Apr. 30, 2009 — In December, 1925, Ernst F. Detterer published a brief article in the Chicago Schools Journal, in which he attacked modern cursive penmanship in general, and the Palmer Method in particular.
A. N. Palmer, at that time one of the most famous penmanship experts in America, replied graciously to Detterer, with a personal letter.
Ernst F. Detterer was a typographer, an amateur calligrapher, an instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago, and later a curator at the Newberry Library. In 1913 he studied briefly with Edward Johnston (a British calligrapher who tried to revive medieval lettering arts in the 20th century).
It seems unlikely that Detterer and Palmer would have had any connection at all, but here it is.
To the best of my knowledge, this letter by Palmer has never been published before. I found it listed in the Newberry Library catalog. It is a digital scan of a photocopy, of a “verifax reproduction (positive)” of the original typewritten letter. That’s quite a few layers of reproduction, so for easier reading you might want to read the transcription instead of the original.
Detterer’s article contains several blunders, and many factual errors. Palmer responded with humility, tact, and patience, but some of Palmer’s basic views on the history of penmanship were as erroneous as Detterer’s. (More on this later.)
