Jackson Hunsicker papers on Memo Mate
Creation: 1993-1996Abstract
Jackson Hunsicker (1948-2017) invented the Memo Mate in the mid-1990s. It was a small personal recording device that could store up to twenty seconds of audio. The Memo Mate was marketed as a handy way to remember appointments, phone numbers, directions, and the location of a car in a large parking lot. The Memo Mate was a successful invention, selling close to 10 million units. Hunsicker's papers on the patenting and marketing of Memo Mate document the typical process and pitfalls of patenting and marketing by a lone inventor. The collection consists of the legal correspondence of the patent application process and subsequent contractual disputes, along with schematics and designs, and possible names and logos. Hunsicker’s invention represents a demonstration of the patent process as well as a contribution from a woman inventor to the field.
Dates
- Creation: 1993-1996
Creator
- Hunsicker, Jackson, 1948-2017 (Person)
Extent
0.8 Linear Feet
Biographical Note
Jackson Hunsicker (1948-2017) was the inventor of Memo Mate, a small personal recording device that could store up to twenty seconds of audio. Memo Mate was marketed as a handy way to remember appointments, phone numbers, directions, and the location of a car in a large parking lot.
Hunsicker born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 14, 1948. She earned a B.F.A. in film from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She was a screenwriter and director-producer for Hollywood motion picture films and network television shows. Hunsicker was one of the first females to produce and direct feature length films.
She co-founded a nonprofit organization called the Reading Glass Project (RGP), which asks travelers to Third World countries to purchase reading glasses from RGP and give them to local people in need.
She invented the "Memo Mate," which she patented in the fall of 1993. The Memo Mate made use of newly available microchip technology that enabled it to record and store up to twenty seconds of audio on a device not much bigger than a business card. It made its debut shortly after, with commercials beginning in 1994. The Memo Mate spent about a year on the market, selling near 10 million units. It even found its way into a skit on the David Letterman Show. However, it was soon rendered obsolete by rapidly evolving personal communications technology.
In 2006 she created a book Turning Heads: Portraits of Grace, Inspiration, and Possibilities, which featured photographs of women who were bald from chemotherapy doing what they loved. Hunsicker died of cancer on December 29, 2017.
Arrangement
All of the correspondence in the collection is filed chronologically in descending order.
Scope and Content
Hunsicker's papers on the patenting and marketing of Memo Mate document the typical process and pitfalls of patenting and marketing by a lone inventor. The collection consists of the legal correspondence of Hunsicker's patent application process and subsequent contractual disputes, along with schematics and designs, and possible names and logos. Hunsicker’s invention represents a demonstration of the patent process as well as a contribution from a woman inventor to the field.
The collection is arranged into three series: Legal correspondence; Patent process; and Marketing.
Legal correspondence series contains letters from Hunsicker’s legal representation to DTR Associates. The letters concern royalty payments that have been withheld. Other correspondence deals with a licensing contract proposed between Hunsicker and Ackerman. Included is a sample contract that appears to have been used by Hunsicker as a guide.
Patent process series: The office of Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman handled the application process for Hunsicker. Their correspondence includes receipt of submission, a legal representation agreement, status of application updates, and a review of the proposed patent. A copy of the patent application, along with patents mentioned in the review by Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman are included in this series. Schematics of the voice recorder and schematics of the chip are present. There are also samples of various logo designs bearing the name “Minder Finder” the original name of the Memo Mate.
Marketing series contains a television commercial, appearance on David Letterman, storyboards for a commercial and print advertisements. These are on two VHS tapes and DVDs.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Additional Description
Provenance
Gift of Jackson Hunsicker
Subjects
Related Names
Subject
- United States. Patent and Trademark Office (Organization)
- DTR Associates (Organization)
- Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman (Organization)
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Jackson Hunsicker papers on Memo Mate
- Author:
- Jason Sylvestre
- Date:
- 2006
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
