Frederick Fisher penmanship copybooks, 1861-1863

Summary

Creator:

Fisher, Frederick

Abstract:

This collection consists of two penmanship copybooks Frederick Fisher, possibly of Easton, Pennsylvania, kept in 1861 and 1863. The volumes contain examples of penmanship exercises, mostly sentences and phrases organized alphabetically by the first letter of the sentence or words. Themes relate to duty and honor, good manners, productivity, geography, education, Andrew Jackson and George Washington, and vanity, among others.

Extent:

2 volumes

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Jayne Ptolemy, December 2022

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection consists of two penmanship copybooks Frederick Fisher, possibly of Easton, Pennsylvania, kept in 1861 and 1863. The volumes contain examples of penmanship exercises, mostly sentences and phrases organized alphabetically by the first letter of the sentence or words. Themes relate to duty and honor, good manners, productivity, geography, education, Andrew Jackson and George Washington, and vanity, among others.

The 1861 copybook was sold by William Maxwell of Easton, Pennsylvania, and features an illustrated front cover showing three female figures, including one with dark skin, seated at a wharf, likely allegories representing industry and commerce. Fisher added pen-and-ink drawings of quills on the front cover and inside front cover.

The 1863 copybook was produced by Kiggins & Kellogg, booksellers and stationers in New York. It has printed covers bearing illustrations of children outside of a public school and a multiplication table.

Biographical / Historical:

While the identity of this collection's creator is not definitively known, it may be Frederick Fisher who was born in 1852 to Frederick and Caroline Fisher of Easton, Pennsylvania. This is based on the stationer of one of the copybooks being located in Easton, as well as internal references to places like Easton, Germantown, and Bethlehem Township, Northampton County.

Acquisition Information:

2022. M-7674.6 .

Arrangement:

The collection consists of two bound volumes.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Bibliography

"Frederick Fisher," 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

Subjects

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Subjects:

Education--United States--History--19th century.
Penmanship, American--History--19th century.
Penmanship--Study and teaching.
Allegories.
Children.
Multiplication--Tables.
Pens.
Public schools.
Wharves.
Women.

Formats:

Copybooks (instructional materials)
Drawings (visual works)