The roots of the Orton Ceramic Foundation date back to the establishment of the "Standard Pyrometric Cone Company" in 1896 by Edward J. Orton, Jr.. In 1894, he was appointed the first Chairman of the Ceramic Engineering Department at The Ohio State University, the first ceramic engineering school in the United States.
The Orton Ceramic Foundation was established in 1896 by Edward Orton with the establishment of the "Standard Pyrometric Cone Company", after he was appointed the first Chairman of the Ceramic Engineering Department at The Ohio State University.

Orton's company was established in 1896, but not the foundation. The foundation simply has roots that date back to the establishment of the company. 