Spencer Silver, inventor of the ubiquitous Post-it Note, dies at 80

The inventor of the adhesive used on one of 3M’s best-known products, the Post-it Note, has died, according to the company and his published obituary.

Spencer Silver was 80 and died May 8 at his home in St. Paul, Minn., 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 reposted elsewhere without leaving residue, such as glue.

For several years, Silver looks for a practical use for the adhesive, calling it a “solution waiting for a problem to solve.”

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.

By 1974, the product was known as the Press ’n’ Peel memo pad, but it wasn’t brought to the market until 1977 and didn’t really take off until 1980, when it was renamed the Post-it Note. It’s now one of the top-selling items in 3M’s consumer products division.

The 3M company was later sued by an inventor named Alan Amron who claimed he was the actual inventor of the Post-it Note and asked for $400 million in damages. The suit was later dismissed, and 3M continued to list Silver and his colleague as the inventor of the adhesive note.

Silver retired as a corporate scientist in 1996 and earned 37 patents during his time at 3M. He also won several awards, including the 1998 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Invention, according to the company.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Linda, a daughter and two grandchildren.