Learn American Calligraphy

Take a visual trip around the United States, with stop-offs in many locations and insights on every page, and illuminate the past and future of American calligraphy. For centuries, American calligraphers have accepted the legacy of the classic Roman, Gothic, and Italic calligraphy they inherited from Europe without realizing that there are more alphabet treasures to be found in a larger pool of uniquely American alphabet designs. Wild West, New Deal, Prairie--all were made in America, and they express ideas that reveal national character. These styles come from here and nowhere else. Much like American music, language, fashion, and philosophy, calligraphy has matured, moved on from its origins, and become, in the words of the man who created Spencerian handwriting, "even more American." Learn American Calligraphy is the latest book from Margaret Shepherd, author of one of the all-time bestselling books on calligraphy, Learn Calligraphy. This new book focuses on American calligraphy, which has its own identity, distinct from the alphabets inherited from Europe. As a lifelong calligrapher, Shepherd surveys the landscape of unique styles and describes how two dozen alphabets originated and what shaped them. Simple diagrams and exercises help you try out the styles for yourself. Some letters represent a region or a major era of art; some bear witness to social upheaval or culture change; many are accessible to beginners; and a few contradict the established view of American history.

"This book includes just the sort of information that broadens peoples' minds. And for calligraphers, sparks some inspiration and maybe some gratitude for the gifts and contributions of our First Nations people." --Karin Clark, author/illustrator specializing in art and culture of the indigenous nations of the Pacific Northwest Coast "Finally! A remarkable work that showcases America's own unique contributions into calligraphic design and the usage thereof. Ms. Shepherd has done her research throughout this historical journey of our nation's past and present, bringing to light a wealth of knowledge for students of both the written and generated word." --Michael R. Sull, Master Penman, author of Sull's Manual of Advanced Penmanship "What a comprehensive guide to calligraphy! An amazing collection of historic facts, and a wonderful guide for those who want to explore the joy of calligraphy and lettering through the ages. I'm looking forward to the time I can start to explore the text." --Dennis Stephan, modern Fraktur artist "From the glyphs and symbols of the first Americans to present day lettering trends, Margaret Shepherd has created a source volume from which will pique the interest of letterers. She has delved into the history of the evolution of lettering in America, and has provided diverse avenues for the study of lettering. I am happy she has covered such varied forms as graffiti, the evolution of the American style of handwriting, the important development of the Cherokee syllabary, and trends in calligraphy and commercial lettering of the early twentieth century to present. This is definitely a book I will use as reference time and time again in my collection." --Randall M. Hasson, coeditor of The Speedball Textbook 24th Edition

Margaret Shepherd is a well-known calligrapher and author who's helped make calligraphy accessible to a large public worldwide. Her forty-five-year career has ranged from lettering thousands of MIT diplomas to restoring the ceiling inscriptions in classical Greek at Boston College. Ms. Shepherd has been interviewed by CBS, NPR, and the BBC, reviewed in The New York Times, and profiled in the Boston Globe. Her own calligraphy is in the Smithsonian and has been exhibited in solo shows at Yale Divinity School and the Boston Atheneum. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.