school run by the Christian Brothers. In this school, one of the
subjects we had from Grade 1 to 7 was Penmanship. It was a graded
subject, and woe to the poor fellow whose uncoordinated muscles and
fingers failed to produce fine penmanship as defined by the Palmer
Method.
The Palmer Method of Business Writing was developed by Austin Norman
Palmer who first learned that ornamental writing was possible while
studying under the famed George Gaskell. In later years, Palmer
developed what was to be a trademark of the writing style: Use of the
Arm rather than the Wrist, which produced a more flowing and less
tiresome method. Since typewriters still had to come into the scene
in the 1880s, all writing was done by hand. With voluminous texts to
produce, there was no time to engage in the usual flourishes so common
to the day.
In the following thread, one sees a sample of the Palmer Method and a
brief history of its developer.
Palmer's first chance to try out his theories was given to him by the
Mother Superior of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who had
many convent schools under their care. The good Mother requested that
Palmer put his teachings into book form which would then be circulated
in their schools. But Palmer demanded, and rightly so, that the
teachers first learn the method before being entrusted with teaching
the subject.
The result is one of the most beautiful penmanship styles ever to
evolve in these more modern times. It's a pity that so few people put
a premium these days on fine penmanship.
Sourced by JMJF.
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