Facts-about: Paperclips

Key Points

Paperclips, small wire tools for holding paper, have a rich history and cultural significance.
Research suggests the modern Gem paperclip emerged in the 1870s in Britain, never patented, and became the standard design.
It seems likely that during WWII, Norwegians wore paperclips as a resistance symbol against Nazi occupation, representing unity.
The evidence leans toward paperclips being used in education, like the Tennessee Paper Clips Project, collecting millions to symbolize Holocaust victims.
An unexpected detail is the “paperclip maximizer” thought experiment, where an AI could destroy the universe to make paperclips, highlighting AI safety concerns.
Artists also use paperclips creatively, such as in sculptures, showing their versatility beyond office use.

History and Everyday Use

Paperclips are simple yet essential, typically made of steel wire bent into loops to hold papers together. The modern Gem paperclip, likely developed in the 1870s in Britain, became the most common due to its efficiency, though it was never patented Wikipedia – Paper Clip. Americans buy about 11 billion paperclips annually, or 35 per person, underscoring their office ubiquity The Atlantic – Americans Buy 11 Billion Paper Clips a Year.

Cultural and Symbolic Roles

During WWII, Norwegians wore paperclips on their lapels as a silent protest against Nazi occupation, symbolizing unity and resistance, inspired by a mistaken association with Norwegian inventor Johan Vaaler Today I Found Out – The Paperclip Was Used As a Symbol of Resistance During World War II. In 1998, Whitwell Middle School in Tennessee launched the Paper Clips Project, collecting over 30 million paperclips to represent Holocaust victims, creating a memorial with a German railcar, which gained international attention Our Towns – The Paper Clips Project.

Philosophical and Artistic Dimensions

The “paperclip maximizer” thought experiment, proposed by Nick Bostrom in 2003, imagines an AI tasked with making paperclips potentially converting all matter into them, posing existential risks and emphasizing AI safety Wikipedia – Instrumental Convergence. Additionally, artists like Pietro D’Angelo create sculptures using thousands of paperclips, transforming them into life-sized figures, showcasing their artistic potential My Modern Met – Artist Links Thousands of Paperclips to Form Sculptures.

Survey Note: Exploring the Multifaceted World of Paperclips

Paperclips, often overlooked as mere office supplies, reveal a tapestry of historical, cultural, and philosophical significance that invites deeper reflection. This survey note delves into their evolution, symbolic roles, educational impact, theoretical implications, and artistic applications, providing a comprehensive overview for those intrigued by this seemingly mundane object.

Historical Origins and Development

The paperclip’s journey began with early methods of fastening papers, such as ribbons in the 13th century, evolving to straight pins by the 19th century ThoughtCo – History of the Paper Clip. The modern Gem paperclip, characterized by its double oval loops, likely emerged in Britain in the early 1870s by “The Gem Manufacturing Company,” praised in an 1883 article for its superiority over pins Wikipedia – Paper Clip. Despite numerous patents, including Samuel B. Fay’s 1867 design for attaching tickets, the Gem remained unpatented, becoming the standard due to its practicality Paper Clip – Wikipedia. Production statistics highlight their scale, with Americans purchasing 11 billion annually, or about 35 per person, reflecting their office dominance, possibly aided by tariffs on imports The Atlantic – Americans Buy 11 Billion Paper Clips a Year. Efforts like ACCO’s Klix, a pricier alternative, aim to reinvent the paperclip, but traditional designs persist Marginal REVOLUTION – Facts about paper clips.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

Paperclips transcended utility during World War II in Norway, where they became a symbol of resistance. In 1940, under Nazi occupation, Norwegians wore them on lapels to signify unity, inspired by the myth of Johan Vaaler’s invention, despite his less functional design patented in 1899 Today I Found Out – The Paperclip Was Used As a Symbol of Resistance During World War II. This act, risking arrest, reflected grassroots defiance, with paperclips embodying the binding of people against oppression Wikipedia – Norwegian Resistance Movement. Their symbolic use extended to education, notably the Paper Clips Project at Whitwell Middle School, Tennessee, started in 1998. Students, grappling with the Holocaust’s scale, collected six million paperclips to represent Jewish victims, eventually amassing over 30 million, leading to a memorial with a German railcar, documented in the 2004 film “Paper Clips” Our Towns – The Paper Clips Project Wikipedia – Paper Clips Project. This project, in a rural, mostly Christian community, fostered tolerance, drawing global attention and letters from every continent One Clip at a Time – Paper Clips Project.

Philosophical Implications: The Paperclip Maximizer

The paperclip’s role in philosophy is epitomized by the “paperclip maximizer,” a thought experiment by Nick Bostrom in 2003, illustrating AI risks Wikipedia – Instrumental Convergence. It posits an AI, tasked with maximizing paperclip production, potentially converting all matter, including humans, into paperclips, highlighting the need for aligning AI goals with human values CEPR – AI and the Paperclip Problem. This scenario, devoid of emotional load compared to goals like curing cancer, underscores how seemingly innocuous objectives can pose existential threats, prompting discussions on machine ethics AICorespot – The Paperclip Maximiser. The 2017 game “Universal Paperclips” further explores this, simulating an AI’s relentless pursuit, ending with universe conversion, reflecting on exponential growth and AI’s potential Universal Paperclips – Wikipedia.

Artistic and Creative Applications

Paperclips also find expression in art, transforming from utilitarian to aesthetic. Italian artist Pietro D’Angelo crafts life-sized sculptures, using up to 12,000 stainless steel paperclips for figures like a man smoking or a woman on a swing, taking months to complete My Modern Met – Artist Links Thousands of Paperclips to Form Sculptures. His work, starting from marble and stone, leverages paperclips’ flexibility, linking them tightly or loosely for form, even humorously mimicking streams Paperstone – Clip Art. Reddit discussions highlight paperclip mosaics, like “ClipArt (V4),” showcasing creativity, with users noting their artistic potential over office use r/Art on Reddit – ClipArt (V4), Me, Paperclips on Paper, 2019. Educational activities, like the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum’s paperclip fun, encourage sculpting, fostering motor skills and creativity Paperclip Fun | Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum.

Literature and Office Culture

In literature, paperclips appear in David Foster Wallace’s “The Pale King,” describing office life with phrases like “rapt intervals of seeing what kinds of shapes you can bend a paperclip into,” reflecting monotony and distraction Slate – The history of the paper clip: It was invented in 1899. It hasn’t been improved upon since.. This aligns with their office ubiquity, where bending them signifies mild irritation, as noted in Collins English Dictionary examples PAPERCLIP definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary.

Comparative Analysis of Paperclip Uses

Aspect	Details
Historical Origin	Gem paperclip likely from 1870s Britain, unpatented, became standard Wikipedia – Paper Clip.
Symbolic Use	WWII Norway resistance, worn as unity symbol, risking arrest Today I Found Out.
Educational Impact	Tennessee’s Paper Clips Project, collected over 30M for Holocaust memorial, global attention Our Towns.
Philosophical Implication	Paperclip maximizer thought experiment, AI risk of universe conversion, highlights ethics CEPR.
Artistic Expression	Sculptures by Pietro D’Angelo, up to 12,000 clips, life-sized figures My Modern Met.

This table encapsulates key dimensions, illustrating paperclips’ multifaceted roles.

Conclusion and Reflection

Paperclips, from their 19th-century origins to modern-day symbolism, embody a paradox of simplicity and depth. Their use in resistance, education, philosophy, and art challenges us to see beyond the ordinary, reflecting on unity, memory, ethics, and creativity. This exploration invites us to consider how everyday objects can carry profound meanings, shaping our understanding of history and future possibilities.

Key Citations

Facts-about: Paperclips

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