Bette nesmith graham biography for kids

Home / Scientists & Inventors / Bette nesmith graham biography for kids

It was a big part of a huge market, even with other products like Wite-Out trying to compete. However, even with her health getting worse, Graham managed to get control of her company back. She passed away the following year.

Bette Nesmith Graham's Philanthropy

Bette Graham created two foundations: the Gihon Foundation and the Bette Clair McMurray Foundation.

In 1968, Nesmith Graham opened a new plant with 20 employees. She raised her son by herself after her divorce.

The Invention of Liquid Paper

In 1951, Bette McMurry was a top secretary for the head of Texas Bank and Trust. That year, she sold one million bottles.

In 1975, Nesmith Graham divorced her husband. 1942⁠–⁠1946)​

Robert Graham

(m.

Using her kitchen blender, she mixed up some tempera water-based paint, tinting it to match her company stationery. 1962⁠–⁠1975)​

Children1, son Michael Nesmith

Bette Nesmith Graham (born March 23, 1924 – died May 12, 1980) was an American inventor, businesswoman, and generous giver from Texas.

She sold Liquid Paper to Gillette Corporation in 1979 for a large sum of money, reportedly over $47.5 million. She took it to the office with a watercolor brush, and whenever she made a mistake on paper, she simply painted over it and fixed the error.

The formula worked like magic. In 1956, she officially started the Mistake Out Company.

She used an IBMelectric typewriter, which made it hard to correct mistakes. Bette's sister, Yvonne, described her as a very determined person. The Gihon Foundation gave money to help women in the arts. He joined her in running Liquid Paper as it grew. When she became too engrossed in her own business, her boss at the bank fired her. In fact, her boss never even noticed the corrected errors in her work.

Liquid Paper offered many benefits for employees, like a retirement plan, classes to keep learning, and a credit union owned by the employees.

Graham had a difficult divorce from Robert Graham in 1975. On December 30, 1942, her son, Michael Nesmith, was born. Another part of Graham's wealth funded the Bette Clair McMurray Foundation.

bette nesmith graham biography for kids

A year later, she passed away at the age of 56.

Bette Nesmith Graham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Bette Nesmith Graham

Graham with son Michael Nesmith

Born

Bette Clair McMurray


(1924-03-23)March 23, 1924

Dallas, Texas, U.S.

DiedMay 12, 1980(1980-05-12) (aged 56)

Richardson, Texas, U.S.

Known forInvention of Liquid Paper
Spouse(s)

Warren Nesmith

(m.

However, she became adept at her profession, and by 1951, she was working as an executive secretary for the chairman of the board of Texas Bank and Trust.

At that time, electric typewriters were becoming more and more popular, and in learning to use them, Nesmith and other secretaries often made mistakes that they found difficult to erase, in part because of the messy carbon-film ribbons used in the devices.

She was hired and then sent to a secretarial school to learn the skills she needed.

In 1942, Bette married her high school boyfriend, Warren Nesmith.