Penmanship album of W.B. Jenkins of St. George, WV (13 in. x 15 in. with ornamented cover). Includes examples of what is likely Spencerian script, as well as 21 examples of 'offhand flourishes' mostly of birds, presumably by Jenkins. Also includes evidence of Jenkins attendance of penmanship classes at Oberlin College, including: reference letter by Uriah McKee of Department of Penmanship (1-12-1883), Penmanship Dept. newsletter (July, 1884), Dept. solicitation of orders for student penmanship work (ca. 1883-5), and Oberlin College photo prospectus (5 in. x 10 in. card, 1883). There are also two examples of bird flourishing for Spencerian pedagogy (1879, 1887), two advertisements for pens and pencils (n.d.), and prospectus for Hall's Business College (ca. 1870-90). There are three Certificates of Attendance for Mary Jenkins of St. George issued by West Virginia Public Schools (1913,15,16). Spencerian Script was a de facto standard in America from about 1848, when Spencerian Method by Platt Rogers Spencer was published, to about 1925. Good handwriting skills were highly valued in this period, in education, business, and industry.
English
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0.2 Linear Feet (Summary: 2 in.)
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