Skip to main content

RARE BOOKS SECTION
We are aware that archive.org is down and we are working on a solution. Thank you for your patience.

HomeHenning Collection

The Henning Collection


The Henning Collection contains the original documents from An Elegant Hand, plus other pieces that did not make it into the book. An Elegant Hand: The Golden Age of Penmanship and Calligraphy by William E. Henning (edited by Paul Melzer) captures the historical and artistic heritage of the artform. Henning’s father, William C. Henning was a penman and the editor of The American Penman.

The collection includes more than 1000 specimens from prestigious penmen key to our history, including Henning, Courtney, Madarasz, Palmer, Brown, Dennis and others. The collection includes letters and correspondence between penmen, photos from the Palmer Method Summer School, bird flourishes, alphabets, books, engrossed pieces and so much more.

IAMPETH acquired the original documents and high resolution scans in September of 2024. The physical collection will be available to see in person at the annual IAMPETH conference. The Henning Collection is a true treasure and we encourage you to use the directory as you navigate through the various specimens.

Henning Collection Directory 


Browse by Artist:

The digital collection has been organized into folders by calligrapher.
 Specimen Information

Study a Style:

The digital collection has been catalogued by style to facilitate studies.
Specimen Log by Style








Henning MS 929 Zaner Henning et al
Penmanship Exhibit Committee 1911. Standing: HG Healy, WC Henning, CP Zaner, GK Post. Seated: EM Huntsinger, WH Patrick.

Henning, William C (1871-1972)


Courtney, Francis B (1867-1952)


Albin, Mervin A (1877-1937)

View Albin's Works 
6 Specimens

Albin 1022

Bartow, Samuel E (1868-1941)

View Bartow's Works 
14 Specimens

Bartow 508

Brown, Edwin L (1869-1958)

View Brown's Works
34 Specimens
Brown 520

Dennis, William E (1858-1924)

View Dennis' Works
153 Specimens
Dennis_996_

Filling, Walter J (1917-1997)

View Filling's Works
6 Specimens
Filling 1041

Henning, William E

View WE Henning's Works
6 Specimens
Henning WE 711

Madarasz, Louis (1859-1910)

View Madarasz's Works
165 Specimens
Madarasz 749

Palmer, Austin N (1860-1927)

View Palmer's Works
51 Specimens
View Palmer's Letters
10 Specimens
Palmer 987

Swank, James W (1835-1921)

View Swank's Works
6 Specimens
Swank 1053

Tufo, Thomas A

View Tufo's Works
4 Specimens
Tufo 679

Zaner, Charles P (1864-1918)

View Zaner's Works
9 Specimens
Zaner 663

More Penmen A-Z

View Penmen A-Z
52 Specimens
Webb 993