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Meet Fred Kilmer: One of Johnson & Johnson’s earliest pioneers
The company’s first scientific director was responsible for groundbreaking innovations that surgeons use to this day. But there’s a lot more to this Renaissance man’s impressive story.
Pioneering with papaya: The secret ingredient used to treat indigestion in the 1800s
The holiday season can do a number on your stomach. But as Johnson & Johnson’s in-house historian tells us, things weren’t so different in the 19th century—and we made the products to prove it.
The history of how Johnson & Johnson has given back during times of crisis
What started as medical aid donated to the injured survivors of a devastating 1889 flood has evolved into a legacy of philanthropy that spans the globe. We look at key moments throughout history in which the company has mobilized to help people.
Synol: The Johnson & Johnson soap made popular by silent film stars
It’s National Healthy Skin Month, so we asked our in-house historian, Margaret Gurowitz, to give us the scoop on the company’s first soap, which had a cult following among starlets in the early 1900s.
Aldrage B. Cooper: a pioneering employee who broke barriers at Johnson & Johnson
The first African American to hold the position of Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Aldrage B. Cooper was known for three things: his 6' 7" height, his turn as mayor of New Brunswick in the 1970s and his commitment to public service and community.
How Johnson & Johnson helped reshape medical care after World War I
We crack open the pages of a special issue of Red Cross Notes, a company publication that spotlighted several ways surgical care changed after the war—and how Johnson & Johnson contributed to many of the advances.
Stitch in time: 18 fascinating facts about the history of sutures
From their use in Ancient Egypt (really!) to later innovations like topical skin adhesives, sutures have a long history of saving lives—a story Johnson & Johnson’s been part of since the 1800s.
Vintage spooky ads from Johnson & Johnson
In time for Halloween, we dig into our archives to spotlight frighteningly clever advertisements from as far back as 1887.
How Johnson & Johnson has cared for Spanish speakers since the 1800s
How Johnson & Johnson has cared for Spanish-speaking customers and patients for over 100 years
A fateful train ride through a New Jersey city leads to the founding of Johnson & Johnson in 1886
James Wood Johnson, one of three brothers who launched the company, spotted a “for rent” sign on an empty factory building while traveling from New York to Philadelphia. Here’s how in less than a year, it became Johnson & Johnson’s first location.