Edith Von Kuster is hired , becoming Johnson & Johnson ’ s first female scientist

The founding Johnson brothers start a company

Brothers Robert , James and Edward Mead Johnson had lived through the American Civil War ( of which their older brothers served in ) and saw firsthand the desperate need for antiseptic surgical supplies . In 1886 , with just 14 employees , the brothers got to work in producing sterile bandages and sutures .

12 February 2022

Creating healthcare items for soldiers in the Spanish-American war

The three-month-long Spanish-American War fought for control over islands in the Caribbean and the Pacific . It was an opportunity for Johnson & Johnson to help soldiers just like their older brothers , so the company manufactured dressing packets in a waterproof casing , which could fit in the pockets of soldiers .

At 23 , Edith Von Kuster had just graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in chemistry . Johnson & Johnson ’ s Scientific Director , Fred Kilmer , offered her a job in R & D . Although it would be another 12 years before she could legally vote – Edith accepted the job .