Object ID:
1992.67
Title:
Earnest Writing Guide
Creator:
Earnest, Joseph B.
Description:
Wooden writing board with steel spring clasp has two strips of notched wood, one attached vertically along front left edge and one along front right edge of board, to accommodate removable rubber bands that can be stretched horizontally across the board, over clamped paper, and serve as raised-line guides for handwriting. Board consists of ten glued-together vertical wood segments.
Dimensions:
H-13 W-8.74 D-0.5 inches
Date:
ca. 1939
Made by:
Earnest, Joseph B.
Place of Origin:
Vallejo, CA
Provenance:
Joseph B. Earnest, Jr., Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, invented his writing aid shortly after losing his sight ca. 1938. Rubber bands were wrapped across the clipboard, each resting in a notch. The bands would relax to allow the descenders on letters like j and g to be formed. Earnest was a Disciples of Christ minister who was commissioned in the Navy in 1918. His invention was publicized in newspapers all over the U.S., although pencil writing guides for blind users had been available for many years.
Credit Line:
Gift of Joseph B. Earnest, 1992.67
Click to Enlarge
Writing guide
Writing guide