National Paperclip Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Paperclip

Did you know that there is some disagreement regarding the inventor of the original paperclip design? Who would have thought that the controversy would be over such a small, apparently insignificant piece of stationery?

The 29th of May is National Paperclip Day, so we’re highlighting all the interesting facts and clever uses that this humble invention offers. The paperclip has existed in various forms, shapes, and sizes for roughly two centuries, although it is unknown what the Egyptians used to hold their papyrus together. Due to the popularity of the paperclip, several memorials have been erected in its honour for various reasons. The purpose of this article is therefore to dispel the misconception that the paperclip is merely a disposable office supply by elucidating the significance and alternative applications of this simple metal twist.

The background of National Paperclip Day

In 1867, Samuel B. Fay was granted the first patent for the paperclip (a ‘bent wire paper clip’) in the United States. It was originally intended to be used for attaching tickets to fabric. However, its utility for holding paper together became apparent rapidly. Since then, fifty others have received patents for their variations of the paperclip, with Earlman J. Wright in 1877 and Johan Vaaler in 1901 being the most notable. The ‘Gem clip’ design of the paperclip is what we recognise today, despite the unfamiliarity of the term. The Gem Manufacturing Company mass-produced this in England in the early 1870s, but it was never patented despite being the most prevalent design still in use today. Cushman & Denison did not register a trademark for the ‘Gem clip’ until 1904.

But, returning to the controversy, our story can be traced back to the German occupation of Norway during World War II (1940-1945). Due to Johan Vaaler’s paperclip design, it was (and still is) mistakenly believed that he invented the paperclip in his native Norway. During the German occupation of Norway in 1940, students at Oslo University began wearing paperclips as a nonviolent symbol of resistance, unity, and national pride. The rationale behind selecting a paperclip as a symbol of unity was that it “binds things together,” so it made sense to do so. National Paperclip Day was inaugurated in 2015 and has been celebrated annually since.

World Digestive Health Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, How to Observe

Oak Apple Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Whit Monday 2023: Date, History, Facts about Whit Monday

5 paperclip hacks that will forever alter your life.

Makeshift zip

Simply thread a paperclip through the zipper’s metal loop to repair a damaged zipper.

Simple ornament fastener

Instead of using broken ornament hangers, use paperclips to hang your ornaments.

DIY mobile base

Follow the recipe on YouTube on your phone by bending a large paperclip into a phone mount.

a screwdriver for your spectacles

When the screws on the frame of your spectacles become loose, you can tighten them with a paperclip wire.

Snack package seal

Why spend money on plastic clips (not to mention consider the environmental impact) when a few paperclips can secure snack baggies and keep their contents fresh?