Beech Tree News Network

Spencer Silver, inventor of the post-it note, died last week.  In 1968, Spencer Silver was a senior scientist working to develop new classes of adhesives at 3M when he discovered an acrylic adhesive with unique properties.  It was formed of tiny spheres that provided a pressure-sensitive adhesive with a high level of tack but a low degree of adhesion.  Art Fry, a researcher at 3M, learned of the adhesive several years later.  He coated paper with it and made repositioned notes, and the concept of Post-it notes was created.

Post-it notes were introduced nationally in the United States in 1980.  Repositionable notes are among the five best-selling office products in the U.S and when 3M received the National Medal of Technology in 1995, Post-it notes were among the products that helped the company earn the award.  Born in San Antonio, Texas, Silver earned his PhD from the University of Colorado in 1966.  He joined 3M, remaining there until his retirement in 1996.  During his career, Silver pursued research in branch block copolymers, protein immobilization, immunodiagnostics, and synthesized many new monomers used in pressure-sensitive adhesives.  He was a member of the Carlton Society, the highest 3M honor.  In 1998, he received the Medal for Creative Invention from the American Chemical Society.  (www.invent.org)

Silver became known as “Mr Persistent” because he wouldn’t give up on pushing his invention.  Art Fry partnered with Silver.  Once they began writing messages on their new notes to communicate qaround the office,  they realized the full potential of their idea.  “What we have here isn’t just a bookmark”, said Fry, “it’s a whole new way to communicate”. 

Why yellow for the original color of the note? It was as simple as a lab next door only had scrap yellow paper on hand.  After 28 years with the company, Post-it co-founder Silver retired from 3M with more than 22 U.S. patents to his name.  Both Silver and Fry finished their careers at 3M having won the highest honors for research as well as numerous awards within International Engineering.    History of Post-it® Notes | Post-it® Brand