# Greased paper window

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Greased_paper_window
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Greased_paper_window.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greased_paper_window
> Source revision: 1077348400
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Window made of paper coated with grease

1919 photograph of an early-to-mid 19th century schoolhouse in [Plain Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana](/source/Plain_Township%2C_Kosciusko_County%2C_Indiana), with a greased-paper window

A **greased paper window** is a very inexpensive [window](/source/Window) made of [paper](/source/Paper) coated in [grease](/source/Fat). The grease fills gaps between the paper [fibers](/source/Natural_fiber), reducing the amount of light lost to [scattering](/source/Light_scattering).[1] Greased paper windows provide a [diffuse](/source/Transparency_and_translucency) light source, while blocking wind and preventing insects and other small animals from entering a structure.[1]

Greased paper windows were often used by [American pioneers](/source/American_pioneer) of the early 1800s[2] and other itinerant peoples, in lieu of relatively expensive traditional [glass](/source/Flat_glass) windows.[1] [Laura Ingalls Wilder](/source/Laura_Ingalls_Wilder) recalled living in a home with a greased paper window in her 1937 children's novel, *[On the Banks of Plum Creek](/source/On_the_Banks_of_Plum_Creek)*.[3]

## See also

- [Log cabin](/source/Log_cabin)

- [Dugout (shelter)](/source/Dugout_(shelter))

- [Sod house](/source/Sod_house)

- [Frosted glass](/source/Frosted_glass)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Goodwin_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Goodwin_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Goodwin_1-2) Goodwin, Jane (July 1, 2014). ["Little House Science: Greased Paper Windows"](https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/2014/07/01/little-house-science-greased-paper-windows/). *[Steve Spangler Science](/source/Steve_Spangler_Science)*. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** "History of Spencer County". [*History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana, From the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with Interesting Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc*](https://archive.org/details/historyofwarrick00chic). Goodspeed, Bros. & Co. 1885. p. [410](https://archive.org/details/historyofwarrick00chic/page/410). Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LEW_3-0)** [Wilder, Laura Ingalls](/source/Laura_Ingalls_Wilder) (October 20, 1937). [*On the Banks of Plum Creek*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yzA8aY9aksIC). Harper Collins. p. 10. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780064400046](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780064400046). Retrieved 17 August 2016. There was a small greased-paper window beside the door. But the wall was so thick that the light from the window stayed near the window. {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Greased paper window](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greased_paper_window) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greased_paper_window?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.