An excerpt from A Brief History of the Society of Scribes & Friends, by one of the
founding members, Paul Freeman

Once upon a time there was a little boy whose parents expected big things from him. They wanted him to grow up with legible handwriting. They wanted him to grow up to be a majuscule not a miniscule. Every day he practiced writing. His handwriting was so good they gave him a gold star. When he saw the star glitter and shine he became entranced. So he grew up to be an illuminator. His name is Donald Jackson. Donald became Scribe & Illuminator to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second's Crown Office of The House of Lords. A once upon a time story must have a queen and there she is.

Meanwhile, back in America there was another little boy. He was busy learning everything there was to learn about inks. The first thing he learned was not to drink it. Then he learned not to spill it. Ink makes stains on the rug and also in shirt pockets. Soon he learned paper and pens went well together and his horizons grew. So did he. This is Louis Strick, President of the Pentalic Corporation. He also grew up to be an angel and when people talk to him they look over his shoulder to see his wings. This is turning out to be a fine once upon a time story indeed

One day Donald and Louis met over tea and crumpets. They made a momentous decision. It led to the birth of the Society of Scribes. It led to hard work and a great deal of faith. Louis founded the Calligraphy Workshop in New York City on Fifth Avenue south of Saks and Bonwit Teller. Donald promised he would come from London and teach the first Workshop in Illumination. One, for three weeks and a Mini-Workshop on a weekend.

Donald arrived and was detained at Customs. They tried to send him back to England. He was carrying fists full of goose feathers and turkey quills, gold leaf and the dreaded Chinese stick ink. You know what happens when you try to explain to people what calligraphy and illumination are. I tell people I am a jet pilot or a piano player, it's easier.

Donald was an expert in child psychology. One day as we were sitting over a cup of coffee he dipped his spoon in the coffee and wrote on the table cloth in perfect Italic, "impossible to form a calligraphy group in New York". I took the table cloth home, after asking Donald to sign it. I swore we would make him drink his words. The child psychology worked.

A small meeting was held at Lili Wronker's home and Lili sent out postal cards inviting the Workshop members to the first meeting on September 14, 1974. Who came? The Founding Members of The Society. Who are they? Elizabeth Boucher, Carlos Byron, Cherie Cone, Abigail Chapman, Peter Chronis, Bob Hostetter, Sigfried Heiles, Leona Kaufman, Alice, Frances Manola, Clark Mills, Polly McFarlin, Emily Shields, Milly Van Leuven, Nancy Westheimer, Lili Wronker, Emanuel Weiner and myself. Everyone came except Ward Dunham. The "thug" had left town. We were all so happy to see each other again.

We decided not to structure the group too tightly. In an age of computers and conglomerates we would form a little island of serenity away from rigid rules and impersonal regulations. Little did we know. We knew what we did want. We wanted to learn and to do. We wanted lectures, demonstrations and a place to exchange ideas and information. We would have a Newsletter, exhibitions and a working relationship with already existing societies.

But first we had to have a name. C.I.A. was suggested, Calligraphers & Illuminators Association. The original C.I.A. objected. So did we. For three months we made lists of possibilities. We were more than calligraphiles. We were not all calligraphers and illuminators. But we were all scribes.

So was born the Society of Scribes.

Illustration by Paul Freeman