Charles Clark: From Rags to Riches – Wisconsin Biographies – PBS Wisconsin Education

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

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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

This black and white photo of an older Charles Clark shows his head and shoulders. He looks to the left of the viewer and his mouth is closed.

Charles Clark

A photograph of Charles Benjamin Clark (1880).

Neenah Historical Society

In this black and white photo we see a younger Charles Clark standing with his right arm bent across his chest.

Charles in Uniform

Charles in his Civil War uniform (1865). He served in Wisconsin’s Volunteer Infantry as a wagoner, helping transport supplies.

Neenah Historical Society.

In this black and white photograph from 1885, an adult Caroline Hubbard poses for a portrait. Her head and shoulders can be seen, and she looks to the right of the viewer.

Caroline Clark

A photograph of Charles’s wife, Caroline Hubbard Clark (around 1889).

O’Regan, Suzanne Hart. 1983. “Family Letters.”

A black and white photograph showing Theda Clark with her two younger siblings, Caroline and Charles. In the photo all three are looking directly towards the viewer with their mouths closed.

The Clark Children

Theda (center) was nine years older than her sister, Caroline, and 12 years older than her brother, Charles.

O’Regan, Suzanne Hart. 1983. “Family Letters.”

A black and white photo of John Kimberly, Frank Shattuck, Charles Clark, and Havilah Babcock.

The Big Four

Kimberly, Clark and Company Founders (clockwise from lower left): H. Babcock, F. Shattuck, C.B. Clark, A. Kimberly.

Neenah Public Library

A black and white photo of the exterior of the Globe Mill building.

The Globe Mill

The Globe Mill was Kimberly, Clark and Company’s first mill.

Neenah Historical Society.

An illustrated map of Neenah, Wisconsin in 1891 with black and white lines and text, and blue, brown, yellow and pink shaded areas.

Neenah Map, 1891

The Globe Mill was located in the pink area labeled “”2″” (1891).

LOC, loc.gov/item/sanborn09635_003/

An illustration done in black ink on (now) yellowed paper showing women standing around a barrel next to a pile of rags.

Sorting Rags

Women sorting rags, which will be turned to paper.

Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper (1855).

A black and white image of text reading "Rags! 3 1/4c. Rags! We will pay three and one quarter cents per pound for country mixed paper-rags, delivered at our mill. Rag dealers may ship direct. Remittance promptly on receipt of work. Kimberly, Clark & Co., Neenah, Wis."

Ad for Rags

At first, Kimberly, Clark and Company made paper from rags. Rags were turned into a pulp and then pressed in a mold to form paper.

Neenah Historical Society

An assemblage of labeled oval shaped photographs of the members of the 50th congress in Wisconsin. A labeled photo of Charles Clark appears in the lower left part of the image.

Wisconsin Delegation

Charles (lower left) traveled between Washington, DC, and Neenah when he was a member of the House of Representatives.

Library of Congress. Digital ID: cph 3c18607.

A black and white photograph of a middle-aged Charles Clark. In the photo, Clark is looking to the left of the viewer, with his mouth closed and arms by his sides.

Charles’s Portrait

Charles Clark saw serving others, the community, and his country as a way to be successful in life.

Neenah Public Library.

A black and white image of an ad that includes the heading "Kimberly, Clark & Co. Manufaturers of Print Paper.

Newspaper Ad

A newspaper ad from the Neenah Gazette on August 8, 1874.

Neenah Historical Society.

A black and white photograph showing a large mill building behind a bridge and a body of water.

Paper Mill

Northeast Wisconsin got the nickname “”Paper Valley”” from the large number of paper mills located in the area (1910).

Neenah Historical Society

A color image of a piece of paper with the words "Kimberly & Clark Co. in elegant script in the center and the names of the company owners under the heading "Stockholders."

Stock Certificate

An image from Kimberly, Clark and Company stationary.

O’Regan, Suzanne Hart. 1983. “Family Letters.”

A black and white photo of a group of people, some seated and some standing, posing for a picture.

Paper Mill Workers

Paper mill employees during the 1880s.

Neenah Public Library.

Read On

Charles Clark portrait illustration

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.