Paper Industry International Hall of Fame
Founded in 1992, the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame (PIIHOF) has honored and recognized more than 140 giants in the paper industry from around the world, whose accomplishments have truly revolutionized civilization. The PIIHOF is the only one of its kind in the world and was created to foster a greater understanding of the paper industry - its values, heritage, and influence on our quality of life.
The idea of a Hall of Fame for the paper industry began when a group of current and former paper industry executives met to discuss how the giants of the industry and the importance of paper could be recognized. In 1992, formal meetings were held with the Neenah Historical Society in Neenah, Wisconsin, to develop the concept and format for the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame, Inc. It was formally registered with the Bureau of Patents and Trademarks in Washington, D.C., in 1993.
In 1999, the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame, Inc. was offered Kimberly-Clark Corporation's former Atlas Mill in Appleton, Wisconsin to serve as its home. A portion of the renovated Atlas Mill opened in March 2005 as the Paper Discovery Center, a paper-related science and technology museum. In 2022, the Paper Discovery Center rebranded itself as the Atlas Science Center to broaden its reach. Atlas Science Center continues to be the home of the Hall of Fame.
Today the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame, Inc., a non-profit organization, continues to recognize people who have made preeminent contributions to the paper industry worldwide by inducting them into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame.