(*Portrait
used with permission from Linda Filling)
Walter J. Filling
(1917- )
Reprinted from the Spring 1995 IAMPETH
Newsletter
Member
Spotlight: Walter J. Filling ‘In his own words’.
When Aline Malone asked me to write a
"Member Spotlight" piece for the Newsletter, I was pleased for the
opportunity to address my friends in IAMPETH, and especially pleased to find
there remains interest in my work and career despite my inactivity these past
few years due to health problems.
My life as a penman began in a one-room
school in Cameron County, Pennsylvania - I was one of the few children who
greatly enjoyed practicing the circles and loops in Penmanship class. The
business side of my career began around the age of 12 when I would go to my
neighbors offering to letter names on their mailboxes for a fee ranging from 25
cents to a dollar, depending on the style. This was during the Depression, and
I had very few takers. I once did a mailbox in Old English for a whole dollar,
and that was a big day for me.
Like many of the boys at that time, I went
to work at a factory (Sylvania) at the age of 15, but I continued practicing my
lettering. I eventually opened a little shop in Emporium where I did lettering
and engraving after my day job at the factory. The local newspaper editor would
often stop by on his way home, watch me work, and conclude, "Filling,
you've got to get the hell out of Emporium," meaning only a city could
provide enough business to support me in this line of work. Because of my love
of engrossing and engraving, I practiced and studied intensely. I took
correspondence courses from the Zanerian College under E.A. Lupfer and
benefited enormously from his guidance. And I kept in mind my father's
philosophy: "Be sure your work is done right, even if it takes you longer
and you don't get paid extra for it."
I finally got to a big city in 1946, when
Sylvania moved the unit I was in to New York City. On fifth Avenue I had
located master engraver and engrosser, Arnold P. Hamersbach, who took me on as
a student. We became good friends, and after a couple of years, he persuaded me
to move on to take a job teaching engraving at the Jeweler's School in New
Castle, Pennsylvania. This experience led to another teaching job at the
Washing Technical School in Washington, DC. In Washington I saw the opportunity
to go into business for myself as an engrosser and engraver and in 1952 I did.
One of the first that gave my fledgling
business a boost was for the American Pharmaceutical Association. The Association
was celebrating its centennial, and I got a contract for 1,500 certificates.
Over, the years I did work for a number- of such organizations as well as
government agencies, including The White House. Eventually I produced documents
for the signature of seven presidents, from Harry Truman to Jimmy Carter. I was
able to attend the signing or awarding of some of these documents. All were
exciting, memorable moments for me. I had a good relationship with Adrian
Barclay Tolley, the expert engrosser at The White House for many years. In 1953
he asked me to join his staff, but by then, I was enjoying my independence, and
I declined.
What was the nature of my work? With the
growing use of mechanized methods of engraving, there was less and less work in
hand engraving. I recall Mrs. Lyndon Johnson was one of the who still had items
brought to me to engrave. Many of the lettering jobs were certificates or
diplomas to be filled in using Engraver's Script, Old English, or whatever
style appropriate. At the other extreme there were elaborate pieces with much
illuminating and gold embellishment involving many hours of work. I have shown
slides of many of these at IAMPETH Conventions. I was in business in Washington
for 27 years. As many of you know, the work is exacting and calls for many long
hours hunched over a drawing table. The physical demands take their toll, and
recurrent back problems were a major reason for my retirement in July 1977. 1
was very fortunate to find a very able person, Virginia Hannah, to buy my business.
I could recommend her to my loyal customers without hesitation. I look back on
my career with satisfaction and with deep gratitude to the many people,
beginning with my parents, who encouraged and guided me and provided many
opportunities.
I found some of my best friends and most
valued colleagues in IAMPETH. I have been a member since 1960 and have
wonderful recollections of happy and stimulating times at our annual
conventions. I am now an Honorary President, and the 1996 Convention in Washington,
DC was dedicated to me - an honor for which my wife, Emily, and I will be ever
grateful. For a while we felt like celebrities!
Since 1977, I have been able to relax and
putter about at the old family farm in Emporium. Some of our IAMPETH friends
have been able to visit us, and we hope others will do the same.
Best wishes to all!
Ed. Note: Walter Filling successfully
lobbied to have "Engrossers" Included in IAMPTH to reflect their
contributions to this organization. In August 1973, it was added by constitutional
amendment. Walter also lettered and designed our official letterhead and logo.
*For more on
Mr. Filling go to: http://americanilluminations.com/
Two Giants of
IAMPETH: