(*Portrait
and bio taken with permission from Michael Sull’s Spencerian Script and
Ornamental Penmanship, Volume I.)
Lloyd M. Kelchner
(1862-1948)
One of
the finest all around penmen who ever took pen to ink, Lloyd Kelchner's work in
ornamental penmanship, pen art illustration and offhand flourishing served as
an inspiration to thousands of individuals for 60 years. Well into his
eighties, he continued to produce exquisite work.
Born in
Light Street, Pennsylvania, Mr. Kelchner's skills in writing were developed
while attending G. W. Michael's Pen Art Hall in Oberlin, Ohio in the early
1880's. It was in 1883 that he met C. P. Zaner and E. W. Bloser, fellow
students with Kelchner at Michael's school. Four years later, Kelchner and
Bloser secured positions and taught in Delaware, Ohio, and later, both men
worked at the Euclid Avenue Business College in Cleveland. A strong friendship
grew between these men and Zaner that lasted their lifetimes.
In 1889,
Lloyd Kelchner purchased a half interest in the Zanerian College of Penmanship
in Columbus, Ohio which had been established the year before by Mr. Zaner In 1891,
Mr. Bloser came to Columbus and purchased a third interest in the Zanerian. The
partnership ran for almost a year when Kelchner sold his interest and left for
Dixon, Illinois to teach in the Northern Illinois Normal College. He then
accepted a teaching position at the Highland Park College in Des Moines, Iowa.
The year
1909 is recorded as the point in Kelchner's career when he moved to Seattle,
Washington and became a teacher in the Seattle Business College. He remained in
Seattle the rest of his life. Over the years he taught thousands of students
engrossed countless resolutions, and lettered the names on many thousands of
diplomas. He contributed articles, lessons, and samples of his own work to
various penmanship magazines, particularly the Business Educator, for several
decades, and was particularly known for his unique style of bird flourishing.
Each year for over 40 years he made a tradition of designing his own Christmas
cards. These colorful cards featured beautiful penmanship and dramatic bird
flourishes, and were prized by his friends and associates.
Lloyd
Kelchner kept in close contact with the penmanship profession, maintaining
strong friendships and earning the respect of penmen everywhere. He passed away
after a short illness on July 5, 1948.
