Hazel Bishop
Encyclopedia
Hazel Gladys Bishop was a chemist
and the founder of the cosmetics
company Hazel Bishop, Inc. She is also the inventor of the first long lasting lipstick.
, one of two children of businessman Henry Bishop and his wife Mabel. Her father was a keen entrepreneur: 'The family talk around the dinner table always concerned business.' She attended Barnard College
in New York. In 1929, she graduated from Barnard College
with a degree in Chemistry
. She began taking undergraduate courses at Columbia University
. In 1935, she worked at the College of Physicians and Surgeons with A.B. Cannon.
She began experimenting with staining dyes, oils, and molten wax. Eventually, she created a perfect mixture. She molded the mixture and called the new creation "No-Smear Lipstick". In 1950, she acquired some capital and begun Hazel Bishop Inc. to manufacturer lasting lipsticks. She asked Raymond Spector, an advertiser, to help her launch the lipstick onto consumers. The product was proved to be a success.
Sales by Hazel Bishop Inc. of its lipstick increased from $49,527 in 1950 to $10,100,682 in 1953. She lost control of the company in 1954 in a proxy fight with majority stockholders. She founded a research laboratory, but couldn't legally use her name in connection with it. In 1962, she became a stockbroker and an expert regarding cosmetics stocks. Changing careers again, she became a professor at a fashion institute in 1978.http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/10/nyregion/hazel-bishop-92-an-innovator-who-made-lipstick-kissproof.html
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and the founder of the cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
company Hazel Bishop, Inc. She is also the inventor of the first long lasting lipstick.
Early life
She was born in Hoboken, New JerseyHoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, one of two children of businessman Henry Bishop and his wife Mabel. Her father was a keen entrepreneur: 'The family talk around the dinner table always concerned business.' She attended Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
in New York. In 1929, she graduated from Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
with a degree in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
. She began taking undergraduate courses at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. In 1935, she worked at the College of Physicians and Surgeons with A.B. Cannon.
Career
In 1942, she worked as an organic chemist for Standard Oil Development Company, designing fuels for airplanes during World War II. In 1945, she joined the Socony Vacuum Oil Company.Lipstick invention
Bishop was inspired by A.B. Cannon, and begun conducting experiments in her own time. She hoped to own a business. She thought of a smudge-proof, long lasting lipstick that won't smear on clothing or cups.She began experimenting with staining dyes, oils, and molten wax. Eventually, she created a perfect mixture. She molded the mixture and called the new creation "No-Smear Lipstick". In 1950, she acquired some capital and begun Hazel Bishop Inc. to manufacturer lasting lipsticks. She asked Raymond Spector, an advertiser, to help her launch the lipstick onto consumers. The product was proved to be a success.
Sales by Hazel Bishop Inc. of its lipstick increased from $49,527 in 1950 to $10,100,682 in 1953. She lost control of the company in 1954 in a proxy fight with majority stockholders. She founded a research laboratory, but couldn't legally use her name in connection with it. In 1962, she became a stockbroker and an expert regarding cosmetics stocks. Changing careers again, she became a professor at a fashion institute in 1978.http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/10/nyregion/hazel-bishop-92-an-innovator-who-made-lipstick-kissproof.html
External links
- Biography
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Hazel Bishop Papers.Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.