Butterick, Ebenezer

Butterick, Ebenezer

(1826–1903) inventor, fashion business executive; born in Sterling, Mass. With his wife, Ellen Augusta Pollard Butterick (d. 1871), this tailor invented paper clothing patterns for home sewers; they began selling patterns in 1863. He formed E. Butterick & Company, New York (1867–81), established European branches, and founded fashion magazines. He was later secretary of the reorganized Butterick Publishing Company (1881–94).