The History of Crayola Crayons

Here is a history of those fun Crayola Crayons that you used as a child to color in all those coloring books, and to come up with your own children's art work.

1903

First Crayola box debuts with 8 colors, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, black and brown.

1949-1957

Croyla grows to 48 colors including Prussian Blue later changed to Midnight Blue, Flesh changed to Peach during the Civil Rights Movement.

1958-1971

A box of Crayola Crayons grows to 64 including Aquamarine, Copper, Lavender, and Indian Red.

Indian Red was renamed Chestnut in 1999 because it was perceived that the color intended to represent the skin color of Native Americans. In fact Indian red originated from the reddish-brown pigment from India used in fine artist oil paints.

1990-1992

Eight fluorescent colors were added. These included Electric Lime, Unmellow Yellow, Magic Mint, Radical Rad and Neon Carrot. In order to keep the box to 64 8 colors were retired. These included Green Blue, Orange Read, Orange Yellow, Violet Blue, Maize, Lemon Yellow, Blue Gray, and Raw Umber.

1993

Sixteen colors were named by consumers, and added these included Asparagus, Denim, Tickle Me Pink, and Mauvelous.

1998

Twentyfour colors were added bringing the total Crayola Crayon box to 120. New colors included Pink Falmingo, Caribbean Green, Fuzzy Wuzzy Brown, and Purple Heart.

2000

Thistle was removed to make room for Indigo, and Torche red was renamed Scarlet.

2003

Crayola turns 100 years old and welcomes 4 new colors Jazzberry Jam, Inch Worm, Wild Blue Yonder, and Mango Tango. Retired colors include Mulberry, Blizzard Blue, Magic Mint, and Teal Blue. I guess in 2003 the penchant for fluorescent green was diminished. I am a fluorescent color girl myself. I grew up in the '60's.

2004

Crayola releases the United We Stand, Under One Rainbow box. Each state is represented by a color chosen by consumers.

2006

Oprah Wingrey calls Crayola Crayones one of her all time faviorite things. Crayola in response produces "A Color Purple" to honor the host for her starring role in the film by the same name.

2008

Crayola celebrates the 50th anniversary of its 64 crayon box with a commemorative box that brings back 8 colors retired in 1990 including Green Blue, Orange Read, Orange Yellow, Violet Blue, Maize, Lemon Yellow, Blue Gray, and Raw Umber.

Also they celebrate by a Kids' Choice Colors box of 64 with 8 new colors chosen by kids. A "Color of Courage" red becomes the ninth Kids' Choice Colar, and sales of the box aid St. Jude's Children Research Hospital.

Information from "Crayola Colored in Nostalgia", Karis Bland, The Arizona Republic, December 16, 2008.

and Image, and information from

www.crayola.com

For craft ideas involving Crayola pencils, markers, and of course, crayons, or information on coloring books see

http://www.xomba.com/crayola_crayons_make_great_hanukkah_christmas_kwanazz_and_winter_holiday_fun