Palmer Method
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Palmer Method of penmanship instruction was developed and promoted by Austin Palmer in the early 1900s. It soon became the most popular handwriting system in the United States.
Under it, students were taught to adopt a uniform system of cursive writing with rhythmic motions. Left-handers were usually made to use their right hands. The method developed around 1888 and was introduced in his 1894 book Palmer's Guide to Business Writing. 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 textbook companies, this textbook enjoyed great success: in 1912, 1,000,000 copies were sold throughout the country. The method garnered awards, including the Gold Medal at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, California, in 1915, and the Gold Medal at the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1926.
Palmer's style fell out of popularity and was replaced by a movement to teach children manuscript before teaching them cursive, in order to provide them with a means of written expression as soon as possible and thus develop writing skills. This effectively reduced the emphasis on handwriting in elementary school and is sometimes popularly said by some in the general public to have been responsible for a decrease in the overall legibility of modern American handwriting.
The style is now experiencing renewed attention, from those working in facilitated communication for the disabled. Because the Palmer method has a focus on shoulder and arm movements, it is helpful for many with limited movement of the fingers.
[edit] References
- Thornton, Tamara Plakins. Handwriting in America. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-300-06477-2
- Gard, Caroll. Writing Past and Present. New York: A. N. Palmer Company, 1937 ISBN none
- A. N. Palmer
[edit] External links
- The Palmer Method of Business Writing Scanned images of the 1935 edition of A.N. Palmer's handwriting textbook
- Image of Palmer-style handwriting: http://www.nystamp.org/Ink29.jpg
 |
This literature-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
