Louis Prang was born in 1824 in Breslau, Silesia (present day Poland).
He studied printing and dyeing techniques in Bohemia before immigrating
as a political refugee to America in 1850. Louis Prang settled in Boston
and went on to develop chromolithography from which today’s printing
industry was established.
By the late 19th century America, Prang’s name was synonymous
with art materials and art education. Louis Prang died in 1909 at the
age of 85. His name is engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty
along with other immigrants who made great contributions to the United
States.
Louis Prang was America’s first art educator. In his day, art
education was only for amateur artists and young ladies in finishing
school. Louis Prang believed that all children should study art, and
that artistic experience and observation quickens the imagination and
independence of expression. Louis Prang developed instructional guides
and a complete educational curriculum; then trained the country’s
first art instructors. He printed reproductions of famous art works
and published the first American textbooks: "Art in the School
Room" and "Art Education in High Schools," as well as,
drawing books, and art history books. He even supplied upstart art
programs with Prang chalks, crayons, and paints. Louis Prang devoted
his characteristic energy and enthusiasm to his vision. After over
thirty years of commitment, art education became an accepted part of
the American school curricula, as well as a respected profession.
Having developed chromolithography, Louis Prang was the first person
to create and publish the first Christmas Cards produced in America
in 1874. Prang launched into production and instigated national competitions
for design and verse. His cards are generally accepted as the start
of the greeting card industry in the United States which earned him
the title "Father of the American Christmas Card". It is
difficult to exaggerate the excitement generated by these Christmas
cards. Young ladies are said to have noted in their diaries how many "Prang’s" they
had received that year.
Prang’s factory in Boston became a tourist attraction with Louis
Prang often conducting the tours himself. The L. Prang Company later
evolved into business & trade cards, announcements, and advertising.
Spurred by the educational need to teach his young daughter art, Louis
Prang developed non-toxic watercolors. They were the first in a series
of child-safe art materials developed by Prang. In 1856, Germany enjoyed
a virtual monopoly supplying art products to America. Mr. Prang looked
for an American company that could meet or exceed Germany’s high
quality standards. He found the American Crayon Company and contracted
exclusively with them to make his watercolors. In 1918, the American
Crayon Company acquired the rights to use the Prang name and to produce
Prang’s art materials. In 1957, the American Crayon Company merged
with Joseph Dixon Crucible Company, which is known as Dixon Ticonderoga
Company today.
Originally known as the Paramenter Crayon Company, the American Crayon
Company began making and selling chalk in Waltham, Massachusetts. They
are recognized as being the world’s oldest and largest manufacturers
of crayons since 1835. The Paramenter Crayon Company merged with The
Western School Supply company founded in the 1860’s. It soon
became recognized both nationally and internationally for its contributions
to schools. Eventually, The Western School Supply company became the
American Crayon Company.
Dixon Ticonderoga Company continues to manufacture Prang products
with pride, maintaining the same high standards of excellence established
by Louis Prang.