Rand's Introduction to Penmanship: New Series, In Eight Numbers, Number 8
Maj. James Calvin Hemphill was born on May 13, 1851 to Rev. William Ramsey Hemphill (1806-1876) and Hannah Smith Lind Hemphill (1808-1895) in Due West, Abberville County, SC. He had several siblings: John Lind Hemphill (1838-1899), Robert Reid Hemphill (1840-1908), Isabell Hemphill (1845-?), and Mary Elizabeth Hemphill (?-1840). He graduated from Erskine College in 1870, where is father was a professor. He married Rebecca Mariner True Hemphill (1855-1923), in 1878 and it is unclear if they had any children together. James was a journalist, mainly for South Carolina local newspapers, but at one point was a Washington correspondent. He was perhaps most well know for his attempts to discredit then Presidential candidate Woodrow Wilson. He died from injuries resulting from a fall from a train car on November 20, 1927 in Abbeville, Abbeville County, SC.
Philadelphia, PA: B. H. Rand, 1855. A copy book, apart of B. H. Rand's series, "Introduction to Penmanship". This copy book is full of practice penmanship, both in regards to letters of the alphabet and signatures. These exercises are often on the margins of the pages, or over top of other text as the pages themselves are often full of lyrics to a variety of songs, such as "Zula Zong" (spelled Zuola Zong), "When You and I were Young Maggie", and "Home Again". These songs appear to have been either religious in nature or folk songs, most of which appear to have been published circa 1860-1870. These copy book appears to have been used by numerous people to practice their signatures. The majority of the names within the book appear to be connected to the Hemphill family of Due West, South Carolina. The signature most often found in the book is James Calvin Hemphill (1851-1927), but members of his family to appear also appear (mainly siblings and in-laws): John Lind Hemphill (1838-1899), Robert Reid Hemphill (1840-1908), and Eugenia Cornelia Brewton Hemphill (1847-1935). It is also possible that the book originally belonged to James' father, Rev. William Ramsey Hemphill as towards the end of the book there is what appears to be an original 5 page sermon on the bible verse Hebrews: Chapter 4, Verse 9, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God". Additionally there are two short, single page essays on on respect and the bible verse, Revelations Chapter 21, Verse 7. Lastly, one of the last pages has an incomplete alphabet of words. Each letter is given four or seven words that start with the corresponding letter. For example the letter 'M' has: Money, Monkey, Music, March, May, and Mr. This alphabet only goes until the letter 'P'. Brown printed wrappers with penciling. String binding. OCLC 3 (March 2020) Measures 8 1/2" x 6 1/2" General wear, covers partially detached. Penciling.Price: $75.00
Item #29001032