a founder of the consumer products corporation, Kimberly-Clark, but his work in Neenah, Wisconsin, dates back to the 1850s when he worked in a furniture factory to help support his family while also going to school. His hard work and perseverance inspired others to continue his work even after his death.
Meet Charles Clark
Questions to Consider
After Charles arrived in Neenah with his mother, he went right out to get a job, and kept working as he went to school. What did you learn about Charles from this part of his story? What qualities did he demonstrate?
When The Big Four went into the paper-making business, they didn’t know how to make paper! What were some of the ways they worked together to make their business successful? How did the paper-making industry change from the time they started?
Charles dedicated his life to helping others in his family, community, and country. Of all the things he did, which stands out to you the most? Why? How might you be inspired by Charles to help others in your family, community, or country?
Peek Into the Past
Charles Clark
A photograph of Charles Benjamin Clark (1880).
Neenah Historical Society
Read On
Charles Clark: From Rags to Riches
Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!
Project Credits
Producer
Becky Marburger
Animation
Philip Ashby
Brandon Ribordy
Illustration
The Brave Union
Sound Design
Matthew Kramer
Animation Voice Over
Dawson McKay
Audiobook Narration
Paul Elite
Audiobook Editing
Kerman Eckes
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp
Translation Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services
Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund
Web
John Vieth
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Tim Schneider
Design
Charles Barrows
Director of Education
Alyssa Tsagong
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Story Advisors
Don Nussbaum
Debra Burmeister
Neenah Joint School District
Neenah, WI
(2018)
Amanda Ironside
Menasha Joint School District
Menasha, WI
(2018)
Greg Kehrning
Menasha Joint School District
Menasha, WI
(2018)
Kerri Lintl
Merrimac Community School
Merrimac, WI
(2021)
Darcy Maxwell
Summit Environmental School
La Crosse, WI
(2021)
Neenah Historical Society
Neenah, WI
(2018)
Menasha Historical Society
Menasha, WI
Stephanie Schuettpelz
Marion Elementary School
Marion, WI
(2021)
Beth Thayer
Hillsboro Elementary School
Hillsboro, WI
(2021)
Christina Venn
Sheboygan Falls Elementary School
Sheboygan Falls, WI
(2021)
Wanda Welch
Hawthorne Elementary School
Milwaukee, WI
(2021)
Funding provided by
This project was part of Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Neenah-Menasha, funded in part by major support from Richard and Amy Jo Aylward and the Aylward Family of Neenah, Mary and John Sensenbrenner, Bergstrom Automotive, Community First Credit Union, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Inc., Daniel and Mame Heaney, Thomas J. Prosser, and Theda and Tamblin Clark Smith Family Foundation, with additional support from Alta Resources, John and Katherine Davis, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Legacy Private Trust Company, Bettie Hill, Miron Construction Company, Friends of Wisconsin Public Television and the Wisconsin History Fund, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities.