Daniel Leonard passed away in Royalton on this day in 1837. Leonard was known as a writing master.

Penmanship used to be a matter of great importance, not only for everyday communication, but as an indicator of social status and education. It was for these reasons that teachers were trained specifically for teaching writing, and were called writing masters.

Typically, a writing master would travel from town to town, posting notices or advertising his presence in the local paper. Penmanship would be taught in two or three week courses, with some classes running from dawn until late at night.

Penmanship sample courtesy American Writing Masters And Copybooks by Ray Nash, available in the Vermont Historical Society's collections.

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