Collections

Arthur Loring completed penmanship exercises in 1891 and 1892 within H. W. Shaylor's Harper's New Graded Copy Books of Practical Penmanship, published by the American Book Company. Each page includes a printed example of two finely written place names and one proverb or phrase, advancing through the volume in alphabetical order.

Arthur Loring completed penmanship exercises in 1891 and 1892 within H. W. Shaylor's Harper's New Graded Copy Books of Practical Penmanship, published by the American Book Company. Each page includes a printed example of two finely written place names and one proverb or phrase, advancing through the volume in alphabetical order.

The inside front cover features illustrations of a male student writing at a desk and a close up of his hands holding the pen, along with a written description of the proper position for writing. The back inside cover includes examples of movement exercises, and an advertisement for Harper's Copy-Books appears on the back cover.

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.

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.

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.

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.

George W. Chamberlin of Bath or Ryegate, Vermont, used this notebook for penmanship practice. He copied multisyllabic words such as ambidextrous, Pennsylvania, contentment, and excommunication, as well as phrases such as "This is a Specimen of Writing by George W. Chamberlin of Bath" and "A sentence is an assemblage of words forming complete sense." One line regards the payment of $99,999 on demand for value received.

George W. Chamberlin of Bath or Ryegate, Vermont, used this notebook for penmanship practice. He copied multisyllabic words such as ambidextrous, Pennsylvania, contentment, and excommunication, as well as phrases such as "This is a Specimen of Writing by George W. Chamberlin of Bath" and "A sentence is an assemblage of words forming complete sense." One line regards the payment of $99,999 on demand for value received.

This collection is made up of two blank books, apparently by students of penmanship instructor J. M. Schermerhorn; a sheet bearing the name J. M. Schermerhorn in handwritten block letters; and a printed advertisement for J. M. Schermerhorn's penmanship lessons (and hand-written visiting and wedding cards). The blank books, apparently kept by Devillo W. Northrup and Owen J. Lewis of Utica, New York, are filled with penmanship exercises. Their work is largely repetition of city names, but also includes some personal names and other text. The cover inscriptions include significant flourishes and illustrations of quill pens.

This collection is made up of two blank books, apparently by students of penmanship instructor J. M. Schermerhorn; a sheet bearing the name J. M. Schermerhorn in handwritten block letters; and a printed advertisement for J. M. Schermerhorn's penmanship lessons (and hand-written visiting and wedding cards). The blank books, apparently kept by Devillo W. Northrup and Owen J. Lewis of Utica, New York, are filled with penmanship exercises. Their work is largely repetition of city names, but also includes some personal names and other text. The cover inscriptions include significant flourishes and illustrations of quill pens.

The printed advertising flier is headed PENMANSHIP. J. M. SCHERMERHORN, PRESENTS his Compliments, and respectfully announces to the inhabitants of this place and vicinity, that he will give a Course of Lessons in the Art of Writing, (upon MAY's improved and popular system... (Utica, N.Y.: Roberts, printer, [1870s?]). The flier has a separate section advertising to women, the cost of $1.00 for 10 lessons, and an additional note that Schermerhorn provides affordable handwritten visiting and wedding cards.

This collection is made up of two slim, pre-printed "Common School Course" penmanship copybooks filled in by Mary Crawford in 1898. Included is a revised edition of Spencerian system of penmanship, P.R. Spencer. American Book Company, copyright Ivison, Blakeman & Co., 1888. This item includes printed pages of practice sheets and endpapers with printed charts of letter formations, summaries of content, principles, illustrations showing body and hand positioning, and example movement-drill exercises. The second volume is No. 3 Columbia Practical System Vertical Writing by T. H. M'Cool... Philadelphia: Columbia Book Company, 1898. This item includes printed pages of practice sheets and endpapers with printed illustrations showing body and hand positioning, hints to teachers, series synopses, and features of the series.

This collection is made up of two slim, pre-printed "Common School Course" penmanship copybooks filled in by Mary Crawford in 1898. Included is a revised edition of Spencerian system of penmanship, P.R. Spencer. American Book Company, copyright Ivison, Blakeman & Co., 1888. This item includes printed pages of practice sheets and endpapers with printed charts of letter formations, summaries of content, principles, illustrations showing body and hand positioning, and example movement-drill exercises. The back cover is an advertisement for Webster's International and School Dictionaries. The second volume is No. 3 Columbia Practical System Vertical Writing by T. H. M'Cool... Philadelphia: Columbia Book Company, 1898. This item includes printed pages of practice sheets and endpapers with printed illustrations showing body and hand positioning, hints to teachers, series synopses, and features of the series.

The collection consists of six penmanship and cypher books kept by William L. Shimer, Susanna M. Shimer, and Nathan M. Shimer of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the 1840s and 1850s and one alphabet card with lower-case and upper-case letters. The blank books include illustrated covers and several have calligraphic titles for their sections. Four of them are dated and range from 1846 to 1853. The cypher books include exercises for arithmetic, fractions, accounting, and weights and measures, with many examples relating to practical issues like farming, business, and estates. Penmanship exercises include the copying of moral proverbs, common business abbreviations, strings of letters, and phrases. Two of the penmanship books are associated with writing systems: George J. Becker's The American System of Penmanship, and Bayson, Dunton and Scribner's National System of Penmanship.

The collection consists of seven penmanship and cypher books kept by William L. Shimer, Susanna M. Shimer, and Nathan M. Shimer of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the 1840s and 1850s and one alphabet card with lower-case and upper-case letters. The blank books include illustrated covers and several have calligraphic titles for their sections. Five of them are dated and range from 1846 to 1853. The cypher books include exercises for arithmetic, fractions, practical geometry, accounting, and weights and measures, with many examples relating to practical issues like farming, business, and estates. Penmanship exercises include the copying of moral proverbs, common business abbreviations, strings of letters, and phrases. Two of the penmanship books are associated with writing systems: George J. Becker's The American System of Penmanship, and Bayson, Dunton and Scribner's National System of Penmanship.

• Uriah Hunt & Son, Booksellers, Philadelphia
• Leary's Cheap Book Store, Philadelphia
• Brower, Hayes & Co., Booksellers and Stationers, Philadelphia
• Henry J. Oerter's Cheap Book & Stationery Store, Bethlehem
• Crosby & Ainsworth, Publishers, Boston

The cover of William L. Shimer's 1848 exercise book includes an inscription "L. Shimer, Co. A 10 reg. Militia Pa." William L. Shimer's 1850-1852 cypher book includes notations that he was attending the Gen. Taylor school and was being instructed by A. Stout, as well as geometrical drawings, calligraphic headings, and a pen-and-ink drawing of an eagle's head holding a banner that reads, "Let teh Stars and Stripes proudly float over you."

Stephen Williams kept this copybook in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, possibly in the 1840s. The volume includes penmanship practice, moral maxims, names of presidents and more.

Stephen Williams kept this copybook in Uxbridge, Massachusetts possibly in the 1840s. The volume includes penmanship practice, moral maxims, names of presidents like Andrew Jackson, and more.

The printed blankbook "Sold wholesale and retail by B. CRANSTON & Co. Printers, Publishers, and Booksellers" of Providence, [Rhode Island], features a man hunting in the snow with a dog on the cover. The back cover features two illustrations: one of a bird standing in a tree over a dead bird on the ground, and one of a fox standing over a dead bird. Between the two is the quote, "All may not be our enemies whom we fancy to be so. Harbor no enmity against your companions."