The Palmer Method of penmanship instruction was developed and promoted by Austin Palmer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was largely created as a simplified style of the "Spencerian Method", which had been the major standardized system of handwriting since the 1840s.[1] The Palmer Method soon became the most popular handwriting system in the United States.[2]
Sample writing from The Palmer Method of Business Writing
Under the method, students were taught to adopt a uniform system of cursive writing with rhythmic motions.
Alphabet and numerals from The Palmer Method of Business Writing
The method developed around 1888 and was introduced in the book Palmer's Guide to Business Writing (1894).[3] Palmer's method involved "muscle motion" in which the more proximal muscles of the arm were used for movement, rather than allowing the fingers to move in writing. In spite of opposition from the major publishers, this textbook enjoyed great success: in 1912, one million copies were sold throughout the United States. The method won awards, including the Gold Medal at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, in 1915, and the Gold Medal at the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia, in 1926.[4]
Proponents of the Palmer Method emphasized its plainness and speed, that it was much faster than the laborious Spencerian Method, and that it allowed the writer to compete effectively with the typewriter.[5] To educators, the method's advocates emphasized regimentation, and that the method would thus be useful in schools to increase discipline and character, and could even reform delinquents.[6]
The Palmer Method began to fall out of popularity in the 1950s and was eventually supplanted by the Zaner-Bloser Method, which sought to teach children print writing (also called "manuscript printing") before teaching them cursive, in order to provide them with a means of written expression as soon as possible, and thus develop writing skills.[7] The D'Nealian Method, introduced in 1978, sought to address problems raised by the Zaner-Bloser Method, returning to a more cursive style of print writing. The Palmer company stopped publishing in the 1980s.[8]
Legacy
In radar engineering, a Palmer Scan is a scanning technique that produces a scanning beam by moving the main antenna and its feed in a circular motion. The name was derived from the looping circles practiced by students of the Palmer Method.[9]
References
^Tyler, Robin DVC (2010-04-12), Palmer Method of Penmanship, NYU Dead Media Archive, retrieved 12 April 2010.
^Apps-Bodilly, Susan (2013). One room schools : stories from the days of 1 room, 1 teacher, 8 grades. Wisconsin Historical Society. p. 61. ISBN978-0-87020616-0. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
^Palmer, A. N. (1894) Palmer's Guide to Business Writing. Cedar Rapids, IA, Western Penmanship Publishing Co. [Web.] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://lccn.loc.gov/11026563.
^Vitolo, Joseph M. "AN Palmer (1860–1927)". The Penmen Archives. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
^Trubek, Anne (2009-12-17), , Pacific Standard, archived from the original on 2010-02-04, retrieved 17 December 2009.
^Smith, Tracy (23 January 2011), "Is penmanship being written off?", CBS News, retrieved 10 Nov 2015.
^Alston, Jean; Taylor, Jane (1987), Handwriting: Theory, Research and Practice, New York: Nichols Publishing, ISBN9780709951070.
^Makala, Jeffrey. "Born to Please, Art of Handwriting Instruction, Spencerian and Palmer methods". University Libraries' Rare Books and Special Collections. University of South Carolina. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
^Vakin, SA (2001). Fundamentals of Electronic Warfare (Artech House Radar Library). Artech Print on Demand. ISBN978-1580530521.
Bibliography
Gard, Caroll (1937). Writing Past and Present. New York: A. N. Palmer Company.
Thornton, Tamara Plakins (1996). Handwriting in America. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN0-300-06477-2.
Further reading
Florey, Kitty Burns (January 20, 2009). Script and Scribble: The Rise and Fall of Handwriting (First ed.). Melville House. ISBN978-1933633671.
The Palmer Method of Business Writing: A Series of Self-teaching Lessons in Rapid, Plain, Unshaded, Coarse-pen, Muscular Movement Writing for the Home Learner, Where an Easy and Legible Hand-writing is Sought. "The object of this website is to teach rapid, easily-executed, business writing. It has not been written to exploit any one’s skill as a pen artist. It aims to be of use to those who are ambitious to become good, practical business writers. The lessons it contains are not experimental, but have been the means of guiding millions of boys and girls, young men and women to a good business style of writing."
See also
D'Nealian, a style of writing and teaching cursive and manuscript adapted from the Palmer Method
Palmer, A.N. (1894). Palmer's Guide to Business Writing (Original ed.). Library of Congress.
Palmer, A. N. (1935). The Palmer Method of Business Writing(PDF) (1935 ed.).
Palmer, A. N. (1935). The Palmer Method of Business Writing (Scanned images of the 1935 ed.).
Palmer, A. N. (1949). Método Palmer de Caligrafía Comercial (in Spanish) (Scanned images of the 1949 ed.).
Sull, Mike. "A. N. Palmer (1860-1927)". Excerpt from Spencerian Script and Ornamental Penmanship. I.
May 11, 2023
palmer, method, penmanship, instruction, developed, promoted, austin, palmer, late, 19th, early, 20th, centuries, largely, created, simplified, style, spencerian, method, which, been, major, standardized, system, handwriting, since, 1840s, soon, became, most, . The Palmer Method of penmanship instruction was developed and promoted by Austin Palmer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries It was largely created as a simplified style of the Spencerian Method which had been the major standardized system of handwriting since the 1840s 1 The Palmer Method soon became the most popular handwriting system in the United States 2 Sample writing from The Palmer Method of Business Writing Under the method students were taught to adopt a uniform system of cursive writing with rhythmic motions Contents 1 History 2 Legacy 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 Further reading 6 See also 7 External linksHistory Edit Alphabet and numerals from The Palmer Method of Business Writing The method developed around 1888 and was introduced in the book Palmer s Guide to Business Writing 1894 3 Palmer s method involved muscle motion in which the more proximal muscles of the arm were used for movement rather than allowing the fingers to move in writing In spite of opposition from the major publishers this textbook enjoyed great success in 1912 one million copies were sold throughout the United States The method won awards including the Gold Medal at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco in 1915 and the Gold Medal at the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1926 4 Proponents of the Palmer Method emphasized its plainness and speed that it was much faster than the laborious Spencerian Method and that it allowed the writer to compete effectively with the typewriter 5 To educators the method s advocates emphasized regimentation and that the method would thus be useful in schools to increase discipline and character and could even reform delinquents 6 The Palmer Method began to fall out of popularity in the 1950s and was eventually supplanted by the Zaner Bloser Method which sought to teach children print writing also called manuscript printing before teaching them cursive in order to provide them with a means of written expression as soon as possible and thus develop writing skills 7 The D Nealian Method introduced in 1978 sought to address problems raised by the Zaner Bloser Method returning to a more cursive style of print writing The Palmer company stopped publishing in the 1980s 8 Legacy EditIn radar engineering a Palmer Scan is a scanning technique that produces a scanning beam by moving the main antenna and its feed in a circular motion The name was derived from the looping circles practiced by students of the Palmer Method 9 References Edit Tyler Robin DVC 2010 04 12 Palmer Method of Penmanship NYU Dead Media Archive retrieved 12 April 2010 Apps Bodilly Susan 2013 One room schools stories from the days of 1 room 1 teacher 8 grades Wisconsin Historical Society p 61 ISBN 978 0 87020616 0 Retrieved 24 January 2015 Palmer A N 1894 Palmer s Guide to Business Writing Cedar Rapids IA Western Penmanship Publishing Co Web Retrieved from the Library of Congress https lccn loc gov 11026563 Vitolo Joseph M AN Palmer 1860 1927 The Penmen Archives Retrieved 24 January 2015 Trubek Anne 2009 12 17 Handwriting Is History Pacific Standard archived from the original on 2010 02 04 retrieved 17 December 2009 Smith Tracy 23 January 2011 Is penmanship being written off CBS News retrieved 10 Nov 2015 Alston Jean Taylor Jane 1987 Handwriting Theory Research and Practice New York Nichols Publishing ISBN 9780709951070 Makala Jeffrey Born to Please Art of Handwriting Instruction Spencerian and Palmer methods University Libraries Rare Books and Special Collections University of South Carolina Retrieved 24 January 2015 Vakin SA 2001 Fundamentals of Electronic Warfare Artech House Radar Library Artech Print on Demand ISBN 978 1580530521 Bibliography EditGard Caroll 1937 Writing Past and Present New York A N Palmer Company Thornton Tamara Plakins 1996 Handwriting in America New Haven Yale University Press ISBN 0 300 06477 2 Further reading EditFlorey Kitty Burns January 20 2009 Script and Scribble The Rise and Fall of Handwriting First ed Melville House ISBN 978 1933633671 The Palmer Method of Business Writing A Series of Self teaching Lessons in Rapid Plain Unshaded Coarse pen Muscular Movement Writing for the Home Learner Where an Easy and Legible Hand writing is Sought The object of this website is to teach rapid easily executed business writing It has not been written to exploit any one s skill as a pen artist It aims to be of use to those who are ambitious to become good practical business writers The lessons it contains are not experimental but have been the means of guiding millions of boys and girls young men and women to a good business style of writing See also EditD Nealian a style of writing and teaching cursive and manuscript adapted from the Palmer Method Zaner Bloser script another streamlined form of Spencerian script Round hand a style of handwriting and calligraphy originating in England in the 1660s Regional handwriting variation Teaching script EngravingExternal links EditPalmer A N 1894 Palmer s Guide to Business Writing Original ed Library of Congress Palmer A N 1935 The Palmer Method of Business Writing PDF 1935 ed Palmer A N 1935 The Palmer Method of Business Writing Scanned images of the 1935 ed Palmer A N 1949 Metodo Palmer de Caligrafia Comercial in Spanish Scanned images of the 1949 ed Sull Mike A N Palmer 1860 1927 Excerpt from Spencerian Script and Ornamental Penmanship I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Palmer Method amp oldid 1130314475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
