Bette Nesmith Graham
Personal Information
Born: 1924
Died: 1980
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
HS dropout
Professional Life
Field of Study: Inventor; secretary
Institution/Corporation: Gillette Corporation
Degrees & Memberships: none
Awards & Achievements
Awards: none
Achievements: Invented Liquid Paper 1956; sold company in 1979 to Gillette Corp for approximatley $47.5 million; formed 2 charities: Gihon (to financially aid women in the arts) & Bette Clair McMurray (to financially aid women in business)
Mother of musician & producer Michael Nesmith of The Monkees
Invented white-out in 1956 while working as a typist; sold Liquid Paper Company to Gillette in 1979 for $47.5 million plus royalties
Dropped out of high school to attend secretarial school
Her invention was originally called Mistake Out & was made in her North Dallas kitchen; son Michael & his friends helped fill the orders
Established 2 foundations to empower striving women in the arts & business
Provided a green belt with a fish pond, an employee library & a childcare center at her new company headquarters in 1975