author
Frank Osgood Butler
1861–1955
Remembered as a paper manufacturer, polo player, and civic-minded landowner, he also wrote a concise history of papermaking that grew out of a lifetime in the industry. His story connects Chicago business, early Oak Brook, and one of the world’s oldest crafts.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Chicago in 1861, Frank Osgood Butler came from the family behind the J. W. Butler Paper Company. He spent much of his life in the paper business, but his interests ranged far beyond it, including ranching, polo, genealogy, and local philanthropy.
As an author, he is best known for The Story of Paper-making, a short nonfiction work that explains how paper developed from its earliest known uses to modern manufacture. The book reflects both practical knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject, making a technical industry feel approachable to general readers.
Butler is also closely linked with the history of Oak Brook, Illinois, where his landholdings and donations helped shape the area’s early development. He died in 1955, leaving behind a legacy that mixed industry, sport, and a genuine interest in recording the history of his field.