S.C. Malone Penmanship Collection

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: scmp

Staff Only

Abstract

The collection consists of 73 examples of penmanship, the work of Samuel Curtis Malone or his associates. Included are alphabets, projects for specific clients, decorative borders and unspecified blanks, and promotional pieces for S.C. Malone’s business in Baltimore, Maryland. There are also 3 items of instructional penmanship from Malone’s teaching endeavors, and approximately 22 items that are sketches, preparatory drawings, and notes. Three items are noted as being by Arthur P. Myers.

Dates

n.d. and 1890-1932

Creator

Malone, S.C. (Samuel Curtis), died 1938 (Artist, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access. Request access at Decker Library's Research Help Desk between 12:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday - Thursday, and 12:00 and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, or email refer@mica.edu to make an appointment.

Biographical / Historical

Samuel Curtis Malone (d. 1938) was the son of John Curtis Malone (1818 - 1908, died in West Virginia) and Sarah J. Malone (1826-1906). At the time of his death, he had worked in Baltimore for about 50 years, and also had a home in Fairmont, West Virginia.

Malone was nationally known as a penman and engrosser, maintaining a studio in Baltimore, MD as early as 1888, doing bookplates, genealogies, coats of arms, crests, diplomas, and certificates. His clients included the City of Baltimore, the University of Maryland, and the B&O Railroad. He did commissions and taught penmanship classes at his office on Charles Street.

S.C. Malone was also a handwriting expert, and often called for court testimony. In 1935, Malone and his partner Arthur P. Myers were asked to testify for the defense in the trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, accused kidnapper of the child of Charles A. LIndbergh, but they declined to testify in Hauptmann’s defense after examining the evidence -- ransom notes -- and concluding that the handwriting was that of Hauptmann.

Extent

98 items

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

Gift, estate of Florence Gaskins Harper. Transferred from MICA's art storage area in 2011.

Related Materials

S.C. Malone's work is included in the following publication: Henning, William E. and Paul Melzer. 2002. An elegant hand: the golden age of American penmanship and calligraphy. New Castle, Del: Oak Knoll Press. Decker library call number: Z43 .H53 2002.

Examples of Malone's work are included in the Zaner-Bloser Penmanship Collection at the Weinberg Memorial Library at the University of Scranton, and available for viewing online at http://digitalservices.scranton.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/zanerbloser.

Alternative Format Available

Selected items are available online in the MICA Digital Library, https://mica.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-mica/action/browseItems?categoryId=970&categoryTypeId=2