Archive · 18 Sep 2025
Bette Nesmith Graham: From Secretary to Liquid Paper Empire
Bette Nesmith Graham, a secretary, was tired of typing mistakes.
Since erasers weren't working, she came up with a brilliant idea to paint over her errors with white paint.
She called it Mistake Out, which later became Liquid Paper.
After getting fired from her job, she focused on her invention, improving it and selling it to offices.
Her business grew into a major company, making her a millionaire.
She eventually sold her company for a large sum of money.
Bette's story is about turning a simple problem into a successful business.
Bette Nesmith Graham invented Liquid Paper to correct typing mistakes.
She began selling her invention, initially called 'Mistake Out,' in her office.
Her business grew after she was fired from her job for using her product.
Liquid Paper secured major clients like General Electric and IBM.
Graham sold Liquid Paper to Gillette for $47.5 million.
- Who
- Bette Nesmith Graham, inventor of Liquid Paper.
- What
- The life of Bette Nesmith Graham, from a secretary to a self-made millionaire.
- When
- Born in 1924, invented Liquid Paper in 1951, sold the company in 1979, and died in 1980.
- Where
- Dallas, Texas
- Why
- Graham sought a solution to the frustration of typing errors, leading to the creation of Liquid Paper.
- Born
- March 23, 1924, Dallas, Texas
- Invention
- Liquid Paper
- Initial Name
- Mistake Out
- Sold to
- Gillette
- Sale Price
- $47.5 million
- Died
- 1980, at age 56