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Contents

Welcome

This is the Kaminski Handwriting Collection, a nascent online collection of handwriting.

You can contact us via email: info@davidkaminski.org.

American Paleography website

American Paleography [1] is a new site that I am building. It is a demonstration-only site now. Contact me if you have questions.

Handwriting in the News

Pen World [2]writes in their August 2023 magazine about the material I donated to University of Scranton.[[3]]
Some of the material is on display now through December 2023. The rest remains in their permanent collection. Special thanks to Nicky Pessaroff, Editor-in-Chief, and writer Nicholas Adams for the article.

"Threading Letters" [4] From embroidery to weaving, there is a long history incorporating letterforms into fabric. Letterform Archive, March 2024.

The Story of Handwriting in 12 Objects [5]
A survey of items from the British Library's exhibition Writing: Making Your Mark Writing: Making Your Mark is at the British Library until 27 August 2019

How to Decode an Ancient Roman’s Handwriting[6]
Roger Tomlin has made a career studying bar bills, curse tablets, and other British relics that were never meant for posterity.
By Charlotte Higgins
May 1, 2017
In The New Yorker

Spring challenges--unanswered questions for readers to answer

Articles, many still under revision

  • The Varieties and Complexities of American Handwriting and Penmanship: Library Hand [7]

..........

Notes for articles

Navigation

Manuscripts listed by date
Books listed by date
Penmen, penwomen, and writing master listed by date
Miscellaneous

Manuscripts Listed By Date

1661

Anonymous, Prohibition, 1661

1662

Anonymous, Court document on contempt, 1662

Anonymous, The Kings Letter to the Colony of Massachusetts, 1662

1664

Anonymous, King Charles II, Letter to the Governour of the Massachusetts in New England, 1664

R. Nicolls, account of his reception at Boston, page 1, 1664

ca. 1669-1693

Isaac Newton, To make excellent ink

ca. 1690-1695

Isaac Newton, Draft chapters of a treatise on the origin of religion and its corruption, 41.3r
Isaac Newton, Draft chapters of a treatise on the origin of religion and its corruption, 41.3v
Isaac Newton, Draft chapters of a treatise on the origin of religion and its corruption, 41.4r

1683

Benjamin Chew, Papers, Swedish colonists, 1683

1706

Stephen Cushing, Title page
Stephen Cushing, Draw with your pens left corner all stroaks

1710

Grace Hoopes, 1710

1736

Affidavit of John Ross, 1736

1738

Affidavit of Benjamin Eastburn, 1738
Affidavit of Benjamin Eastburn, page 2, 1738
Affidavit of Benjamin Eastburn, back, 1738

1743

Nicholas Browne, flourished design, 1743

Thomas Ringgold, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1743
Thomas Ringgold, Letter to Benjamin Chew, back, 1743

1755

William Shirley, Letter to Tawenoe, 1755

1757

William Denny, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1757

John Gilbert, Writing exercise: Humility is a grand virtue
John Gilbert, Writing exercise: Recd the 27th of Nov

1770

Abiah Holbrook, unnamed design with script examples, 1770

1773

Henry Ridgely, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1773
Henry Ridgely, Letter to Benjamin Chew, back, 1773

1776

Benjamin Franklin, Letter to George Washington, 1776

1777

Joseph Cochran, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1777
Joseph Cochran, Letter to Benjamin Chew, back, 1777

1786

W Breck, Rule of three

1787

W Breck, Tare and trett

Spencer Colbe, A system of; english print, cover
Spencer Colbe, A system of; english print, end page
Spencer Colbe, A system of; english print, engrossed letters D and S with name

1790

Joseph Richards, Writing exercise: A good reputation
Joseph Richards, Writing exercise: A am B bm
Joseph Richards, Writing exercise: E em F fm
Joseph Richards, Writing exercise: Depend not
Joseph Richards, Writing exercise: I im j jm

John Jenckes Sheldon, Writing exercise book, page 16, 1790

Noah Webster, Jr., contract, October 5, 1790, page 1
Noah Webster, Jr., contract, October 5, 1790, page 2

1792

John Stow, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1792
John Stow, Letter to Benjamin Chew, back, 1792

1793

Alexander Hamilton, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1793

1798

Abraham Gochenour, Arithmetic manuscript, title page
Abraham Gochenour, Arithmetic manuscript, addition
Abraham Gochenour, Arithmetic manuscript, subtraction

1800

Sarah Frisby, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1800
Sarah Frisby, Letter to Benjamin Chew, back, 1800

1801

James Gallagher, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1801

J Steele, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1801
J Steele, Letter to Benjamin Chew, back, 1801

1804

Joseph _____ (slave), Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1804
Joseph _____ (slave), Letter to Benjamin Chew, back, 1804

1805

Sarah Hearsey, Reduction by multiplication

1808

Robert Babcock, City and County of Albany, Assignment of Deed, 1808

ca. 1808-1812

Benjamin H Coates, Steal not this book, version 1, circa 1808-1812
Benjamin H Coates, Steal not this book, version 2, circa 1808-1812
Benjamin H Coates, School-boy papers, circa 1808-1812

181_

William Putnam, Advice

1813

William Putnam, Ambition
William Putnam, Writing

1815

William Putnam, Detraction. Knowledge.

1816

John Putnam, The dying eagle

1817

John Putnam, Schoolbook Cover
John Putnam, The summer's morning

182_

Mahald Straw, Cock Robin's Courtship and Marriage, title page

1823

John Spencer & Co to Trumbull Cary, letter recto, 1823
John Spencer & Co to Trumbull Cary, letter verso, 1823

1826

John S. Schermerhorn, Simon Schermerhorn, N. Dean, search for judgements, 1826

pre-1830

Unknown, Grammar manuscript 1, page 1
Unknown, Grammar manuscript 1, page 2
Unknown, Grammar manuscript 1, page 3
Unknown, Grammar manuscript 1, page 4

1832

John L Lincoln, Valedictory address, August 22, 1832, page 1
John L Lincoln, Valedictory address, August 22, 1832, page 2

Joseph Parker 2d Grand list, front
Joseph Parker 2d Grand list, back

1833

Samuel Staples, Jr., Receipt, front
Samuel Staples, Jr., Receipt, front, detail 1
Samuel Staples, Jr., Receipt, back

1834

to Nicholas Shaw and Anna Shaw, Receipt, front
to Nicholas Shaw and Anna Shaw, Receipt, back

1837

Caroline Luyster, Writing exercise: Be careful to hold your pen well

Noah Webster, Jr., letter to William D Williamson, May 6, 1837, address
Noah Webster, Jr., letter to William D Williamson, May 6, 1837, page 1
Noah Webster, Jr., letter to William D Williamson, May 6, 1837, page 2

1838

Caroline Luyster, Writing exercise: Pursue learning

1839

Louisa Barton, Mortgage, front, 1839
Louisa Barton, Mortgage, back, 1839

James and Augustus Cowles to Gayer Gardner, letter, 1839

John Wood to George W Newell, letter, 1839
John Wood to George W Newell, cover, 1839

1840

Deborah Higgins, Letter, copy 1, 1840
Deborah Higgins, Letter, copy 2, 1840

1843

Anonymous, Chamberlains Office Receipt Expenditures, Albany NY, closeup 1, June 26, 1843
Anonymous, Chamberlains Office Receipt Expenditures, Albany NY, closeup 2, June 26, 1843

1844

Samuel Finley Breese Morse, First telegraph message, 24 May 1844

1847

William Ballagh, Robert Ballagh, Jane C. Ballagh, Samuel Harper, indenture, 1847

Lawrence Van Deusen, mortgage receipt, 1847

1849

James G King & Sons, bank check, 1849

185-?

Joseph Emerson Worcester, dictionary page "iconology" to "idiopathical", 185-?

circa 1855

H Baker, Italian hand writing by H Baker penmanship, circa 1855

Jacob H Bornt, Title page, circa 1855
Jacob H Bornt, Border samples, circa 1855
Jacob H Bornt, Eagle, circa 1855
Jacob H Bornt, Ornamental penmanship taught in 12 lessons, circa 1855
Jacob H Bornt, Ornamental writing from Jacob H Bornt, circa 1855
Jacob H Bornt, Penmanship is a splendid accomplishment, circa 1855
Jacob H Bornt, Penmanship may be accomplish of Jacob H Bornt, circa 1855
Jacob H Bornt, Signature page, circa 1855
Jacob H Bornt, Songbird, circa 1855

1855

Sydney Howard Gay, Record of Fugitives, 1855, page 26
Sydney Howard Gay, Record of Fugitives, 1855, page 27
Sydney Howard Gay, Record of Fugitives, 1855, page 28

1856

Platt Rogers Spencer, Gents
War Department, clerk's copy of Jefferson Davis' response to third auditor report, 1856

18__

Platt Rogers Spencer, The principles

1858

Levi Vaughts, promissory note, front
Levi Vaughts, promissory note, back

1860

S T Shannon, Receipt, front
S T Shannon, Receipt, back

1861

Bingham, Joy_& Sandford, Letter, front
Bingham, Joy_& Sandford, Letter, back

David Hunter to Abraham Lincoln, 1861

Robert E Lee, Letter to Winfield Scott, page 1, 1861
Robert E Lee, Letter to Winfield Scott, page 2, 1861

George L Shackford, Letter
George L Shackford, Letter, back

after 1861

to Sarah H. Cox, letter, side 1, after 1861
to Sarah H. Cox, letter, side 2, after 1861

1862

Thomas Alva Edison, Letter to Willis D Engle, page 1, 1862
Thomas Alva Edison, Letter to Willis D Engle, page 2, 1862

John McLean Harrington, The weekly news, volume 3, no. 1, page 1
John McLean Harrington, The weekly news, volume 3, no. 1, pages 2-3
John McLean Harrington, The weekly news, volume 3, no. 1, page 4

aide to Robert E Lee, Telegram to Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, page 1, 1862
aide to Robert E Lee, Telegram to Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, page 2, 1862

after 1862

Unknown, The Battle Prayer, front
Unknown, The Battle Prayer, back

1863

John Britting, Receipt

Abraham Lincoln, "Nicolay Copy" of the Gettysburg Address, page 1, 1863
Abraham Lincoln, "Nicolay Copy" of the Gettysburg Address, page 2, 1863

Abraham Lincoln, "Hay Draft" of the Gettysburg Address, page 1, 1863
Abraham Lincoln, "Hay Draft" of the Gettysburg Address, page 2, 1863

Wager Swayne, Letter to Edwin Lewis Lybarger, 1863

1865

Lombard & Co, Boston, receipt, 1865
J S Pendergrast, Left handed writing sample submitted to penmanship competition for amputees, civil war soldiers, 1865

1866

Thomas Alva Edison, Telegram to Nancy Elliott Edison and Samuel Ogden Edison, 1866

Alfred D Whitehouse, Left handed writing sample of amputees, civil war soldiers, 1866

1867

Thomas Alva Edison, Telegram to Nancy Elliott Edison and Samuel Ogden Edison, 1867

Burritt Stiles, Left handed writing sample submitted to penmanship competition for amputees, civil war soldiers, 1867

1868

Thomas Alva Edison, Letter to John Clark Van Duzer, page 1, 1868
Thomas Alva Edison, Letter to John Clark Van Duzer, page 2, 1868
Thomas Alva Edison, Letter to John Clark Van Duzer, page 3, 1868

1869

Thomas Alva Edison, Receipt to Samuel W Ropes Jr, 1869

1870

C M Pace, Deed, front
C M Pace, Deed, back

18__

William N Pile, Letter 1, page 1

1875

A. W. Agassiz (assumed), Letter, 1875
Thomas Alva Edison, Journal Notes, pages 2- 3, 1875
Pomroy Jones to Governor Tilden, page 1, 1875
Pomroy Jones to Governor Tilden, page 1, 1875, large image
Pomroy Jones to Governor Tilden, page 1, 1875, large image, close up
Pomroy Jones to Governor Tilden, pages 2 and 3, 1875
Pomroy Jones to Governor Tilden, page 4, 1875

after 1875

A. A. Thomson & Co. to Mess. Conklyn & Jayne, envelope, after 1875

1876

Elizabeth "Lizzie" M Morrissey, diary entry, June 8, 1876

1877

Thomas Alva Edison Papers, Daily Electric Letter, Vol I, No. 39, 1877

Secretary of S H Grant, letter to James Carson Brevoort, 1877

New York State, Supreme Court, William F. et al v. Boston and Albany Railroad Company et. al., notice of trial for plaintiff, fronts, 1877

Tice & Lynch, bill / receipt, 1877

1878

Horatio N Easby, Letter 1, page 1
Horatio N Easby, Letter 1, page 2
J U Mackenzie, Receipt to Valentine Marsh, 1878
S W Wetmore, Christmas at Illinois State Penitentiary, 1878
S W Wetmore, Christmas at Illinois State Penitentiary, Programme, 1878

1879

to John W Hamersley , Salutation, front
to John W Hamersley, Salutation, back

188_

E H Gilbert, Letter 1, page 1
E H Gilbert, Letter 1, page 2
E H Gilbert, Letter 1, pages 3 and 5
E H Gilbert, Letter 1, page 4
E H Gilbert, Letter 1, page 5


1882

E S Heath, autograph book entry, 1882

1884

New York City Fire Department to I. H. Dahlman, Bill, 1884

1885

Elmer Ward Bloser, Letter 1, page 1
Elmer Ward Bloser, Letter 1, page 2
Elmer Ward Bloser, Letter 1, envelope front

1885

see bottom of document
C M Pace, Deed, front
C M Pace, Deed, back

1886

John W Paul, Hektograph stock certificate, front, 1886
John W Paul, Hektograph stock certificate, back, 1886

1887

Anonymous / Columbia College / Melvil Dewey, Early library handwriting postcard, front, Feb 7 1887
Anonymous / Columbia College / Melvil Dewey, Early library handwriting postcard, back, Feb 7 1887

James C Pilling to Frederick Saunders, Letter, 1887
Moris A Sims in account with C A Peterson, 1887

1888

W H B Thomas to the Executor of the Thomas C Durant Estate, letter, 1888

1892

Mrs. Guerero to L. Blank Dr. Confectioner, receipt, 1892
Helen Armory Ernst to Worthington Ford_letter, page 1, 1892
Helen Armory Ernst to Worthington Ford_letter, page 2, 1892

1893

Anonymous, Letter to mother on Hess' Tea Store letterhead, page 1, 1893
Edna D Bullock, letter to Melvil Dewey, 1893
John Cotton Dana, letter to Melvil Dewey, 1893
Zella Allen Dixson, letter to Melvil Dewey, 1893
Harry Hubbard to W W Durant, letter, 1893
Mary L. Titcomb, letter to Melvil Dewey, page 1, 1893
Mary L. Titcomb, letter to Melvil Dewey, page 2, 1893

1894

Nellie Cundall, Amy Fuller, Report card, front, 1894
Nellie Cundall, Amy Fuller, Report card, back, 1894

1897

William H Beacom, Letter to editor penman's art journal, 1897
Clyde C Lister, Letter to William J Kinsely, 1897

1898

Nina E Browne to Richard Rogers Bowker, letter, 1898

Jefferson Carle, Letter
Jefferson Carle, Letter, detail 1

1899

Clinton Charles Canan to William J. Kinsley, 1899

1900

George Watson Cole to Herbert Putnam, 1900

1902

Emily Ford to Worthington Ford, letter, page 1, 1902

P K Musselman, Letter

1903

Grace Ford to Worthington Ford, letter, page 1, 1903

1905

Francis B Courtney, Envelope 1, 1905
Francis B Courtney, Envelope 2, 1905

Dickerson H Farley, Envelope, 1905

Bettina Ford to Worthington Ford, letter, page 1, 1905

O E Hovis, Envelope, 1905

Louis Madarasz, Envelope, 1905

John F Siple, Envelope, 1905

H C Spencer, Envelope, 1905
Frederick W Tamblyn, Envelope, 1905

after 1905?

Charles W Ransom, Alphabet 1

1906

Kathleen Ford to Worthington Ford, letter, page 1, 1906

1907

Grace Ford to Worthington Ford, letter, page 1, 1907

1907-1908

Eliot Harlow Robinson, Class notes, Harvard Law School, 1907-1908

1908

Basil L Gildersleeve to Donald Gay Baker, letter, 1908

1910

Hildegarde E. Turle letter to Worthington Ford, pages 1 and 2, 1910
Hildegarde E. Turle letter to Worthington Ford, page 3, 1910

1911

George L Woodard, letter, 1911

1912

Carrie Gise to Mary Gise, postcard, 1912

1919

Mary Gardiner Adams to Worthington Ford, letter, circa 1919

1924

Edith G. Wendell to Worthington Ford, letter, page 1, 1924

1927

Sonia Ruthele Novak to Mr. Stuart, letter, page 1, 1927

1939

Nan Jay Barchowsky, Elementary school essay, India, 1939

1949

to B. Dean, Letter 1, page 1
to B. Dean, Letter 1, page 2
to B. Dean, Letter 1, page 3
to B. Dean, Letter 1, page 4
to B. Dean, Letter 1, page 5
to B. Dean, Letter 1, page 6
to B. Dean, Letter 1, page 6 back
to B. Dean, Letter 1, envelope

Bess, Letter 1, page 1
Bess, Letter 1, page 2
Bess, Letter 2, page 1
Bess, Letter 2, page 2

1950, approximate

Nan Jay Barchowsky, Recipe, Cheesecake pie, 1950

1951

Nellie Knoess, Letter, page 1
Nellie Knoess, Letter, page 2
Nellie Knoess, Letter, envelope front
Nellie Knoess, Letter, envelope back

Walter Powers, Letter 1, page 1
Walter Powers, Letter 1, page 2
Walter Powers, Letter 1, envelope front
Walter Powers, Letter 1, envelope back

Walter Powers, Letter 2, page 1
Walter Powers, Letter 2, page 2
Walter Powers, Letter 2, envelope front
Walter Powers, Letter 2, envelope back

Phyllis Richards, Letter 1, page 1
Phyllis Richards, Letter 1, page 2
Phyllis Richards, Letter 1, page 2, punctuation detail 1
Phyllis Richards, Letter 1, envelope

1962

to Anne Marie Powers, Postcard 1, front
to Anne Marie Powers, Postcard 1, back

to Joan Mae Powers, Postcard 1, front
to Joan Mae Powers, Postcard 1, back

1968

Norma Isabel Napirkosky, Letter 1, page 1
Norma Isabel Napirkosky, Letter 1, page 1, detail 1
Norma Isabel Napirkosky, Letter 1, page 2
Norma Isabel Napirkosky, Letter 1, envelope front
Norma Isabel Napirkosky, Letter 1, envelope back

1976

Maura to Annie Powers, Letter
Maura to Annie Powers, Letter, back and envelope

1977

Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum, My Review, page 1
Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum, My Review, page 2
Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum, My Review, page 3
Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum, My Review, page 3, detail 1
Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum, My Review, page 3, detail 2

2013

Amos Wolff, X-Mas 2013, page 1
Amos Wolff, X-Mas 2013, page 1, detail 1
Amos Wolff, X-Mas 2013, page 1, detail 2
Amos Wolff, X-Mas 2013, page 1, detail 3

2014

Nan Jay Barchowsky, Note, A quick brown fox, 2014

Emrah Er, Note 1
Emrah Er, Poem 1

Shangching Cheng Huitzacua, Fountain pen day, cursive
Shangching Cheng Huitzacua, Fountain pen day, italic
Shangching Cheng Huitzacua, Fountain pen day, print

Derek Knoble, Note 1

Mary Jo Renzi, Letter 1, page 1
Mary Jo Renzi, Letter 1, page 2

Tina Stison, Excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's The premature burial, Card front, 2014
Tina Stison, Excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's The premature burial, Card inside, 2014
Tina Stison, Excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's The premature burial, Card inside, mirror image, 2014
Tina Stison, Note, How I started writing backwards, 2014
Tina Stison, Note, Why I write backwards, Extraordinary things, 2014
Tina Stison, Note, And lastly, 2014


Manuscript Authors Listed By Name

Items Grouped by Age of Author

Items Grouped by Type

Online manuscript collections

Tutorials, Lessons, and Materials

Volunteering for Other Projects

  • [[Manuscript transcription projects [8]]]

Digital and Technical Links


Fonts Created from Handwriting

Bilbliography and Work Planned or in Progress

  • [[An incomplete and imprecise annotated bibliography on books of all kinds, including but not exclusive to penmanship, penmanship systems, systems of penmanship, pen art, copybooks, copy-books, copy books, handwriting, hand-writing, hand writing, handwritten hand-written, written, writing, business writing, style, script, cursive, manuscript, script-print, print, hand, shorthand, short hand, short-hand, lettering, calligraphy, writing systems, systems of writing, method, muscular, orthography, ortheopy, graphology, spellers, spelling, letters, lettering, letterforms, letter-forms, letter forms, alphabets, words, reading, readers, eclectic, graded, grammar, vocabulary, vocabularies, bookkeeping, book-keeping, primary, elementary, secondary, normal school, public school, private school, academy, academies, trade school, colleges, business college, Spencerian, Palmer, etc.]]

Contact

info@davidkaminski.org
handwriting@davidkaminski.org