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Literary Typewriter
Everyone keyboards now. Here is a real keyboard typewriter. A typewriter patented in 1857 by a doctor from Newport, Rhode Island, has a keyboard that looks like a piano keyboard. It was called the “literary typewriter.” There are examples at the Newport Historical Society and at the Smithsonian. Check it out by clicking on Smithsonian.
Katharine Gibbs decided how to spell her name and recreated major problems for her students and the public. These students at North Conway, New Hampshire, on a skiing trip in 1955 are holding a sign that says Katherine Gibbs School.
When I attended Katharine Gibbs School (1986-1988), the faculty made sure we knew how to spell the name of the school. It was, naturally, a big deal.
I can just imagine the chagrin of the person who made up this rather professional sign. He or she was probably quite annoyed that the students thought it mattered.
I know that I always stressed the correct spelling. I thought that it hurt a job candidate’s credibility when Katharine was misspelled.