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.

Margaret Shepherd is known to thousands of calligraphers as writer, artist, and teacher. She has written 20 books on calligraphy, including the top-selling Learn Calligraphy, the classic book that introduced so many calligraphers to the art.

She has taught about the basics of calligraphy at many, many colleges and interest groups, and lectured at MIT's “Charm School” about the importance of handwritten notes. She has given workshops all over the world, from Uzbekistan to Hanoi to Helsinki. She lives and works in historic Boston, where she has mapped 26 letters of interest along “The Calligraphy Trail.” Her memorials to the founders of Boston fill the walls of First Church.

Calligraphy fans can visit Margaret’s blog for free printouts: practice guidelines; a cat calligraphy design; and her "An Abecedary to Color" where she offers a collection of six capital letters every week. Adventurous scribes can learn a new calligraphy alphabet every day for a year.
Margaret considers beginners the most important members of the calligraphy community, and aims to inspire, encourage, and challenge them. Her readers feel they know her as if they have sat in her classes. Almost all of her books are written by hand in her calligraphy, and liberally illustrated with a wealth of drawings, diagrams, guidelines, and sample projects.

Ms. Shepherd’s most recent book, Learn American Calligraphy, celebrates American calligraphy in all its rich variety. As one reviewer said “Finally! A remarkable work that showcases America’s own unique contributions into calligraphic design…”  

"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