Aug. 2, 2008 — Laird Davis, a nine-year-old expert penman:
July 31, 2008 — Is calligraphy dead… boring?
Not if you belong to a calligraphy fight club! Check out the jazzy video.
There’s more fight club info here. “First rule of Calligrafight club is, you do not use writing equipment. No pens, pencils, biros, no paint, no ink, no printouts. You do not use anything that leaves a bit of itself behind when you drag it over a piece of paper.”
June 23, 2008 — Today almost all calligraphers working in the U.S. are female — but this hasn’t always been the case.
A century ago (and in previous centuries) nearly all calligraphers were male. There were many hundreds of professional calligraphers working in the early 20th century (when they were far more numerous than today, of course). The engrosser or “penman” could count on steady employment and good wages. These scribes made up a large, informal guild in the U.S., and held important positions in education, particularly in the business colleges, and worked in business situations, often doubling as bookkeepers. Many also found ready employment in the rapidly expanding world of modern advertising, as expert letterers and graphic designers.
Women were active as teachers of basic penmanship (the Palmer Method, etc.) in the schools, but the larger field of calligraphy and lettering was considered to be generally unsuitable for women — who were therefore, by the circular reasoning of the day, almost always excluded from advanced training in the lettering arts. The doors of opportunity in this area were closed.
Sadly, there were only a tiny number of female scribes, and almost none are known today by name. Here’s a rare advertisement for one of them, Daisy K. Miller, from Lincoln, Kansas. This appeared in A. N. Palmer’s monthly magazine, The American Penman, August, 1912 (just above an ad by one of America’s most famous calligraphers at that time, Frank W. Martin).
There was at least one major exception to the exclusion of female students from lettering-arts training, and that was the Detroit School of Lettering, where women were actively encouraged to apply. In fact, one of their catalogs (1906) had a definite feminist slant:
Of Special Interest to the Ambitious Woman — Would you become self-supporting? Would you like to enter a field that is uncrowded? If so, you will surely be interested in what follows: Show-card writing is a brand new profession. The work is neat, clean, fascinating and very profitable. It may be done at your own home. No costly tools to purchase, no expensive equipment of any sort. A few brushes — an assortment of watercolors — some cardboard, and your ability, are all that are required. It is a trade that up to this time has not been entered by women. […] Can you think of any good reason why you could not succeed as well as your brother? Surely you have the same intelligence — the same talent — the same common sense. Can you suggest one good reason why the merchant would not be as willing to supply you with work, as he would your brother or husband? We think not. On the contrary, we believe the chances for success in this respect are all in your favor.
May 19, 2008 — Beautiful 19th-century script calligraphy – and fine penmanship in general – was based on the mastery of rapid, rhythmic, elastic movements: this was the great secret behind high-quality artistic writing.
Today most calligraphers work slowly, but a few cutting-edge scribes are once again emphasizing rhythm and speed. See, for example, this short video by Denis Brown on YouTube (2:10).
Writing contraptions like the one below were generally not recommended by serious teachers of penmanship in the 19th century. The only clear road to success was thought to be: personal instruction from experts, lots of practice (hundreds of hours), and youth (start ’em young).
Despite the silliness of this “Chirographic Vibrator” (more like a large “Calligraphic RUBBER BAND” plus hook), mounted on a “Revolving Writing Cabinet” (containing a scroll), the descriptions are fun, so here they are:
Revolving Writing Cabinet
“Contains a full set of copy lines, comprising books 1, 2, and 3 of the Writing Book Series, mounted on a continuous sheet upon Rollers, so adjusted as to exhibit but one line at a time and in regular succession, by simply turning a knob at the side. It is furnished with Compartments for containing Pens, Inkstand, Pencils, Blotter, and Writing Pad, ruled to fit the Copies. It also contains the Chirographic Vibrator for suspending, balancing and vibrating the Hand in writing; a valuable help in acquiring Movement. A valuable PRESENT to any child at any Season. (Patented June 23, 1885.)”
The Chirographic Vibrator
“For imparting the vibratory [= elastic] movements of Penmanship to the Learner and an aid to Pen Holding. Size 7 x 11 inches. (Patented June 23, 1885.) — This device is the result of accumulated experience in teaching penmanship and puts the learner at once on the road to mastery of this valuable art. — It consists of a metal upright standard terminating in a hook not unlike a shepherd’s crook, from which depends a loop of elastic cord, to the end of which is attached a wooden perch, which is grasped in the hand so as to allow the supporting cord to pass between the fingers, while its near end, projecting from the hand, supports the penholder against the side of the forefinger. A second elastic cord may be attached to the base of the standard and the perch, for securing the projective motion known as Muscular. This is a valuable adjunct to every desk, where writing is taught.”
May 9, 2008 — The first modern calligrapher to create illustrated envelopes was Francis Courtney (1867–1952). Back in 1908, Courtney sent a series of wonderful envelopes to his friend and colleague, William C. Henning, who was at that time an associate editor of The American Penman (A. N. Palmer’s magazine). Here’s a picture of one of them:
Courtney was a great master of formal calligraphy, in many styles — but his work could also be delightfully strange, casual, and even illegible, when this suited his purpose. (Courtney was way ahead of his time, in this regard.)
Several more examples of these decorated envelopes, all from the year 1908, and many more illustrations of Courtney’s amazing work, can be found in this book: An Elegant Hand: The Golden Age of American Penmanship & Calligraphy.
Today the art of illustrated envelopes is thriving! There’s even an international contest devoted to this art form. Click on winners’ names at bottom of that page, to see some beautiful examples.
