Founded in 1844 in Brunswick, Maine, the Dennison Manufacturing Company was the first manufacturer of boxes in the country. Expansion into related markets brought Dennison’s headquarters to Framingham in 1897, where it remained the town’s largest employer for nearly 100 years. The sprawling Dennison complex anchored the east side of Framingham’s bustling downtown and continues to shape the geography and character of the area today.
“The Dennison” was more than just a local employer; it was an innovative international corporation. The company made art and design integral to their brand with eye catching products and marketing materials. They invented office and craft supplies that are still used today, including tag enforcers, crepe paper, and holiday decor. Their innovative labor practices included offering on-site health care, childcare, and financial support for employees.
The FHC holds the largest collection of Dennison products in a public institution.
Dennison was at the forefront of progressive management, technological innovation, and
marketing ingenuity. Dennison products were both works of art and icons of American culture. It has been a labor of love and respect to catalog artifacts that had such an
impact on American culture and ways of doing business for nearly 150 years.