First marketed in 1914, Mary Jane has remained in production for over a century save for a two-year pause when its ownership changed hands.

[2] Miller chose to call his candy "Mary Jane," citing that it was the name of his favorite aunt while also choosing a cartoon mascot who resembled a character of the same name that appeared in the popular Buster Brown comic strip at that time.

[4] Inn 1989, the Wisconsin-based Stark Candy Company acquired Miller's holdings and began producing Mary Janes until Stark was bought out by Necco in 2008, effectively returning the candy's production to Massachusetts.,[5] When Necco filed for bankruptcy in 2018, the company's various brands were auctioned off a la carte and no buyer was immediately found for Mary Janes.

In 2019, the Atkinson Candy Company entered a licensing agreement with Spangler and renewed production of Mary Janes starting in 2020.

[8] Mary Jane candies, and their cartoon mascot, are featured in Toni Morrison’s 1970 novel, The Bluest Eye.