Library hand

The intention was to ensure uniformity and legibility in the handwritten cards of library catalogs.[1] The penmanship was based on Edison's own handwriting in which he stated that "I had perfected a style of handwriting which would allow me to take legibly from the wire, long hand, forty-seven and even fifty-four words a minute".The particular type of ink, inkstands, pens, penholders, and erasers was specified.The standards for lettering were dictated in regard to size, slant, spacing, special letters and figures, and even the proper posture and position of the writer was outlined.[3] The teaching of library hand declined after the widespread introduction of the typewriter in the early 20th century.
'Joined hand' from John Cotton Dana's A Library Primer (Chicago: Library Bureau, 1899), page 71
The first card written west of Cambridge in library hand
Cambridgehandwritinglibrary schoolslibrary catalogsMelvil DeweyThomas Edisonlibrary schoollibrariestypewriterWayback MachineCambridge University LibraryMargo BurnshandwrittenscriptsRusticUncialVisigothicMerovingianCarolingianInsular scriptBeneventanBlackletterRotundaBastardaGeorgianEarly CyrillicSerbian CyrillicBosančicaGlagoliticAngularCourt handLombardicCursiveChanceryJohannineHumanistItalicSecretaryTechnical letteringCopperplateSpencerianKurrentRussian cursiveSkoropisUkrainian skoropysShorthandTeaching scriptsBarchowsky Fluent HandwritingD'NealianGetty-Dubay ItalicGrundschriftPalmerSütterlinVereinfachte AusgangsschriftZaner-Bloserlibrary scienceinformation sciencewriting system