August Chilcote, founder of the Chilcote Company, was born in Zanesville, Kansas in 1878. At the age of 20, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and served in Cuba during the Spanish American War. When he returned, he worked in a photography studio in Columbus, Ohio. Chilcote and his young family later moved to Cleveland, where August began selling products for Sargent Photo Supply Company which became the Chilcote-Sargent Company.

In 1920, August built a facility for production of photo mounts. In 1932, after attending Dartmouth and Harvard Business School, his son, Lee, joined the company. During this transition, the country was in the midst of the Great Depression, so people had little disposable income. However, jig-saw puzzles became very popular. Fortunately, the Chilcote Company was equipped to respond and by 1943, they were producing 50,000 jigsaw puzzles a day on Sheridan sliding presses. During World War II, the field of photography was experiencing a new level of popularity but paper was rationed. Soon, demand for photo mounts exceeded the supply, so the sales force was put to work in the factory and customers were only allowed certain quantities.

As amateur photography became more prevalent and professional and portrait photographers expanded their services, innovative products from innovative companies were needed to meet market demands. After the war, there was much competition. The Brewer-Chilcote Company was started as a wholesaler of fine paper. August's son Bill Chilcote joined the company in 1947 after attending Dartmouth College and the Tuck School of Business. August Chilcote passed away in 1952.

In 1955, Chilcote acquired Taprell Loomis, the largest producer of photo mounts and photo albums, from Eastman Kodak. That acquisition enabled the company to produce goods for larger customers, make bigger production runs, and reduce the sales and distribution costs. In 1986, the Chilcote Company purchased Forest City bindery.

Meanwhile, the company was increasing its manufacturing capabilities by adding a number of printing and foil stamping presses which gave it a competitive edge. The strategic growth of the Company continued when it purchased its first large format printing press in the 1990's. In 1991, Lee Chilcote passed away and his stock was distributed to Chilcote employees under an Employee Stock Option Plan.

Several other companies were purchased to complete the Chilcote Company's vertical integration and horizontal array of graphics services and photo related brands, including packaging and presentation products in professional, retail and commercial markets nationwide and around the world. Today, it is still operated as family business, with Bill Chilcote as the Company's Vice Chairman, and Bill's son David, August's grandson, as President.

David Hein, CEO and Chairman says, "We are continuing our progress, moving forward and gaining momentum. Our future is very bright and I'm focusing on new opportunities for even greater achievement in 2006, and as we enter into our second hundred years."

IPHF would like to congratulate the Chilcote Company for a successful first hundred years in providing services to photographers, and wish them the best in the future.