Spencerian Compositions
Said to be “flourished”, the elaborate hand-drawn pen and ink compositions are often called “Spencerian Compositions” after Platt Rogers Spencer, Sr. One of twelve childred, Spencer was born in 1800 in East Fishkill, New York. Called “the man who taught American to write”, Spencer was an early administrator of Bryant, Lusk and Stratton Business College in Cleveland where he developed a uniform cursive writing system and instructional manuals which were used in “writing schools” and by itinerant writing masters moving from one rural community to the next using a copy-book method of teaching basic writing to young hands. The “Spencerian System of Penmanship” was based on seven basic strokes – called “principles” – written at a 52 degree slope calculated to produce the fastest writing speed. Eventually the Spencerian system became universally used in schools throughout the country. His daughter Sara and sons Platt Jr., Henry and Harvy (twins) all becaume famous pen artists, teachers or proprietors of business schools.
The most elaborate Spencerian compositions often served as an advertisement or demonstration of the master’s skill. Talented students copied their teacher’s designs for gifts, certificates and other presentation pieces. Subjects often included birds – typically doves or eagles, deer, or horses surrounded by exceedingly elaborate scrolls and foliage designs. More rarely one finds cornucopia designs or portraits of historical figures. A graceful quillwork pen is often included in the design. Most flourished compositions are executed in careful shades of black on white, but the occasional polychrome example is found with delicate blues, greens, golds and reds. Most were signed, often with the master’s place of business.
The elegant product of the Spencerian System of Penmanship has not completely died out today and one may purchase a series of six instructional books on the Internet for self-learning or to teach others.