The Palmer Method of Business Writing A Series of Self-teaching in Rapid, Plain, Unshaded, Coarse-pen, Muscular Movement Writing for Use in All Schools, Public or Private, Where an Easy and Legible Handwriting is the Object Sought; Also for the Home Learner

"The Palmer Method of Business Writing" by A. N. Palmer is a self-help guide on penmanship written in the early 20th century. It provides a systematic approach to mastering practical writing skills, aimed primarily at young learners in both public and private educational settings, as well as individuals studying at home. The book emphasizes the cultivation of rapid, legible, and natural handwriting, focusing on techniques that promote ease, endurance, and individual style, contrasting sharply with traditional copy-book methods. The opening of the text introduces the reader to the foundational philosophy of the Palmer Method, which asserts that good handwriting can be achieved through proper physical techniques and consistent practice. Palmer critiques traditional education methods, positing that they stifle creativity and result in ineffective handwriting skills. He provides detailed instructions on posture, arm movement, and the importance of muscle memory, underscoring the necessity of practicing in a relaxed manner without mechanical constraints. The text sets the stage for a series of progressively challenging lessons that aim to develop both the technical ability and artistic expression necessary for effective business writing. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Austin Norman Palmer was an American innovator in the field of penmanship whose development and widespread distribution of the Palmer Method of handwriting had a great influence on the handwriting of the American education systems. In the early 20th century, Palmer's method of handwriting came on the tail of nearly a half-century of ornamental writing and offered a more simplified, fast, legible, and economic form of writing for the youth and business people of the day.