Spencer Silver, who helped invent the Post-it Note, dies at age 80
The corporate scientist discovered the unique adhesive that allowed notes to be easily attached to surfaces and removed
Spencer Silver was the inventor of the adhesive used on one of 3M’s best-known products, the Post-it Note. Photograph: AP
Spencer Silver was the inventor of the adhesive used on one of 3M’s best-known products, the Post-it Note. Photograph: AP
AssociatedPress
Thu 13 May 2021 19.54 EDT
Last modified on Thu 13 May 2021 20.40 EDT
The inventor of the adhesive used on the Post-it Note has died, according to the company 3M, which produces the product, and his published obituary.
Spencer Silver was 80 and died May 8 at his home, the family’s obituary said.
Silver was working in a company lab in 1968 when he discovered a unique adhesive formula, according to 3M. The adhesive allowed notes to be easily attached to surfaces, removed and even re-posted elsewhere without leaving residue like other glues.
Silver looked for several years for a practical use for the adhesive, calling it a âsolution waiting for a problem to solve.â In 1974, his colleague Art Fry came up with the idea of using the adhesive to prevent paper bookmarks from falling out of his hymnal when he sang in church.
Despite creating security headaches for IT departments around the world as the password manager of choice for boomers, the Post-it Note is one of the most clever and ubiquitous office accessories ever created, and this past weekend the world, unfortunately, said goodbye to their creator, Spencer Silver, who passed away at 80 years old.
Most don’t give a second thought to the tiny sheets of yellow paper as they struggle to squeeze another important thing to remember onto their crowded computer screens, but like many world-changing technologies, the Post-it Note was a product born from failure that went on to become more successful than what its creator was originally trying to perfect.