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ZANER-BLOSER

Zaner-Bloser, Inc., headquartered in Columbus, OH, publishes research-based handwriting, reading, writing, spelling, and vocabulary programs.

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Company History

ZANERIAN COLLEGE OF PENMANSHIP

Zanerian College of Penmanship

Founded by Master Penman Charles Paxton Zaner, the company’s history can be traced back to 1888 when it was known as the Zanerian College of Penmanship. Zaner was able to streamline the Spencerian handwriting method—which was largely used in the 19th century—by adapting a handwriting approach that was more practical for modern business documents and personal communication. Zaner’s enthusiasm about this utilitarian art inspired him to open a school that would prepare students for successful careers in the penmanship industry.

In 1891, Zaner sold shares of the Zanerian College of Penmanship to another skilled penman, Elmer Ward Bloser (forming the partnership that later created the Zaner-Bloser Company). While most penmanship schools at the time focused on training students for careers in ornamental writing, the Zanerian College emphasized the importance of an eclectic education by teaching psychology, physiology, and English composition.

THE ZANER-BLOSER COMPANY BEGINS

In 1895, the college became known as the Zaner-Bloser Company, which continued to offer penmanship courses and began publishing professional materials about handwriting and illustration and selling handwriting supplies. The company published The Zaner Method of Arm Movement in 1904, making the simplified Zanerian writing style more readily accessible to children in elementary schools all over the United States.

In 1972, Zaner-Bloser, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Highlights for Children.

Contributors

CHARLES PAXTON ZANER

Charles Paxton Zaner

Charles Paxton Zaner, born near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania in 1864, began showing a fondness for handwriting early in his youth. In 1882, he enrolled in G. W. Michael's Pen Art Hall in Oberlin, Ohio. After graduation, Zaner worked as a penman at two different business colleges before deciding to open his own school in 1888—the Zanerian College of Penmanship.

In 1889, fellow Master Penman Lloyd Kelchner became a partner with Zaner and two years later, Elmer Ward Bloser—another skilled penman—joined the partnership. That same year, Kelchner left the business arrangement, leading Zaner and Bloser to become equal partners in what had then become the Zaner-Bloser Company.

Zaner built a reputation for himself as a Master Penman. He maximized his exposure and recognition in the industry with monthly magazines that included countless lessons in penmanship and pen art, for which he enlisted the help of other industry experts. This, as well as numerous other endeavors, established Zaner as a pivotal figure in the Golden Age of Ornamental Penmanship.

ELMER WARD BLOSER

Elmer Ward Bloser was born in 1865 and raised on his parents’ farm in Pennsylvania. His interest in writing was apparent even as a child, when he sold writing inks and supplies to neighborhood children. In 1883, Bloser began attending G.W. Michael’s Pen Art Hall , where his writing acumen eventually earned him a position as penmanship instructor.

Bloser’s penmanship career advanced with such success that he was considered one of the finest in the industry. In 1891, he purchased shares of the Zanerian College of Penmanship, which later became the Zaner-Bloser Company. After Charles Paxton Zaner's untimely death in 1918, Bloser purchased the company’s remaining shares and continued to manage Zaner-Bloser’s successful operation until his own death in 1929.

MICHAEL SULL

New York native Michael Sull is internationally known for his penmanship expertise with over 30 years of experience. Sull’s career, however, didn’t begin in the penmanship industry. After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in forestry, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. It wasn’t until his discharge from the Service that he began to pursue his interest in calligraphy. Sull’s passion for penmanship has lent itself to a lengthy career in the field, enabling him to found a calligraphy guild, work as a calligrapher and lettering artist at Hallmark, and start his own ornamental penmanship company.

Today, Sull serves as Master Penman for Zaner-Bloser, performing public demonstrations and representing the company’s dedication to handwriting excellence. He is also the current director of the Master Penmanship Program at IAMPETH (The International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting) and founder of the Spencerian Saga, an intensive week-long workshop devoted to Spencerian Script and Ornamental Penmanship. He currently resides with his wife, Debra, in Gardner, Kansas.

Zaner-Bloser Today

Today, Zaner-Bloser remains an industry leader in handwriting instruction and a nationally recognized publisher of reading, writing, spelling, and vocabulary programs. The company continues to honor its rich heritage by partnering with Master Penman Michael Sull, whose mentor was a 1909 graduate of the Zanerian College of Penmanship. Through its affiliation with this world-renowned penmanship expert and its ongoing dedication in providing students with quality educational materials, Zaner-Bloser reflects the same mission expressed by its original founders, over a century ago.