So, I picked up a curious object from the 'Bay and I'm trying to do some research.
It's a broadside advertising Spencerian Penmanship classes by a Professor Wing who studied under P.R. Spencer.
It claims that he was at that time (approx 1868 or so) a faculty member of the Iron City Commercial College. Iron City Commercial College was originally founded in 1851 as Duff's Mercantile College, the fist commercial college in the US, and is still in business as Everest Institute's Pittsburgh campus.
There are numerous testimonials, including one from P.R. Spencer himself written in Geneva, Ohio.
Mr. Wing
Dear Student: - On your leaving the Geneva Writing Class, wherein you have labored diligently and ingeniously, securing an high degree of excellence, and mastering the theory of "The Art of Arts," permit me to say that I believe you will be in the path of duty, should you devote your time to instructing the youth of the country in the use of the pen. I am confident of your ability to do good, and bid you success therein.
P.R. Spencer
Author and Teacher of Spencerian or Semi-angular Penmanship
The broadside says that Professor Wing "visits this place during his leave of absence, and will remain four weeks only, during which time he will give private instruction in his Art and the Science of Accounts to all who may desire it. Having attended, some years ago the Lectures of Prof. P. R. Spencer, Sen., now decieased, whose works on Penmanship have long been before the public, together with an actual experience fo ten years as teacher enables him to guarantee entire satisfaction to every patron"
The poster is about 20.5" long and 7.25" wide. I will get it framed and preserved because it's so interesting. And my wife's from Pittsburgh, so I know where the building used to be, on the corner of Penn Ave. and St. Clair.
Here's an ad for Iron City Commercial College from 1863, and here's the photograph of the poster. I haven't gotten good photos of it yet, so this will have to do.
So, let me know if anyone has any info on Professor Wing. He may well have just been one of the thousands of undistinguished penmanship teachers at the time. It would be interesting to find out.