Clifton Hillegass facts for kids

Clifton K. Hillegass (born April 18, 1918 – died May 5, 2001) was the person who created and published CliffsNotes. These popular study guides have helped millions of students understand difficult books and subjects.

Who Was Clifton Hillegass?

Clifton Hillegass was born in a small town called Rising City, Nebraska. He went to Midland Lutheran College and later studied physics and geology at the University of Nebraska. He also received four special honorary degrees during his life.

Starting CliffsNotes

CliffsNotes began in 1958. At first, they were reprints of Canadian study guides for 16 plays by William Shakespeare. Clifton Hillegass worked for a company that distributed college textbooks. This job helped him meet many bookstore managers across the country. These connections were very important. They helped him get the first CliffsNotes into stores.

How CliffsNotes Grew

The yellow and black pamphlets quickly became popular. High school students especially loved them. By the early 1970s, the company offered many more study aids. These included guides for exams, course outlines, and materials for law school. They also made test preparation kits for big tests like the SAT and ACT.

Giving Back

As his company grew, Clifton Hillegass kept its main office in Lincoln, Nebraska. He lived there until he passed away. He was very generous. Every year, he gave 10 percent of his company's profits to local charities. These donations helped many groups in his community. When he died, half of his estate also went to these organizations. Most of his employees were from Lincoln, Nebraska, too. In 1999, he sold CliffsNotes. After that, he created a special fund to support English studies at the University of Nebraska.