How Did Art Fry Co-Invent Post-it Notes?

Sometimes, what seems like a simple solution to a common problem can blossom into a bestselling product that becomes an icon in its industry. This is the story of Post-it^® Notes, co-invented by National Inventors Hall of Fame^® Inductees Arthur L. Fry and Spencer Silver.

Read on to learn about Fry and his role in bringing us an instantly recognizable and endlessly useful office product.

From Tinkering to Chemical Engineering

Born in Owatonna, Minnesota, on Aug. 19, 1931, Fry spent his childhood in a small town in Iowa and in Kansas City, Missouri. From a young age, like many inventors, he enjoyed tinkering and taking on ambitious problem-solving projects like building his own versatile bobsled for all seasons.

Fry’s education began in a one-room schoolhouse and led to the University of Minnesota, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1955. During his studies, he began working at 3M Corp., and his summer job grew into a long and impactful career.

Fry spent 40 years at 3M as a product development specialist and corporate scientist, and he contributed to many products, from tapes, decorative ribbon and gift wrap to art materials and metal surface-finishing laminates.

Making a Brilliant Bookmark

It was at 3M that Fry would begin working with his future co-inventor, senior chemist Silver. In 1970, Silver had been working to improve acrylate adhesives for medical, industrial and consumer tape applications. He’d developed an adhesive with microspheres that were both impressively sticky and long lasting, but he found that these microspheres wouldn’t be suitable for normal tapes. Silver shared this newly developed adhesive with his peers at 3M, and Fry happened to attend one of his presentations.

In 1974, an everyday problem pointed Fry toward a potential use for Silver’s adhesive. While singing in his church choir, Fry was frustrated that the paper bookmark he used to keep his place in his hymnal repeatedly fell out. This annoyance led him to question whether Silver’s adhesive might provide an ideal solution.

At 3M, Fry began making sample bookmarks with a single layer of Silver’s microspheres. As he began using these clever bookmarks to exchange notes with his supervisor, they began to see just how useful this potential product could be.

The 3M team spent years perfecting the product’s design and production, and in 1977, 3M’s removable notes were released in four cities under the name “Press ‘n Peel.” Major marketing efforts and a rebranding campaign followed, leading to the now famous “Post-it Note” name. The product was introduced throughout the U.S. in 1980, and repositionable notes have since become one of the five bestselling office products in the country.

Sharing His Story

Fry’s story is an excellent example of how ingenuity and persistence can lead to influential problem solving. To inspire the next generation of problem solvers, Fry has made personal visits to Camp Invention^® program sites, encouraging children to explore their own innovative spirit and drive to invent.

To hear Fry tell his story in his own words, watch this video, created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Shot at locations including the 3M Innovation Center in Maplewood, Minnesota, as well as the church where Fry first found a perfect use for Silver’s adhesive, this inspiring video offers a unique look into Fry’s life and work.

To explore more of Fry’s story, and to discover the stories of even more inventors who have shaped our lives, visit our website.