Ball Brothers

The Ball Brothers from left to right: George A. Ball, Lucius L. Ball, Frank C. Ball, Edmund B. Ball, and William C. Ball

The Ball Brothers from left to right: William Charles Ball (1852–1921), Frank Clayton Ball (1857–1943), Lucius Lorenzo Ball (seated) (1850–1932), Edmund Burke Ball (1855–1925), George Alexander Ball (1862–1955)

The Ball brothers were the founders of the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Business which eventually became Ball Corporation. They greatly improved the quality of life of Muncie, Indiana through their philanthropy and business. They were instrumental in the creation of Ball State University, and Ball Memorial Hospital, and Minnetrista, a museum in Muncie. Included in the Minnetrista Heritage Collection are a large archival collection documenting the family and business, approximately 1,000 Ball fruit jars, and other Ball products.

The Ball family's legacy continues today through the Ball Brothers Foundation and the George and Frances Ball Foundation, both located in Muncie, Indiana.

From oldest to youngest, the Ball Brothers were:

• Lucius Lorenzo Ball (1850–1932) was a physician with a private practice in Muncie. While not actively involved in day-to-day business, Lucius was on the company's board of directors. He also served as company physician.
• William Charles Ball (1852–1921) was an effective salesman for the company. He also served as company treasurer.
• Edmund Burke Ball (1855–1925) was co-founder of Ball Brothers Glass with brother Frank. He served as company secretary and treasurer.
• Frank Clayton Ball (1857–1943) was co-founder of Ball Brothers Glass with brother Edmund. He was the first company president, serving for 63 years.
• George Alexander Ball (1862–1955) served the company as bookkeeper, secretary, treasurer, vice president, president and board chairman. He was also involved in politics, and was a Republican national committeeman from Indiana for several years.

Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company (Ball Corporation) was founded by Frank C. and Edmund B. Ball, who borrowed $200 from their uncle George Ball to buy the Wooden Jacket Can Company of Buffalo, New York. Within a few years, they added glass production to the business and, in 1884, produced their first fruit jar. To take advantage of the abundance of natural gas in East Central Indiana, the brothers built a factory in Muncie, Indiana in 1887. Over the course of the next ten years the brothers closed the factory in Buffalo and they all moved to Muncie, Indiana.

In 1998, Ball Corporation headquarters moved to Broomfield, Colorado.

External links

• Minnetrista Heritage Collection
• Ball Corporation history of the Ball family
• Ball State University Libraries' Archives & Special Collections