Simone Lawson
The original US Constitution was not written using a font, but rather handwritten in iron gall ink using a quill, likely made from goose feathers. The document was penned by Jacob Shallus, a Pennsylvania Assistant Clerk, in 1787. Shallus' biographer, Arthur Plotnik, suggests that the distinctive calligraphic headings, including We the People, may have been written by Shallus' 14-year-old trainee son, Francis. The handwriting style used is known as Roundhand, which was common at the time. Today, there are digital fonts inspired by the Constitution's unique script, such as We the People and American Scribe, that aim to replicate the elegant style of the original document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Transcriber | Jacob Shallus |
| Transcriber's occupation | Pennsylvania Assistant Clerk |
| Transcriber's payment | $30 |
| Year of transcription | 1787 |
| Writing instrument | Quill, likely goose |
| Ink | Iron gall ink |
| Material written on | Parchment, animal skin |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Font style | Roundhand |
| Font name | We the People |
| Font availability | Free for personal use |
| Font website | k-type.com |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was handwritten, not typed
The US Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, a Pennsylvania Assistant Clerk, in 1787. Shallus was paid $30, which was considered a modest monthly wage at the time. The document was written on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from a goose. The style of handwriting used is known as "Roundhand," which was common at the time and is considered an early form of American cursive.
The distinctive style of the Constitution has even inspired font creations, such as the “We the People” font, which is based on the calligraphic headings of the original document. This font has been made freely available for personal use, including by students, teachers, and educational institutions. However, it's important to clarify that the Constitution itself was not typeset using a font but rather carefully handwritten, which is why there may be slight variations in the lettering throughout the document.
The act of handwriting was a significant part of economic life before the invention of typewriters in the late 19th century. Armies of clerks would handwrite business correspondence, and stock certificates, mortgages, and indentures were engrossed by trained calligraphers. Shop signs, advertisements, and billboards were also designed and lettered by skilled sign painters. Thus, it is not surprising that the US Constitution, an important historical document, was also handwritten, reflecting the skills and tools of the time.
While the handwritten nature of the Constitution adds to its uniqueness and historical significance, it is also a reminder of how far we have come in terms of technology. Today, we take written words for granted, seeing them all around us on various devices and surfaces. We can easily replicate and distribute documents with the click of a button, something that was unimaginable when the Constitution was being carefully transcribed by hand over a weekend more than 200 years ago.
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Jacob Shallus transcribed the document
Jacob Shallus, a Pennsylvania Assistant Clerk, transcribed the original Constitution document by hand over a weekend in 1787. Shallus was thirty-seven years old at the time and was an experienced calligrapher, having engrossed many official documents. He was likely recommended for the job by Thomas Mifflin, a Pennsylvania Convention delegate who had signed several acts engrossed by Shallus.
Shallus was paid $30 for his work, which was a modest monthly wage at the time. He transcribed the document onto four sheets of parchment, measuring 28-3/4 inches by 23-5/8 inches, using a goose quill and black ink made of iron filings in oak gall. Shallus wrote over 25,000 letters in nearly 4,500 words, creating an accurate transcription of the draft in about 40 hours.
Shallus' name does not appear on the document, and his identity as the transcriber was only discovered in 1937 during the 150th anniversary of the Constitution. Shallus was the son of German immigrants and had served as a quartermaster in the First Pennsylvania Battalion during the Revolutionary War. After the war, he became involved in politics and was appointed assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, a position he held for several years.
In addition to transcribing the Constitution, Shallus also engrossed two resolutions approved by the Convention, which called for Congress to transmit the Constitution to state legislatures and suggested the procedure for implementing the Constitution after ratification. Shallus' work is on display in the Rotunda of the Charters of Freedom at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
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Shallus was paid $30 for his work
The original copy of the United States Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, a Pennsylvania Assistant Clerk, over a weekend in 1787. Shallus was a 37-year-old experienced calligrapher and engrosser, who was paid $30 for his work on the Constitution, which was a modest monthly wage at the time. The payment was made by the Confederation Congress for the transcription of the Constitution on four sheets of parchment measuring 28 and three-quarter inches. Shallus had around 40 hours to transcribe the drafts, notes, and revisions, and he completed his task on time.
Shallus was a busy man, serving as Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. He was also a veteran of the Revolutionary War, where he fought in Canada and served as a battalion quartermaster under Col. John Philip de Haas. Shallus had experience in engrossing official documents, and he was likely recommended for the job of transcribing the Constitution by Thomas Mifflin, a Pennsylvania Convention delegate.
Shallus's work on the Constitution was not without errors, and he added an errata note at the end of the document to list minor mistakes and corrections. Despite these errors, Shallus's handwriting was elegant and dignified, and his work on the Constitution is admired even today. Shallus's biographer, Arthur Plotnik, writes in "The Man Behind the Quill" that Shallus's script was "as dignified as the prose and as bold as the concepts of the momentous document."
Shallus's identity as the engrosser of the Constitution remained unknown for 150 years, until historian John Clement Fitzpatrick discovered his name in 1937. Shallus's work on the Constitution is a testament to his skill and competence as a calligrapher and engrosser, and his contribution to the creation of the United States Constitution is now recognized and appreciated.
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we-the-people''>The font is called 'We the People'
The font is called "We the People". This is a reference to the famous preamble to the Constitution, which begins with the words "We the People". The font is designed to resemble the original calligraphy of the Constitution, which was transcribed by hand and is not a digital font.
The Constitution was written by Jacob Shallus, a Pennsylvania Assistant Clerk, over a weekend in 1787. Shallus was paid $30, a modest monthly wage at the time. The use of a quill, likely a goose quill, gives the document a distinctive style with certain idiosyncrasies. Shallus' biographer, Arthur Plotnik, suggests that the headings "We the People" and "Article" may have been inserted by Shallus' 14-year-old trainee son, Francis. This suggestion is supported by the unconventional backslant of the headings and the potential inconsistency in the structure of the letter "n".
The "We the People" font includes some alternates, such as a Bickham-style "W" and the letters "t", "h", and "n" with added flourishes. It also offers two simpler forms of the letter "A", ornamental flourishes, and a round middle dot/decimal point. The punctuation marks are drawn in a square, calligraphic style, but an alternative round period/full stop is also available. The licensed typeface can be purchased from k-type.com, which includes two additional fonts with a vertical aspect that may be more suitable for graphic design layouts.
The "We the People Upright" and "We the People Upright Bold" variations retain the distinctive style, with a slightly heavier weight that adds emphasis. The original, backslanted "We the People" font is free for personal use and can be freely used by students, teachers, and educational institutions.
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The font is available for free online
The font used to write the US Constitution was not a font by today's definition, as it was not made by mechanical means. Instead, it was handwritten in iron gall ink using a quill, likely a goose quill, by Jacob Shallus, a Pennsylvania Assistant Clerk, in 1787. Shallus' biographer, Arthur Plotnik, notes that the calligraphic headings may have been inserted by Shallus' 14-year-old trainee son, Francis. The style of the handwriting has been described as "Roundhand," with a distinctive backslant.
While the exact font used for the US Constitution is not available as a digital font, there are similar fonts available for free online. One option is the "US Declaration" font, which is free for personal use and can be found on graphicdesign.stackexchange.com. This font is designed to resemble the handwriting in the US Constitution. Additionally, the "We The People" font, which is inspired by the heading of the US Constitution, is also available for free for personal use, including by students and teachers, on dafont.com.
The "We The People" font includes some Alternates, such as a Bickham-style W, flourishes on the letters t, h, and n, two simpler forms of the letter A, and some Roman numerals. It also includes ornamental flourishes and a round middle dot/decimal point. The punctuation marks are drawn in a square, calligraphic style, but an alternative round period/full stop is available for use with currency and numerals. The full phrase "We the People" can be easily accessed using a keystroke shortcut. For those who find the backslant awkward, a licensed typeface with a vertical aspect is available for purchase from k-type.com.
It is worth noting that the ability to download and use these fonts may vary depending on the software and applications being used. For example, some fonts may be compatible with specific versions of Microsoft Office, while others may require the use of OpenOffice or similar software. Additionally, saving and sharing documents in PDF format can provide more flexibility in font choices, as the recipient does not need to have the specific font installed on their device to view it correctly.
Overall, while the exact font of the US Constitution may not be available in a digital format, there are free alternatives that capture the style and elegance of the original handwriting, allowing designers, students, and enthusiasts to incorporate the distinctive look of the US Constitution into their work or personal projects.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was handwritten and not typed, so no font was used. It was transcribed onto parchment by Jacob Shallus, a Pennsylvania Assistant Clerk, in 1787.
Shallus likely used a quill, perhaps made from goose, to write the Constitution with iron gall ink.
The style of handwriting used is called "Roundhand".
The font "American Scribe" is made to resemble the handwriting in the Constitution. The font "P22 Declaration" was also conceived to be an exact copy, including the sizes.
As the US Constitution was handwritten, there is no exact font to download. However, the "We the People" font is available for free for personal use and can be downloaded from dafont.com.
