Analyzing the Handwriting-Spencer and Palmer

I have a lot of fun posting images to the Daily Genealogy Transcriber and learn quite a bit as well. A recent private email mentioned the Palmer Method of writing and  asked when it came into favor (the general answer: the 1890s). An earlier method was the Spencerian Method which became popular in the 1860s and continued until the Palmer Method was generally adopted. Your ancestor who served in the Civil War was probably not using the Palmer Method and likely wasn't taught the Spencerian Method either--assuming he went to school.

Links:

• 1935 Guide the Palmer Method
• Samples of Spencerian Handwriting
• Wikipedia article on the Palmer Method
• Wikipedia article on the Spencerian Method