Palmer Method

The Palmer Method of penmanship instruction was developed and promoted by Austin Palmer in the early 1900's and soon became the most popular handwriting system in the United States. Under it, students were taught to copy a uniform style 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. In spite of opposition from the major textbook companies, this textbook enjoyed great sucess: in 1912, 1,000,000 copies were sold throughout the country. The method garned awards, as well: in 1915, the Gold Medal at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, California; and in 1926, the Gold Medal at the Sesqui Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Reference

• Thornton, Tamara Plakins. Handwriting in America. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-30-006477-2
• Gard, Caroll. Writing Past and Present. New York: A. N. Palmer Company, 1937 ISBN: none
• A. N. Palmer
• WHAT IS FACILITATED HANDWRITING? Belinda G. Todd. From Vol. 4 No. 4 (August, 1996) of the Facilitated Communication Digest