Our History
Our History
F.C. Sturtevant Company
Skincare Division
Animal Health Division
We know a lot about beautiful skin. We’re over 150 years young.
Our Timeline
1871
The F.C. Sturtevant Company was founded
in Hartford, Connecticut, by Francis Crayton
Sturtevant, a medic who served in the Civil War. The
Company created the Columbia brand.
1877
Columbia becomes a national brand in pharmacies
from Maine to California. Our Columbia Healing
Powder, now known as Columbia Antiseptic Powder,
becomes a best-selling medicated powder, used to
treat both humans and animals.
1890
Columbia expands distribution to hospitals and
physicians.
1941
Columbia Antiseptic Powder is packaged in a
cardboard cylinder to save metal, which was needed
for the WWII war effort.
1978
The F.C. Sturtevant Company creates a dedicated
animal health division, creating products for large and
small animals.
1998
The Company creates a technology division in order
to conduct research into new materials and new
methods of treating damaged skin tissue.
2004
The technology division evolves into Columbia
Bio-Labs, and begins work on the study of bacteria,
viruses and algae with the intention to enhance
healing through the science of microbiology.
2015
We launch Columbia SkinCare, our professional skin
care division. Two years later, Columbia SkinCare
introduces our Columbia Probiotic Concentrate
and Columbia Probiotic Complex, the world’s first
topical probiotic skincare products.
2021
Columbia SkinCare will launch a prebiotic cleanser
and toner this fall, to complement our successful
topical probiotic products.