THE HISTORY OF CURSIVE

CURSIVE

During the United States’ infancy, professional penmen were responsible for copying official

documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Among

amateurs, meanwhile, signature handwriting styles became associated with various professions

and social ranks; women and men were also expected to embrace cursive styles unique to their

gender. In the mid-1800s an abolitionist and bookkeeper named Platt Rogers Spencer

attempted to democratize American penmanship by formulating a cursive writing system, known as

the Spencerian method and taught by textbook, that many schools and businesses quickly

adopted. (Ornate and sinuous, it can be seen in the original Coca-Cola logo.)

CURSIVE

During the 1920s, cursive

was used in most American

schools. Teachers began

teaching cursive writing to students in third grade.

CURSIVE

January 23rd is National

Handwriting Day in the United

States. It is the birthday of John

Hancock.