- Great American Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century
Anthony Overton
Hygienic Manufacturing Company
1898 - 1946
Personal Care & Home Products
b. 1865
| Education |  |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Washburn College |
| Graduate | JD, University of Kansas |
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Born-Died | 1865 - 1946 |
| Birthplace | Louisiana (LA) |
| Race | Black or African American |
A pioneer black manufacturer, Overton established Hygienic in 1898 and produced baking powder, extracts, and toilet preparations. After moving the firm from Kansas to Chicago, he began to manufacture a full line of cosmetics and perfumes under the High-Brown Products label. He parlayed his early success with Hygienic into a highly diverse conglomerate, including The Great Northern Realty Company, The Chicago Bee, and the Victory Life Insurance Company. This was the first major conglomerate led by an African-American.