(*Portrait
and bio taken with permission from Michael Sull’s Spencerian Script and
Ornamental Penmanship, Volume I.)
Earl A. Lupfer
(1890-1974)
Born in
Irvona, Pennsylvania, Earl Lupfer spent nearly his entire working career at the
Zanerian College of Penmanship. He studied at the Zanerian as a pupil in
1908-1909. His skill at ornamental penmanship was far above his fellow pupils,
and Mr. Zaner took a special interest in furthering young Lupfer's talents.
Within a few years Mr. Lupfer's abilities were exemplary, and Zaner offered him
a faculty position at the College. There he worked into the 1950's, teaching
countless men and women through the years. A tall, lanky man, Earl Lupfer was
an inspirational teacher. He became the last principal of the Zanerian College,
working with Parker Zaner Bloser, the son of E. W. Bloser, in the late 1950's.
Although there were many highly skilled penmen who taught at the Zanerian, it
is thought that none had a longer teaching tenure or contributed articles for
The Business Educator over a longer period of time than did Mr. Lupfer. He was
the most enduring classroom teacher of penmanship in the 20th century.
