Marion Donovan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marion Donovan
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| Born | October 15, 1917 |
| Died | November 4, 1998 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Rosemont College (BA) Yale University (MArch) |
| Known for | First waterproof diaper |
| Awards | National Inventors Hall of Fame |
Marion O'Brien Donovan (born October 15, 1917 – died November 4, 1998) was a smart American inventor and entrepreneur. She was one of the most creative female inventors of her time. She received 20 patents for her different ideas. In 2015, Donovan was added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Her most famous invention was a reusable, leak-proof waterproof diaper cover. She created this in 1946 after trying many different designs. This invention later led to her idea for the disposable paper diaper. This disposable diaper was eventually made popular by Victor Mills, who created Pampers. Marion Donovan also invented other helpful items for the home.
Growing Up and Learning
Marion Donovan was born on October 15, 1917, in South Bend, Indiana. Her father and his twin brother ran a factory called South Bend Lathe Works. They invented many things, like a special machine called a "South Bend lathe". This machine helped make car parts and gun barrels.
Marion spent a lot of time at the factory after school. Her father was an engineer. He always encouraged her to be creative from a young age. When she was in elementary school, she even made a new kind of tooth cleaning powder with her father's help.
In 1939, Donovan earned a bachelor's degree in English. She studied at Rosemont College in Pennsylvania. Later, in 1958, she earned a master's degree in architecture from Yale University. She was one of only three women in her graduating class there.
After college, Donovan worked for a few years. She was an Assistant Beauty Editor at Vogue magazine in New York. She then left her job to start a family. She moved to Westport, Connecticut. Marion Donovan was married to James F. Donovan in 1942. Later, she married John F. Butler in 1981. She had three children.
Discovering New Inventions
As a housewife, Marion quickly saw problems with regular cloth diapers. The cloth diapers at that time were not waterproof. Babies would often wet their clothes and bed sheets. This meant a lot of laundry for parents.
Donovan started experimenting with fabric from her shower curtains. She wanted to make a reusable, leak-proof, and breathable diaper cover. This cover would have a pocket for an absorbent diaper inside. The rubber pants used then often caused diaper rash. They also pinched babies' skin.
Her final design used nylon parachute cloth. This material was breathable, which helped prevent diaper rash. She used metal and plastic snaps instead of elastic or sharp diaper pins. She called her invention the "Boater." She said it "looked like a boat" or "helped babies 'stay afloat'."
No manufacturers were interested in making the "Boater." So, Donovan decided to make it herself. It first appeared at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. It became very popular right away. She received four patents for her invention in 1951. She sold these patents to the Keko Corporation for $1 million that same year.
Around this time, Donovan also started working on disposable paper diapers. A key goal was to keep moisture away from the baby's skin. This would stop diaper rash. She solved this by using a special, strong, absorbent paper. However, this invention was harder to sell. Big American companies thought it was not needed or practical.
Marion Donovan could not find the right company to make her disposable diapers. This was partly due to the way women inventors were treated then. But her ideas were very important. They led to the creation of disposable diapers. These were introduced in the U.S. by Procter and Gamble in 1961. Victor Mills created the famous Pampers brand.
Marion Donovan had an inventive mind from a young age. She created many useful things for the home. She even designed her own house. Some of her other inventions include:
- A compact hanger that could hold 30 clothes, called the "Big Hangup."
- A soap dish that drained water directly into the sink.
- The "Zippity-Do," an elastic cord that helped zip up dresses in the back.
- The DentaLoop, a circular flossing product. She made and sold this herself too.
Marion Donovan passed away on November 4, 1998. She was 81 years old. She died from heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, New York City.
Donovan was featured on the March 15, 2018, episode of "The Daily Show."
Awards and Recognition
Marion Donovan was chosen for the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2015. Her picture is on the Hall of Fame wall.
See also
In Spanish: Marion Donovan para niños
