Society for Italic Handwriting explained

Formation:	^[1]
Founder:	Alfred Fairbank James Wardrop^[2]
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Main Organ:	Writing Matters^[3]
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The Society for Italic Handwriting (SIH) is a British organisation promoting the use of italic handwriting, and better and more legible handwriting in general. It was founded in 1952 by Alfred Fairbank and other members of the Society of Scribes & Illuminators.^{[1] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

The Scotsman wrote in 1956 that the society "did a good deal to rouse public interest and make “scribes” of ordinary or indifferent penmen".^[8]

History

In 1954, the society's aims were said to be "to extend the use of cursive hands based on Renaissance models and to increase the pleasure and skill of its members in writing", and "to help teachers who would like their pupils to write an italic hand but are perplexed to know how best to make a beginning".^[9] Fairbank wrote of the society:^[10]

The membership subscription in 1952 was ten shillings.^[11]

Teachers were particularly represented among members of the society in its early days.^[12]

A Scottish branch was started in 1957.^[13]

In 1955, Fairbank said that the society had 1400 members.^[13] In 1966 it was said to have members in 29 countries, with more than 400 members in America.^[14] In 1999 it had 500 members.^[15] In 2008 it had 300 members and as described as "growing fast".^[16]

Its archives are held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.^[12]

Exhibitions

In 1958 it put on an exhibition in Copenhagen, using the work of children from Casterton Secondary School.^[17]

In 1959 it supplied samples for exhibitions in America.^[18] This was part of a project with the New Jersey Association of Art Teachers.^[19]

In 1965 the society put on an exhibition at Caldwell College.^[20]

In 1966 it held an exhibition at King's Lynn.^[14]

In 1977/78 it put on an exhibition, A Show of Hands, at the St Pancras Library, London, and then in 1979 at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.^{[21] [22]}

Activities

Education

The society has published educational resources, worksheets and examples of italic handwriting.^[12] In 2004 it was reported as wishing to support teachers working at Key Stage 1.^[23]

Awards

The society awards prizes for excellence in italic handwriting.^[24] In 1978 it ran an international competition with children's and adults' sections.^[25]

Journal

The society publishes a journal, which was originally called the Bulletin, later the Journal, by 1984 Signature, and from 2000 Writing Matters.^{[26] [3] [27]}

Presidents

• Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley.^[28] He told schoolchildren "I'm sure that eventually - it may not be in my time, but it will be in your lives - this style will become the writing of the country, as it was in the days of Elizabeth I."^[29]
• Sybil Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley^[30]
• John Betjeman^[31]
• Humphrey Lyttelton, who wrote, "'Calligraphy is very much like music. To start with you have to do some work reproducing the correct shapes. Then you can improvise, so long as it is still based on the original'".^[32]
• Ewan Clayton^[33]

The first president of the Scottish branch was Eric Linklater.^[13]

Chairs

• Joseph Compton, first chair^{[34] [35] [36]}
• Theodore McEvoy^[37]
• Patrick Nairne^[38]
• Foster Neville^{[33] [39]}

Notable members

• Patrick Barry (vice-president)^[40]
• Alec Clifton-Taylor (vice-president)^[41]
• Tom Gourdie (honorary life member)^[9]
• Anna Hornby (honorary secretary)^[42]
• Mark Francis Russell CBE (trustee)^[43]
• Marjorie Wise, teacher^[44]

Further reading

• "The Society for Italic Handwriting", Anna Hornby, in Calligraphy and Palaeography, edited by AS Osley (1965)
• A Show of Hands: An Exhibition by the Society of Italic Handwriting, Revised with the Addition of the Original Manuscripts and Printed Books from the Bodleian Library : at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, 5 February - 31 March 1979 (1979)
• Dance of the Pen: Celebrating Fifty Years of the Society for Italic Handwriting 1952-2002, by Foster Neville, John Fricker and Ludwig Tan (Roundtuit Publishing, 2002)

External links

• Official website
• The society's entry at the Charity Commission
• Archives of the society

Notes and References

1. Book: Child, H. . Calligraphy Today . Taplinger . Pentalic Book . 1979 . 978-0-8008-1186-0 . 10 Sep 2023 . 31.
2. Alexander . J. J. G. . Review: Bartolomeo Sanvito: The Life and Work of a Renaissance Scribe by de la Mare and Nuvoloni . Renaissance Quarterly . 2011 . 64 . 3 . 896–899 . 10.1086/662866 . 10.1086/662866 . 10 September 2023.
3. Book: Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory . R.R. Bowker . v. 4 . 2000 . 978-0-935744-17-0 . 10 Sep 2023 . 8819.
4. Him . George . OBITUARY: MR. ALFRED J. FAIRBANK . Journal of the Royal Society of Arts . 1982 . 130 . 5311 . 433–434 . 41373406 . 10 September 2023.
5. Book: Brown, K. . Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics . Elsevier Science . v. 1-14 . 2005 . 978-0-08-054784-8 . 10 Sep 2023 . 2466.
6. Book: Rundle, D. . The Renaissance Reform of the Book and Britain . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge Studies in Palaeography and Codicology . 2019 . 978-1-107-19343-7 . 10 Sep 2023 . 18.
7. Book: Graddol . D. . Leith . D. . Swann . J. . English: History, Diversity, and Change . Open University . English Language - Routledge . 1996 . 978-0-415-13117-9 . 10 Sep 2023 . 70.
8. News: Scribes and Illuminators . 2 October 1956. 10 September 2023 . The Scotsman.
9. News: An Old Italian (Cursive) Custom . 10 September 2023 . Fifeshire Advertiser . 21 August 1954.
10. News: Fairbank . Alfred . A GRACEFUL CURE FOR THE COMMON SCRAWL: A FAIR ITALIC HAND . 10 September 2023 . Illustrated London News . 12 March 1955.
11. Journal of the Royal Society of Arts . 12 December 1952 . 101 . 4888 . 70 . General Notes . 11 September 2023 . RSA The royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce. 41364997 .
12. Book: Lomas, E. . Guide to the Archive of Art and Design: Victoria and Albert Museum, London . Taylor & Francis . 2019 . 978-1-135-97097-0 . 10 Sep 2023 . 225.
13. News: Italic Handwriting . 10 September 2023 . The Scotsman . 5 June 1957.
14. News: Display of Italic Handwriting . 10 September 2023 . Lynn Advertiser . 8 July 1966.
15. News: Mann . Natasha . Nibs make the personal point . 10 September 2023 . The Scotsman . 1 April 1999.
16. News: Kirkwood . Holly . The Writing's on the Wall - but Will we be Able to Read it? . Country Life . 23 July 2008.
17. News: Good handwriting a courtesy to others; delights those who write . 10 September 2023 . Stamford Mercury . 16 May 1958.
18. News: Cholmondeley italic tours the States . 10 September 2023 . Winsford Chronicle . 28 February 1959.
19. News: Casterton Calligraphy . 10 September 2023 . Stamford Mercury . 20 March 1959.
20. Italic Exhibit at Caldwell . The Catholic Advocate . 25 March 1965 . 14 . 14 . 10 September 2023.
21. Web site: Society for Italic Handwriting exhibition . Victoria and Albert Museum . 10 September 2023 . 2009.
22. Book: Bodleian Library . Society for Italic Handwriting . A Show of Hands: An Exhibition by the Society of Italic Handwriting, Revised with the Addition of the Original Manuscripts and Printed Books from the Bodleian Library : at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, 5 February - 31 March, 1979 . Bodleian Library . 1979 . 10 Sep 2023 .
23. Book: Chivers, M. . Dyslexia and Other Learning Difficulties: A Parent's Guide . Need2Know . Need-2-Know . 2004 . 978-1-86144-042-6 . 10 Sep 2023 . 44.
24. Book: Batten, J. . Awards, Honors and Prizes . Cengage Gale . Awards, Honors & Prizes: Volume 2: International & Foreign . v. 2 . 1997 . 978-0-7876-1347-1 . 10 Sep 2023 . 233.
25. News: PRIZES FOR ITALIC WRITING . 10 September 2023 . Kent & Sussex Courier . 28 July 1978.
26. Fern. Alan M.. Reviews. Calligraphy and Palaeography: Essays Presented to Alfred Fairbank on His 70th Birthday . The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy . 1966 . 37 . 1 . 4305752 . 10 September 2023.
27. Book: Liu, C. . New Excursions from the Hall of Harmonious Wind . E.J. Brill . 1984 . 978-90-04-06976-3 . 10 Sep 2023 . 311.
28. News: Lord Rocksavage presents school handwriting awards . 10 September 2023 . Nantwich Chronicle . 21 July 1966.
29. News: The Marquess of Cholmondeley visits his school - And talks about his handwriting. 10 September 2023 . Nantwich Chronicle . 28 June 1958.
30. News: Mandy's disappointment . 11 September 2023 . Lynn Advertiser . 1 July 1986.
31. Web site: Presidents Past and Present . The Society for Italic Handwriting . 11 September 2023.
32. News: The old Etonian gives jazz a touch of class. Whittaker. Jackie. 10 September 2023 . Staffordshire Sentinel . 5 October 1993.
33. Neville . Foster . Summer 2021 . A Word from the Chair . Writing Matters . 85 . 11 September 2023.
34. News: G. CT. Crusade for better writing. Middlesex County Times. 29 November 1952.
35. News: Man of distinction . West London Observer . 14 June 1957.
36. News: Present building expected to close TIMSBURY PLAN FOR NEW SCHOOL . Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer. 1 July 1960.
37. Web site: Home for the Day: A Saturday Supplement to Woman's Hour . Programme Index . BBC . 11 September 2023 . 24 February 1968 . A Fine Italic Hand: AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR THEODORE McEvoy, Chairman of the Society for Italic Handwriting, talks to Teresa McGonagle.
38. News: Norton-Taylor . Richard . Sir Patrick Nairne obituary . 11 September 2023 . The Guardian . 5 June 2013.
39. Web site: THE SOCIETY FOR ITALIC HANDWRITING - Charity 287889 . 2023-10-01 . register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk . en-GB.
40. News: Obituary: Abbot Patrick Barry, headmaster, cleric . 11 September 2023 . The Scotsman . 11 March 2016.
41. Alec Clifton-Taylor, O.B.E., Hon. F.R.I.B.A. . Annual Report 1985-86 . 1986 . 8 . 11 September 2023 . The Kensington Society.
42. https://archives.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/repositories/2/resources/3048
43. Web site: THE SOCIETY FOR ITALIC HANDWRITING - Charity 287889 . 2023-10-01 . register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk . en-GB.
44. News: Florey . Kitty Burns . Does Handwriting Still Matter In A Digital World? . 11 September 2023 . Huff Post . 27 November 2013.