Who Invented Crayola Crayons? Meet Edwin Binney

There are few things that bring back childhood memories as easily as opening a fresh box of crayons and enjoying that wonderfully familiar scent as you choose your favorite color. If you’ve ever wondered who created Crayola crayons, we’ve got the answer right here at the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® — it’s one of our inspiring Inductees, Edwin Binney.

Created for the Classroom

Binney was born in 1866 in Westchester County, New York. As a young man, he worked as a salesman for his father’s company, Peekskill Chemical Works. The company produced ground and packaged charcoal, and lampblack, a dry carbon pigment made from burning fats and grease.

In 1885, when his father retired, Binney and his cousin and fellow salesperson C. Harold Smith took over the business’s operations, and it became the Binney & Smith Co. The company quickly became a leader in manufacturing carbon black, which was used for paint, printing ink and enameled leather. Later, its uses expanded into stove and shoe polishes, coloring paper and ink for high-speed printing presses. Binney & Smith’s pigment division also introduced carbon black for reinforcing automobile tires. Previously, tires were typically white!

The company also began to make slate pencils for students, and in the early 1900s, it unveiled another product for classrooms that would make a lasting impact. At the 1904 St. Louis World Exhibition, Binney and Smith won a gold medal when they presented the first dustless chalk.

As Binney and Smith toured schools to sell their innovative chalk, they spotted another classroom need that their company could fulfill — the need for safe, affordable and colorful crayons.

An Instant and Lasting Success

To make their crayons, Binney and Smith combined paraffin wax with industrial pigments, and they employed their proven mixing techniques to produce kid-safe crayons in a variety of appealing colors.

The name “Crayola” was coined by Binney’s wife, Alice, who had been a teacher in the Bronx. She cleverly combined the French words “craie” (chalk) and “oleagineux” (oily) to make what would become a globally recognized brand name.

The first box of Crayola crayons contained eight colors — black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow and green — and it sold for five cents. Introduced in 1903, the crayons were an instant success.

Since 1903, the Crayola brand has grown exponentially. So many products since have been added, from markers and paints to activity kits and toys. Of course, the classic crayon boxes have grown as well. Crayola has developed an incredible spectrum of colors over the years, introducing the 48-color box in 1949, the iconic 64-color box in 1958 and the exciting 96-color Big Box in 1993.

In 1996, Crayola produced its 100 billionth crayon. Today, over 2 billion crayons are sold around the world every year!

Not only did Binney invent and expertly market the crayons that continue to spark creativity among kids and adults everywhere, but he also was known for his integrity and goodwill. Binney was a philanthropist who cared about his community and an entrepreneur whose vision encompassed the economic possibilities of a growing nation. Let his story inspire you the next time you reach for a freshly sharpened Crayola crayon.

Meet More World-Changing Inventors

Did you know that Binney is one of more than 600 creators, innovators and entrepreneurs who have been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame? You can learn more of these inventors’ unique stories when you keep exploring our website.