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Arthur Fry

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description Arthur Fry Overview

Arthur Fry is an American inventor who, while working as a product development researcher at the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M), created the Post-it Note in the late 1970s. Fry applied a low-tack, reusable adhesive developed by his 3M colleague Spencer Silver in 1968 to solve the practical problem of bookmarks slipping out of pages. The product was test-marketed in 1977 and launched nationally in 1980, becoming one of the most widely recognized office supplies in the world.

help Arthur Fry FAQ

Who invented the Post-it Note?

Arthur Fry created the Post-it Note while working as a product development researcher at 3M. He combined an existing low-tack adhesive with a practical paper note format.

Who developed the adhesive used in Post-it Notes?

3M scientist Spencer Silver developed the low-tack, reusable adhesive. Arthur Fry later found a useful application for it in removable notes.

When did Arthur Fry create the Post-it Note?

Fry developed the product in the late 1970s while working at 3M. The invention grew from Silver's earlier adhesive research rather than from a completely new glue formula.

Why do Post-it Notes stick without permanent glue?

They use a low-tack adhesive that can stick to a surface and then be removed or repositioned. That adhesive was developed by Spencer Silver and applied to the note concept by Arthur Fry.