Flax paper samples, 1910
date: label: date made
content: 1910
notes: label: Description
content: These are flax paper samples mounted to a cardboard backing. They were donated by George H. Marshall, the son of James F. Marshall and the nephew of George E. Marshall, both prominent early papermakers in the 19th century. On the back of the card, George H. wrote details about these samples, discussing how they were samples of strong paper made experimentally from flax straw. He made these by hand in his private laboratory in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, using the sulphate process in 1910.
label: Description
content: Marshall seemed to be making something akin to Kraft paper with flax instead of wood. Kraft paper is a type of paper originally made from the kraft pulping process created by Carl F. Dahl of Germany in the 1880s. While wood is pulped first in normal papermaking, the kraft process involves the processing of the cellulose pulp with sulfate to increase the strength of the paper. This paper is known for being durable and tear-resistant, with the suitable name “kraft” being derived from the German word for “strong.” Kraft paper was originally used as packaging material, but due to its durability, it has since been used for cardboard boxes and other packaging.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: North Carolina, Roanoke Rapids
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Forestry
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: George H. Marshall, Benton Harbor, MI
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AG.34FP01.09
label: catalog number
content: 34FP01.09
label: accession number
content: 116793
label: catalog number
content: W7245
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Paper Samples
label: Object Name
content: flax paper samples
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (sleeve material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 6 1/4 in x 4 1/4 in; 15.875 cm x 10.795 cm