Penholders - The History and Development of the Zaner Method Penholders  Here is the story of the Zaner-Bloser penholders, as published in The Business Educator (vol. 34, no. 10), June, 1929

Penman's Hall of Fame  It has been nearly 150 years since Platt Rogers Spencer published his first book on penmanship. In the ensuing years, penmen have come and gone without fanfare, leaving for us the legacy of their art. It is time we knew who they were.

Penman's Newsletter Number 1, 1949  The sad news has reached Most of you, lovers of penmanship, that the beloved penmanship publication, The Educator, (formerly The Business Educator) published by Zaner & Bloser Co, Columbus, Ohio for the past 55 years, will discontinue its publication with the December 1949 issue.

Penmanship  The following was taken from "The Zanerian Theory of Penmanship", by the Zanerian Authors of the Zanerian Art College 1892.

Penmanship Experts Compare Notes  In 1850, the Spencerian method of penmanship was developed in the United States and was taught in public school,, and colleges around the nation until the 1940s when it was dropped and replaced by more academic subjects.

Penmanship Made Easy, George Bickham  Writing will never look Ornamental without a due portion of Characters throughout the Whole, a just Distance between the letters themselves as well as the Words, a Natural inclination of one Letter to another, & a Smooth Stroke performed with boldness & freedom.

Penmanship Problem in Public and Private Schools, C.A. Chessman  Taken from The American Penman, September, 1907

Penmen from Pocatello, Idaho, E.E. Gwin  The man responsible for the success of good penmanship and good penmen from Pocatello was that nationally known penman and teacher, and fine gentleman, T. Courtney

Peterson, Percy O. (1877-1941)  Dr. Peterson attended the Zanerian College in 1902. In 1911 and again in 1926 he sent his sister, Elizabeth, to the Zanerian.

Poole, E.A. (1857-1946)  The day of the itinerate teacher is no doubt gone but those old teachers filled a definite niche in our educational system and the work which they did left a wholesome influence.

Presidents of IAMPETH  A list of Past Presidents from 1950

Pritchard, Albert S. (1846-1910)  Albert S. Pritchard died on January 13, 1910 at the age of 64. He was a penman of the old school, having been a student in penmanship under the late George J. Becker at Girard College, where he graduated.

Rice, J.D.  Mr. Rice went to the school in 1901 as a teacher when the school had an enrollment of four hundred students.

Richardson, Eileen (Broad) (19??-1995)  Eileen Richardson has done much to keep the traditions of penmanship alive and has brought many lovers of the art together. The members of IAMPETH have forged lasting friendships we will treasure forever, and owe a great debt of gratitude to our founders for bringing us together.

Richardson, E.F. (1856-19??)  Mr. Richardson has studied penmanship of E. K. Isaacs, H. W. Kibbe and G. W. Michael, three penmen who were very active in penmanship work and nationally known over a quarter of a century ago.

Richardson, F.D. on E.C. Mills  Then 25 years later, E. C. Mills of Rochester, developed practical penmanship from the calligraphy of Platt R. Spencer known as "SPENCERIAN" and that was about the turn of the century.

Ricketts, C.L. (1860-1941)  For many years Mr. Ricketts has conducted an engrossing studio in Chicago. Mr. Ricketts made quite an extensive study of Medieval Manuscripts and illuminated work. He made frequent trips to Europe where he collected a vast amount of very precious manuscripts.

Rickets, C.L., Engrosser, Chicago, Illinois  There are 12,000 (yes, the zeroes are correct) of his items at the Lilly Library, Indiana University.

Risinger, T.J. (1843-1919)  When a young man, Mr. Risinger entered the Spencerian Art School at Geneva, Ohio, and while there was under the personal instruction of Platt R. Spencer, father of the Spencer Brothers, who were the authors of the Spencerian System of Penmanship.

Robinson, Oscar Urban (1880-1949)  The remarkable thing about Mr. Robinson was the fact that he was confined to a wheel chair for 43 years of his life.

Roundhand or Engrosser's Script  Roundhand is one of the main styles used by engrossers today. It can be appropriately used for any occasion; it fits in with other styles very well.

Ryan, J.C., The Handless Penman  He travels farm city to city and has in his time met and called on all the best penmen of the profession. He knows all their secrets of working and is a master at handling ink and putting it into condition.

Schofield, Fielding  (1845-19??)  Without doubt it was while Mr. Schofield was at Quincy, that he reached the apex of his artistic powers. Surely all penmen of the period are agreed that from 1883 to 1890 no one surpassed him in skill or in ability to produce original designs.

Schofield, Fielding, An open letter to The Business Educator March 1924  This veteran penman and teacher celebrated his 79th birthday on January 17, 1924, the, day having been made one of overflowing happiness to him by the remembrances of his friends

Shaded Script, taken from "Studies in Pen Art" by W.E. Dennis  A very practical style of penmanship is Shaded Script. Much of the art Engrosser's work includes this bold effective kind of writing. Policies, diplomas, wills, deeds, etc., are often written in this style.

Signature Writing  Signature Writing, or "Superscription" as it was frequently called, represented the epitome of a person's skill in Ornamental Penmanship.

Skeels, Arthur G.  Mr. Arthur G. Skeels, whose portrait appears herewith, was born in 1881 near Mineral City, 0hio. As usual, he is a farm product, receiving his education on the farm and in the country schools.

Spencer, Bushrod H. (1863-1948)  Another of the old Penmen has left us, This time it was Professor Bushrod H. Spencer the well known educator and expert penman of Paterson, N. J.

Spencer, Harvey A., Penholder Patent  Letters Patent No 89,354, dated April 27,1869

Spencer, Harvey A., Penholder Patent  1882  The object of the invention is to facilitate the teaching of penmanship by placing the pen in the oblique position first, indicating thereby the proper position of the letters

Spencer Publications  A listing of publications on penmanship by P.R. Spencer as well as his Sons

Spencerian Key to Practical Penmanship, Chapter 1  Theory of Penmanship

Spencerian Key to Practical Penmanship, Chapter 4  Movements

Spencerian Key to Practical Penmanship, Chapter 9  Shading

Stewart, Thomas J. (1845-1936)  Mr. Stewart was a master penman having studied under Mr. Flickinger, of Philadelphia, and his school was ranked among the best.

Stoddard, Dwight L. "The Passing of Great Penmen"  Possibly the passing of great penmen is not different from the passing of any other great men

Studio Engrossing  While individual penmen promoted their skills through magazine and mail advertising, in public demonstration, and by means of written correspondence, engrossing artists tended to ply their trade from the more formalized aspect of a business, that is, a studio.

Temperature and Color in Nib Manufacturing, taken from "The Steel Pen Trade" by A.A.S. Charles

The Secret of the Skill of Madarasz I  In order to get accurate, uniform letters Madarasz used his little finger for the support of his hand.

The Secret of the Skill of Madarasz II  The skill involved 3 things, two of which everyone in professional penmanship knew they did, and the third Madarasz did for sure, but others may not have known they were doing.

The Steel Pen Trade 1930-1980  Text Only

The Steel Pen Trade 1930-1980  With photos

Tomkins, Thomas (1743-1816)  Taken from English Writing Masters by Ambrose Heal

Tower, Francis Leon by Charlton V. Howe  In 1894 he studied and practiced penmanship and drawing under the personal direction of that able penman and teacher, S. E. Bartow of New York.

Tower's Penholder Collection  Collecting penholders which have been used by penmen is a hobby with Mr. Tower, who believes in having a holder for each kind of work and pen.

Tributes to the Late W.E. Dennis  Taken from The Educator September 1924

Vaughan, Frank E. on the passing of S.S. Packard  Taken from The Penman's Art Journal, November 1898