Besides being a member of the infamous Donner Party family, I’m also in the family lineage from Platt Rogers Spencer (1800-1864) originator of Spencerian Penmanship, a very popular system of creating beautiful cursive script, taught in American schools for just shy of 100 years. If you’ve ever been inside the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, you’ve seen the Spencerian Handwriting Versions of the major documents of the foundation of the United States of America — they were penned by Platt Rogers Spencer under commission from Congress, and that’s not all. He wrote poetry, but only one of his poems has survived to the present day, until now. Here’s the inventory, all of which relate to or carry examples of Platt Rogers Spencer’s personal penmanship and style:
1. Receipt for Issues Neubern W.O. 15th February 1865 of Capt. Geo. Hunt… Enfield Rifled Musket Cal. 58; 1 bayonet, 1 bayonet scabbard, 1 cartridge box, 1 cartridge box belt, 1 cartridge box belt plate, 1 waist belt, 1 waist belt plate, 1 gun cap pouch & pick, gun sling, cartridge box plate; Signed by Chas. L. Upham.
2. Etching: Bridge Indian Creek, Allans, October 1857, 8 1/4″ x 9 5/8″.
3. Etching: Old Bridge Indian Creek, circa 1857, 7 1/4″ x 10″.
4. Letter: To Persis from Platt (Rogers Spencer), 1857. 1 Page of Text on a single sheet, 7 3/4″ x 9 3/4″, example of Platt Roger Spencer’s personal use of his “Spencerian” Script.
5. Letter: To Bro Harvey from Lyman, Febrary 3, 1861. Example of Spencerian Handwriting, 3 1/4 Pages of Text; 3/4 Page Drawing on folded paper, 16″ x 12 1/2″.
6. Portrait: Identified as Platt Rogers Spencer, 5″ x 7″.
7. Portrait: Identified as Platt Rogers Spencer, 8 1/2″ x 11″.
8. UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT — “Poems & Letters of Platt Rogers Spencer”. Introduction by Gen. James A. Garfield, one of four assassinated U.S. Presidents. Accompanied by a biographical sketch. 178pp with an additional 133pp of letters written from 1839-1863. Typewritten manuscript, 1912, by Miss Edith Spencer.
9. Poem — “In Memory of the Author of Spencerian Penmanship” by W.P. Spencer, Business College Register, Saint Louis, August, 1865.
10. News Clipping — “Mightier than the Sword was Spencer’s Pen” — portrait of Spencer, which looks like the above portrait, and two examples of his work. New York Times Magazine, September 5, 1926, pg 9 & a column of pg 19.
ANTIQUE SPENCERIAN HANDWRITING SAMPLES:
11. Example of Spencerian Penmanship — Lyman P. Spencer
12. Example of Spencerian Penmanship — Trust no future however pleasant..
13. Example of Spencerian Penmanship — O Fame! bother my prayer I bring..
14. Example of Spencerian Penmanship — Hours are golden links Gods token
15. Example of Spencerian Penmanship — We know not of what we are capable…
16. Example of Spencerian Penmanship — Geo. R. Cathcart…
17. Example of Spencerian Penmanship — Lyman and Thebe (transcription)
18. TEXTBOOK — Theory of Spencerian Penmanship, 1874, inscribed by several hands, this was the standard grade school textbook.
So what does all this translate to?
First of all, the National Documents written in Spencerian Penmanship are a major force in the presentation of American Ideals at the Capitol Rotunda.
Secondly, Spencerian Penmanship was the foundational word-tool of American schoolchildren for almost a century, and it’s still in some use today.
Thirdly, James A. Garfield thought enough of his literary abilities to prompt him to write the introduction to the as-yet unpublished book of poems and letters in my possession.
Fourthly, his contributions are considered important enough to justify a large number of museums and schools to assemble collections related to his work, and this collection would certainly be the largest and most complete in U.S. history related to Platt Rogers Spencer, who was apparently a descendent of famous English poet, Edmund Spenser.
Fifthly, the book could be typeset or printed in facsimile from the 1912 typewritten manuscript and, yes, there were typewriters back then, although they were not yet in common usage. Publication should be by the receiving institution.
This totally unique work, previously unknown and unavailable to historical and literary scholars, would be a wonderful donation package for some lucky donor to get the honor to present to the National Gallery, or your Alma Mater!
Price on Request.
See You At The Top!!!
gorby