Entrepreneur Bette Nesmith Graham - The Inventor with an Indelible Legacy

Bette Nesmith Graham (born Bette Clair McMurray, March 23, 1924 – May 12, 1980) was an American inventor and businesswoman. She is best known for her correction fluid called "Liquid Paper", now more commonly known as a correction pen.

It was considered a revolutionary product in office work, changing the way people corrected errors in typed documents. Her invention not only solved a common problem in the workplace but also paved the way for a multi-million dollar business.

Bette Nesmith Graham was born in Dallas, Texas, USA. During World War II, she worked as a secretary to support herself and her son. This was the time when electric typewriters were becoming common in offices. Although they were faster than earlier models, mistakes were much harder to correct. Users often had to retype entire pages for a small mistake, making error correction a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. So Bette set out to find a more efficient alternative.

Bette Nesmith Graham founded the Liquid Paper Company in 1958, creating a million-dollar stationery brand.

Bette, who had always loved painting, was inspired by watching the painters decorate the windows of the bank where she worked during the holidays. She noticed that the painters corrected their mistakes by applying multiple layers of paint. She thought the same idea could be used to correct text. She began experimenting, mixing white water-based tempera paint with other ingredients to create a quick-drying solution. After seeing her use of this homemade product with good results, not only her colleagues but also other agencies and organizations began ordering the solution from her. The success of "Liquid Paper" made her a major business owner. By 1979, Liquid Paper had become a successful company, selling millions of bottles a year. Her invention has become a staple in offices around the world to this day.

Bette was always interested in supporting women in business. She used her wealth to fund organizations that helped women gain career opportunities. Although she passed away in 1980, her legacy to the world was not only the eraser, but also an example of creativity and perseverance.