Ebenezer Butterick

May 29, 1826 (age 76)

About 1859, either Ebenezer Butterick or his wife Ellen conceived the idea of a set of graded shirt patterns, by which it would be possible to reproduce these garments in unlimited quantities. Experiments on such patterns were continued for several years, until, on June 16, 1863, the first patterns, cut from stiff paper, were placed on the market. The cheapness and practical utility of these patterns made them instantly successful, and the demand for them was so widespread that Butterick removed, later in 1863, to the larger town of Fitchburg, where there were better facilities for manufacture and distribution. At the suggestion of his wife that mothers would welcome patterns from which to make clothes for their children, he added to his shirt patterns a graded set of patterns for boys' suits. At this time, Giuseppe Garibaldi was an international hero, and these first juvenile patterns were for "Garibaldi" suits, modeled after the uniform worn by him and his men. These garments, picturesque, and easily made at home from these simple patterns, became immensely popular throughout the country. The demand for his patterns so increased that Butterick removed his factory from his home to a disused academy in Fitchburg. The desirability of a metropolitan office became evident, and in 1864 quarters were opened at 192 Broadway, New York City. The patterns, now made from tissue paper, were chiefly for children's suits, and especially for the "Garibaldi. " Butterick sold his patterns largely through agents, and one of these, J. W. Wilder, reported a demand for similar patterns for women's garments. The suggestion was at once adopted, and with this step the business expanded to enormous proportions. In 1867, Wilder and A. W. Pollard were associated with Butterick as E. Butterick & Company, and two years later the factory was removed from Fitchburg to Brooklyn. This later became the Delineator. In 1871 the company sold 6, 000, 000 patterns, and by 1876 branches had been placed in London, Paris, Berlin, and Vienna. The business was reorganized in 1881, and was renamed The Butterick Publishing Company, Ltd. , with J. W. Wilder as president, and Ebenezer Butterick as secretary. Butterick held this position until 1894, when he retired from active participation in the business. It may be noted that Butterick's priority as inventor of paper patterns has been disputed and that the credit has also been given to Mrs. John Ellis, of Manchester, England. Investigation has shown, however, that Mrs. Ellis made her first patterns in 1866, and that they were for her own use only. Butterick patterns, whether first conceived by Ebenezer, or by Ellen, his wife, were undoubtedly the first to be practically and commercially utilized.

Ebenezer Butterick

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inventor

Background

Ebenezer Butterick was the seventh child of Francis and Ruhamah (Buss) Butterick. His father was a carpenter in the small town of Sterling, Massachussets. There Ebenezer was born on May 29, 1826 and became a tailor and shirt-maker.

Career

About 1859, either Ebenezer Butterick or his wife Ellen conceived the idea of a set of graded shirt patterns, by which it would be possible to reproduce these garments in unlimited quantities. Experiments on such patterns were continued for several years, until, on June 16, 1863, the first patterns, cut from stiff paper, were placed on the market.

The cheapness and practical utility of these patterns made them instantly successful, and the demand for them was so widespread that Butterick removed, later in 1863, to the larger town of Fitchburg, where there were better facilities for manufacture and distribution.

At the suggestion of his wife that mothers would welcome patterns from which to make clothes for their children, he added to his shirt patterns a graded set of patterns for boys' suits. At this time, Giuseppe Garibaldi was an international hero, and these first juvenile patterns were for "Garibaldi" suits, modeled after the uniform worn by him and his men.

These garments, picturesque, and easily made at home from these simple patterns, became immensely popular throughout the country. The demand for his patterns so increased that Butterick removed his factory from his home to a disused academy in Fitchburg.

The desirability of a metropolitan office became evident, and in 1864 quarters were opened at 192 Broadway, New York City. The patterns, now made from tissue paper, were chiefly for children's suits, and especially for the "Garibaldi. " Butterick sold his patterns largely through agents, and one of these, J. W. Wilder, reported a demand for similar patterns for women's garments. The suggestion was at once adopted, and with this step the business expanded to enormous proportions.

In 1867, Wilder and A. W. Pollard were associated with Butterick as E. Butterick & Company, and two years later the factory was removed from Fitchburg to Brooklyn.

This later became the Delineator. In 1871 the company sold 6, 000, 000 patterns, and by 1876 branches had been placed in London, Paris, Berlin, and Vienna. The business was reorganized in 1881, and was renamed The Butterick Publishing Company, Ltd. , with J. W. Wilder as president, and Ebenezer Butterick as secretary. Butterick held this position until 1894, when he retired from active participation in the business.

It may be noted that Butterick's priority as inventor of paper patterns has been disputed and that the credit has also been given to Mrs. John Ellis, of Manchester, England.

Investigation has shown, however, that Mrs. Ellis made her first patterns in 1866, and that they were for her own use only. Butterick patterns, whether first conceived by Ebenezer, or by Ellen, his wife, were undoubtedly the first to be practically and commercially utilized.

Achievements

Ebenezer Butterick is regarded as the inventor of standardized paper patterns for clothing (1859), first sold in Sterling in 1863. Butterick established a pattern factory in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, later that year and moved it to Brooklyn, New York, in 1869. He founded a fashion magazine, Metropolitan, in 1869, to promote pattern sales. The company he founded continues to lead the way in make-it-yourself fashions 150 years later.

Views

Wilder, an aggressive and imaginative business genius, became the active and controlling member of the firm. One of his inspirations was a magazine with fashion reports to stimulate the sale of the patterns, and the Metropolitan was established in 1869.

In the beginning, Butterick specialized in men's and boys' clothing. Not until 1866, after three years of operation, did they begin to manufacture women's dress patterns. They were, of course, enthusiastically received, and Butterick expanded his women's line to include dresses, jackets and capes in 13 sizes, and skirts in five sizes.

Connections

He was married to Ellen Augusta Pollard Butterick.

Wife:: Ellen Augusta Pollard Butterick
Daughter:: Mary Ellen Butterick
mother :: Ruhamah Buss Butterick
Son:: Howard Williams Butterick
Brother :: James Butterick
Brother :: George Butterick
Brother:: Ruhamah Mason Butterick Stevenson
Brother:: John Butterick
Father :: Francis Butterick

References

Wages & Earnings in the United States, 1860-1890 (National Bureau of Economic Research Publications in Reprint)

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