3M created the Post-it Note, which was introduced commercially in 1980.
The product grew from two 3M discoveries. In 1968, scientist Spencer Silver developed a pressure-sensitive adhesive that stuck lightly and could be removed. In 1974, colleague Art Fry imagined using the adhesive to keep bookmarks in his church hymnal without damaging the pages.
3M first tested the notes in four U.S. cities in 1977 under the name Press ’n Peel. The product was relaunched as Post-it Notes in 1980, and national distribution followed in 1981. The original notes were commonly yellow because that paper was readily available in the laboratory.
A common misconception is that the adhesive was invented specifically for sticky notes. Silver’s adhesive came first and had no obvious initial application. Fry’s use transformed an apparently weak glue into one of 3M’s best-known consumer products.