People in the past weren’t born knowing how to write by hand. Rather, they had to learn. Depending on when and where they lived, they might have used a book to instruct them. Such books on penmanship can help you gain a basic familiarity with popular handwriting styles.
What was it? In the first half of the twentieth century, Americans embraced the “Palmer Method” as it allowed them to write quickly. Austin Palmer, who developed this method, first promoted it in print in his 1894 book Palmer’s Guide to Business Writing.
Cartoon showing a writing position that is “Too Low” in A. N. Palmer, Palmer’s Guide to Business Writing, Cedar Rapids, IA: Western Penmanship Publishing Co., 1894, p. 6. (Library of Congress)
Your first step: The example alphabets will give you a sense of the typical penmanship style used in the censuses between 1900 and 1950. Seeing the alphabet will help you isolate the look and feel of the different letters.
Example alphabet described as “Business Capitals by F. B. Moore” in A. N. Palmer, Palmer’s Guide to Business Writing, Cedar Rapids, IA: Western Penmanship Publishing Co., 1894, p. 41. (Library of Congress)
A sample alphabet with capital and lower case letters as well as numbers. A. N. Palmer, The Palmer Method of Business Writing. (New York: The A. N. Palmer Company, 1901), p. 23.
Palmer's books included many illustrations of good and bad posture. A. N. Palmer, The Palmer Method of Business Writing. (New York: The A. N. Palmer Company, 1901), p. 12.
This diagram came from a drill of how to write numbers and symbols. A. N. Palmer, Palmer’s Guide to Business Writing (Cedar Rapids, IA: Western Penmanship Publishing co., 1894), p. 36.
Palmer's books reproduced the alphabets written by businessmen. A. N. Palmer, Palmer’s Guide to Business Writing (Cedar Rapids, IA: Western Penmanship Publishing co., 1894), p. 41.
The Palmer method of handwriting instruction involved repetitive drills such as drawing lines and circles between two lines. A. N. Palmer, The Palmer Method of Business Writing. (New York: The A. N. Palmer Company, 1901), p. 219.