Palmer Method

The Palmer Method of penmanship instruction was developed and promoted by Austin Palmer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 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 million copies were sold throughout the country. The method won 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.

Proponents of the Palmer Method emphasized its plainness and speed, that it was much faster than the laborious Spencerian Method, and allowed the writer to effectively compete with the typewriter.[1] 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.[2]

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.

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.

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

External links

• The Palmer Method of Business Writing Scanned images of the 1935 edition of A.N. Palmer's handwriting textbook
• Método Palmer de Caligrafía Comercial Scanned images of the 1949 Spanish Edition of A.N. Palmer's textbook
• Image of Palmer-style handwriting: http://www.nystamp.org/Ink29.jpg