(*Portrait and bio taken with permission
from Michael Sull’s Spencerian Script and Ornamental Penmanship, Volume I.)
Earl A. Lupfer (1890-1967)
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.
