At one time virtually every zipper in the world was manufactured by the Talon zipper company in Meadville, Pennsylvania. This handy replacement for the button closure originally was invented and patented in 1893 as the “hookless fastener” by Whitcomb L. Judson in Chicago. Although its early value was apparent in boots and shoes, the zipper was too complicated and difficult to mass produce—until Colonel Lewis Walker, an attorney and graduate of Allegheny College, saw its vast potential in apparel and military applications, not just in footwear.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
