International Paper Company's Kraft pulp and paper mill in Georgetown, South Carolina. When built, this was the world's largest mill.

Basement of paper mill in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Pulp and paper manufacture involves a great deal of humidity, which presents a preventive maintenance and corrosion challenge.

A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.

History[link]

A mid Nineteenth century paper mill, the Forest Fibre Company, in Berlin, New Hampshire

Historical investigations into the origin of the paper mill are complicated by differing definitions and loose terminology from modern authors: Many modern scholars use the term to refer indiscriminately to all kinds of mills, whether powered by humans, by animals or by water. Their propensity to refer to any ancient paper manufacturing centre as a "mill", without further specifying its exact power drive, has increased the difficulty of identifying the particularly efficient and historically important water-powered type.^[1]

Human and animal-powered mills[link]

While the use of human and animal powered mills were known to Chinese and Muslim papermakers, evidence for water-powered paper mills is elusive in both of them.^[2][3][4][5] The general absence of the use of water-power in Muslim papermaking is suggested by the habit of Muslim authors to call a production center not a "mill", but a "paper manufactory".^[6]

Although scholars have identified "paper mills" in Abbasid-era Baghdad in 794–795, the evidence that waterpower was applied to papermaking at this time is a matter of scholarly debate.^[7] In the Moroccan city of Fez, Ibn Battuta speaks of "400 mill stones for paper".^[8] Since Ibn Battuta does not mention the use of water-power and such a number of water-mills would be grotesquely high, the passage is generally taken to refer to human or animal force.^[4][8]

Water-powered mills[link]

An exhaustive survey of milling in Al-Andalus did not uncover a single water-powered paper mill, nor do the Spanish books of property distribution (Repartimientos) after the Christian reconquest refer to any.^[4] Arabic texts never use the term mill in connection with papermaking and the most thorough account of Muslim papermaking, the one by the Zirid Sultan Al-Muizz ibn Badis, describes the art purely in terms of a handcraft.^[4] Donald Hill has identified a possible reference to a water-powered paper mill in Samarkand, in the 11th-century work of the Persian scholar Abu Rayhan Biruni, but concludes that the passage is "too brief to enable us to say with certainty" that it refers to a water-powered paper mill.^[9][10] While this is seen by Halevi nonetheless as evidence of Samarkand first harnessing waterpower in the production of paper, he concedes that it is not known if waterpower was applied to papermaking elsewhere across the Islamic world at the time;^[11] Robert I. Burns remains altogether sceptical given the isolated occurrence of the reference and the prevalence of manual labour in Islamic papermaking elsewhere.^[1]

Stromer's paper mill, the building complex at the far right bottom, in the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493. Due to their noise and smell, papermills were required by medieval law to be erected some distance from the city walls.

Hill notes that paper mills appear in early Christian Catalonian documentation from the 1150s, which may imply Islamic origins, but here too hard evidence is lacking,^[12][13] and the case for early Catalan water-powered paper mills has been thoroughly dismissed after a re-examination of the evidence cited by Burns.^[14] Likewise, the identification of early hydraulic stamping mills in medieval documents from Fabriano, Italy, is completely without substance.^[15]

The earliest certain evidence to a water-powered paper mill dates to 1282 in the Spanish Kingdom of Aragon.^[16] A decree by the Christian king Peter III addresses the establishment of a royal "molendinum", a proper hydraulic mill, in the paper manufacturing centre of Xàtiva.^[16] The crown innovation appears to be resented by the local Muslim papermakering community; the document guarantees the Muslim subjects the right to continue their way of traditional papermaking by beating the pulp manually and grants them the right to be exempted from work in the new mill.^[16]

The first permanent paper mill north of the Alpes was established in Nuremberg by Ulman Stromer in 1390; it is later depicted in the lavishly illustrated Nuremberg Chronicle.^[17] From the mid-14th century onwards, European paper milling underwent a rapid improvement of many work processes.^[18]

20th century[link]

By the early 20th century, paper mills sprung up around New England and the rest of the world, due to the high demand of paper. At this time, there were many world leaders of the production of paper; one of such was the Brown Company in Berlin, New Hampshire run by William Wentworth Brown. During the year 1907, the Brown Company cut between 30 to 40 million acres of woodlands on their property^[19], which extended from Canada to Florida^[20].

“Log drives” were conducted on local rivers to send the logs to the mills. By the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, paper mills began to close and the log drives became a dying craft^[21]. Due to the addition of new machinery, many millworkers were laid off and many of the historic paper mills closed^[22].

Characteristics[link]

Paper mills can be fully integrated mills or nonintegrated mills. Integrated mills consist of a pulp mill and a paper mill on the same site. Such mills receive logs or wood chips and produce paper. It is a common misconception that paper mills are sources of odors. Pulp mills and the pulping section of integrated mills (particularly if using the kraft process) commonly have associated odors; nonintegrated mills purchase wood pulp, usually in dry bales known as market pulp, and produce little, if any, odor.

The modern paper mill uses large amounts of energy, water, and wood pulp in a highly efficient and extremely complex series of processes, using modern and sophisticated controls technology to produce a sheet of paper that can be used in incredibly diverse ways. Modern paper machines are very large and can be 500 feet (~150 m) in length, produce a sheet 400 inches (~10 m) wide, and operate at speeds of more than 60 mph (100 km/h).^[23] The two main suppliers of paper machines are Metso and Voith.

See also[link]

• Paper pollution
• Cutting stock problem
• List of paper mills

Notes[link]

Sources[link]

• Burns, Robert I. (1996), "Paper comes to the West, 800−1400", in Lindgren, Uta, Europäische Technik im Mittelalter. 800 bis 1400. Tradition und Innovation (4th ed.), Berlin: Gebr. Mann Verlag, pp. 413–422, ISBN 3-7861-1748-9 
• Hunter, Dared (1930), Papermaking through Eighteen Centuries, New York 
• Lucas, Adam Robert (2005), "Industrial Milling in the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. A Survey of the Evidence for an Industrial Revolution in Medieval Europe", Technology and Culture 46 (1): 1–30, DOI:10.1353/tech.2005.0026 
• Thompson, Susan (1978), "Paper Manufacturing and Early Books", Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 314: 167–176, DOI:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1978.tb47791.x 
• Tschudin, Peter F. (1996), "Werkzeug und Handwerkstechnik in der mittelalterlichen Papierherstellung", in Lindgren, Uta, Europäische Technik im Mittelalter. 800 bis 1400. Tradition und Innovation (4th ed.), Berlin: Gebr. Mann Verlag, pp. 423−428, ISBN 3-7861-1748-9 
• Stromer, Wolfgang von (1960), "Das Handelshaus der Stromer von Nürnberg und die Geschichte der ersten deutschen Papiermühle", Vierteljahrschrift für Sozial und Wirtschaftsgeschichte 47: 81–104 
• Stromer, Wolfgang von (1993), "Große Innovationen der Papierfabrikation in Spätmittelalter und Frühneuzeit", Technikgeschichte 60 (1): 1–6 

• Tsien, Tsuen-Hsuin: "Science and Civilisation in China", Chemistry and Chemical Technology (Vol. 5), Paper and Printing (Part 1), Cambridge University Press, 1985

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Paper mill

• List of International graphic paper mills
• Paperweb.biz - Paper world directory and search engine for the pulp and paper world
• List of paper mills on paper and print monthly [1]

Alice Ripley
self portrait
Born	(1963-12-14) December 14, 1963 (age 48)
Occupation	actor, singer, songwriter, and mixed media artist
Awards	2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical; 2009 Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in a Musical
Website
Official site

Alice Ripley is an American actor, singer, songwriter, and mixed media artist known for her various roles on Broadway in musicals, including the Pulitzer Prize winning Next to Normal (2009 Tony Award, Best Actress in a Musical) and Side Show (1998 Tony nomination). She has also written and produced albums with her band, RIPLEY.

RIPLEY's new single, "Beautiful Eyes", was released on 2/21/12^[1] and the accompanying music video on 4/17/12.^[2]

On 2/15/11, co-producer Sh-K-Boom Records released Alice Ripley Daily Practice, Volume 1, a stripped-down collection of acoustic rock covers with Ripley accompanying herself on guitar.^[3]

Ripley stars opposite Kathleen Chalfant in the upcoming feature, Isn't It Delicious?, by Aquapio Films, a black comedy to be released this year.^[4]

Current endeavors[link]

• Starting December 6, 2011, Ripley has been doing a series of concerts in New York City entitled Alice Ripley's Daily Practice.

• "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"^[5]

Education[link]

Ripley went to DePauw University, majoring in Vocal Performance. She then transferred to Kent State University and received a BFA in Musical Theatre.

Career[link]

Early work[link]

While at DePauw University and Kent State University, Ripley performed in numerous stage productions. Her first paid acting job was summer stock at the Red Barn Theatre in Frankfort, IN. Following college, she was active in community theatre in San Diego, CA, and subsequently received her Actor's Equity card at the La Jolla Playhouse through a production of Silent Edward, a musical written by Des McAnuff, who was Artistic Director of the La Jolla Playhouse at the time and who would later direct Ripley in her Broadway debut, The Who's Tommy.

Broadway[link]

In her 1993 debut, Ripley played a Local Lass and the Specialist's Assistant in the original cast of The Who's Tommy; she also understudied the role of Mrs. Walker. Broadway roles that followed were Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard (1994), Bathsheba in King David (1997), Violet Hilton in Side Show (1997), Fantine in Les Misérables (1998), Molly Ivors in James Joyce's The Dead (2000), Janet Weiss in The Rocky Horror Show (2000), one of The Sweethearts in Dreamgirls, the concert (2001), and Diana Goodman in Next to Normal (2009). With the exception of Les Misérables, Ripley was part of the original casts.

Ripley's performance as conjoined twin Violet Hilton in Side Show earned her and her co-star Emily Skinner critical acclaim, a cult following, and a shared 1998 Tony Award nomination, making them the first to be co-nominated in a musical.^[6] Ripley was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.

From March 27, 2009 to July 18, 2010 at the Booth Theatre, Ripley starred in the Pulitzer Prize winning^[7] Next to Normal, a performance which earned her the 2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.^[8]

Off-Broadway[link]

Ripley's 2008 performance in Next to Normal (Second Stage Theatre) earned her Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle award nominations. Additional Off-Broadway roles include Nelly Bly in Cather County (1993, Playwrights Horizons), Daisy Mae in Li'l Abner (1998, New York City Center), various characters in The Vagina Monologues (2002, Westside Theatre), Olivia in Five Flights (2004, Rattlestick Theater), and Marsha in Wild Animals You Should Know^[9] (2011, MCC Theater/Lucille Lortel Theater).

Regional theatre[link]

Ripley's regional credits include Next to Normal at Arena Stage (Helen Hayes Award, Best Actress in a Musical, non-resident production), Little Shop of Horrors, Tell Me On A Sunday (Helen Hayes nomination), Company (Helen Hayes nomination), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Show Boat, Shakespeare in Hollywood (Helen Hayes nomination), The Baker's Wife, Sweeney Todd, and Carousel.

National tours[link]

On tour, Ripley played Fantine in Les Misérables (1993-94). She reprised her role as Diana in Next to Normal, the U.S. Tour (Nov. 23, 2010 - July 30, 2011).^[10]

RIPLEY, the band[link]

Alice Ripley began writing songs in 1991 and her band, RIPLEY, formed in 2003. RIPLEY is a self-produced trio with Ripley on guitar and vocals.

Film[link]

Ripley's films are The Adulterer (2000), Temptation (2004), and Isn't It Delicious (2012).

Television[link]

In September 2011, Ripley filmed the pilot for Modern Love (Lifetime TV).^[11]

Discography[link]

Alice Ripley aka RIPLEYTHEBAND[link]

• "Beautiful Eyes" single (2012, self-produced)
• Alice Ripley Daily Practice, Volume 1 (2011, Sh-K-Boom Records)
• Outtasite (2006, Shellac)
• RIPLEY EP (2003, Shellac)
• Everything's Fine (2001, Ghostlight)

Original Cast Recordings[link]

• Next to Normal (2009, Sh-K-Boom)
• Little Fish (2007, Ghostlight)
• Dreamgirls (2002, Nonesuch)
• The Rocky Horror Show (2000, RCA Victor Broadway)
• Side Show (1997, Sony Classical)
• King David (1997, Walt Disney)
• The Who's Tommy (1992, RCA Victor Broadway)

References[link]

External link[link]

Official Facebook pages: Alice Ripley, AHRIPLEY, and DrasticAlice

The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for music. Please help to establish notability by adding reliable, secondary sources about the topic. If notability cannot be established, the article is likely to be merged, redirected, or deleted. (December 2011)

Robert Williams (born May 6, 1987), better known by his stage name Meek Mill, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was briefly signed to T.I.'s label Grand Hustle Records and in February 2011 signed to Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group. In March 2011, Mill was included in XXL's "Freshman Class of 2011".^[1]

In 2011, he released his debut single, "Tupac Back", featuring Rick Ross, from his label's compilation album Self Made Vol. 1. That same year he released another single from the album, "Ima Boss", also featuring Ross. The song was later remixed, featuring T.I., Birdman, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled Swizz Beatz and Ross. The remix charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #51. "Ima Boss" is so far Meek Mill's most successful song, peaking at #20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

In February 2012, MTV listed Meek Mill as the #7 hottest MC in their annual "Hottest MCs in the Game" list.^[2]

On May 7, 2012, Mill released the second fresh installment in his Dreamchasers series. The mixtape features guest appearances from Drake, Jeremih, Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz and more.^[3] Mill has stated his favorite tracks off the tape are "Amen," "A1 Everything" and "Racked Up Shawty" with French Montana and Fabolous.^[4] On May 10, it was announced Meek Mill signed to Roc Nation management.^[4]

Discography[link]

Collaborative albums[link]

Mixtapes[link]

• BloodHoundz – Grimey, Thirsty, Starving, Hungry (2005) (with Mel Love, Dat NIG*A LiL & Young Pooh) +
• BloodHoundz – Blood in Blood Out (2005) (with Mel Love, Dat NIG*A LiL & Young Pooh)
• The Real Me (2007)
• The Real Me 2 (2008) (Hosted by DJ Difference)
• Flamers (2008) (Hosted by DJ Difference)
• Flamers 2: Hottest In The City (2009) (Hosted by DJ Difference)
• Flamers 2.5: The Preview (2009) (Hosted by DJ Cosmic Kev)
• Flamers 3: The Wait Is Over (2010) (Hosted by DJ Drama)
• Mr.Philadelphia (2010) (Hosted by DJ Ill Will & DJ Rockstar)
• Dreamchasers (2011) (Hosted by DJ Drama)
• Dreamchasers 2 (2012) (Hosted by DJ Drama)
• Same Dream (2012) (with Ace Hood)

Singles[link]

As lead artist[link]

As featured artist[link]

Other charted songs[link]

Guest appearances[link]

References[link]