John Robert Gregg collection

1623-1980 [bulk 1900-1946] D

Biography of John Robert Gregg

John Robert Gregg 1868-1948 was an inventor of Gregg Shorthand, educator, and publisher. He was born on June 17, 1867, in Monaghan, Ireland, the middle of five children of Robert and Margaret Gregg. At his father's insistence, Gregg and his siblings learned shorthand. This situation developed because Robert Gregg had a friend who was adept at Isaac Pitman Phonography. During Gregg's childhood, Pitman shorthand was the system most utilized by shorthand writers in Great Britain. Impressed, Robert Gregg felt all of his children would benefit from this skill. However, except for John Gregg the children quickly became disinterested with shorthand. Gregg learned the Pitman shorthand system and he also taught himself other European shorthand systems such as the Odell system an adaptation of Samuel Taylor Shorthand, the Sloan-Deployé's System and the Pernin System two adaptations of Emile Duployé's System and Gabelsberger system German shorthand.

After having mastered these shorthand systems, Gregg was most impressed with the Duployé system because of its script alphabet. Unlike the widely used Pitman shorthand which based its system upon a geometric alphabet, Duployé's shorthand was based upon cursive or longhand.

Gregg was of the opinion that he could improve upon the shorthand systems used during the late 19th century. He believed that Duployé shorthand was the most impressive system because of its non-shading and natural shorthand strokes, although, to Gregg, Duployé was somewhat awkward to utilize. After emigrating from Ireland to Liverpool, England 1887, Gregg began to develop his own shorthand system. For a time, Gregg collaborated with a fellow shorthand writer, Thomas Stratford Malone, on a system called Script. Unfortunately; the differences were too great between the two men about how this system should be developed. Malone published and copyrighted Script 1885, without consulting Gregg and he also took full credit for developing Script. Malone's actions led to even deeper problems between Gregg and himself, as discussed below.

Undaunted, Gregg continued to experiment with shorthand on his own. Gregg borrowed elements from the English, French and German shorthand systems, and he developed his own unique system. This system was called Light-Line Phonography. On May 28, 1888, the first pamphlet Light-Line Phonography was published and copyrighted. The elements that Light-Line Phonography contained were: light line, absence of shading, absence of position writing, connective vowels and the slant of longhand instead of the short strokes of Pitman Shorthand. The elements of this new system surpassed the shorthand systems in use during the late 19th Century. Perhaps the most dramatic result of this new system was that the user's speed increased. Over the years, Gregg Shorthand has produced numerous shorthand winners at speed competitions.

By 1887, Gregg and Malone separated professionally. On several occasions, Malone attempted to appropriate the Light-Line System developed by Gregg through plagiarism and copyright infringement. This culminated in legal action by Malone who filed a lawsuit against Gregg for plagiarism. The judge dismissed the Script case with cost against Malone 1890. After this decision, Gregg was free to concentrate on the development of Light-Line. He believed his system would revolutionize shorthand. His efforts paid off. By 1892, the news of Light-Line had spread to London and the surrounding counties. In 1893, Gregg took over the magazine Light-Line because the manager, Ridsdale Blake, was unable to maintain it. He renamed it Light-Liner and he utilized this publication to further the Light-Line system.

In 1893, Gregg emigrated from England to the United States. Gregg's business horizons were expanding and the move to the United States would open up a new generation of shorthand writers. It should be noted that around this time the name Light-Line was changed to Gregg Shorthand.

Gregg in America

Gregg's first stop after he arrived in the United States was in Boston, Massachusetts. After Gregg settled in Boston, he taught his first class in shorthand at the Boy's Institute of Industry and he also published the first American edition of Gregg Shorthand. Part one: The elements 1893. On the recommendation of a colleague, Dr. Louis Pfeiffer, Gregg relocated to Chicago in 1895. With seventy-five dollars in his pocket, Gregg opened up an office known as The Gregg Institute at 94 Washington Street 1896. The name was eventually changed to the Gregg College. During this same year, Gregg established a separate publishing company, the Gregg Publishing Co. It should be also being recognized that Gregg Shorthand continued to grow in popularity in Great Britain, and it was slowly being taught as alternative shorthand alongside the Pitman system. Gregg encouraged women and girls to learn shorthand and for many women this was their first opportunity to enter the business world.

In 1898, Gregg published his first bound monograph titled Gregg Shorthand. This monograph was the beginning of the multitude of pamphlets, serials and monographs published by Gregg. Gregg established the Gregg Publishing Co. in Chicago 1900. He eventually shifted the headquarters to New York City 1907-1908.

Over the years, the Gregg Publishing Co. continued to expand; branches were established throughout the United States and in Canada. A separate company, Gregg Publishing Ltd. was established in England 1925. In the early 1920s, Gregg brought the DeBear Schools Ltd. and renamed it Gregg Schools Ltd., Great Britain.

The Later Years

By 1947, Gregg Shorthand had become one of the most popular systems in the United States. As of this writing, it is still used by secretaries and it is highly preferred over the Pitman Shorthand system. When Gregg died on February 3, 1948, his death had a profound impact upon his family, friends and colleagues. Condolences were sent to his wife Janet from around the world. After Gregg's death, Janet Gregg became the President of The Gregg Publishing Co. for one year. The McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. bought the Gregg Publishing Co. and its holdings around 1950. The company became a division under McGraw-Hill. John Gregg was survived by his wife Janet and their two children John Jr. and Janet.

Janet Kinley Gregg Howell died on December 6, 1987 in New York City after a short illness. She was the daughter of David Kinley, the President of the University of Illinois in Urbana from 1920 to 1930. She married Alfred C. Howell in 1950. Her lifetime achievements include the presidency and vice-presidency of the Gregg Publishing Co., and editorship of Gregg Writer and of Business World. She was a member of the Board of the University of Illinois Foundation and was the Governor of the National Arts Club and also their honorary vice president. Mrs. Howell was survived by her children, numerous grandchildren and her sister Harriet Kinley Brooks.

For additional information about John Robert Gregg and Gregg Shorthand consult the following monographs:

Cowan, Leslie. John Robert Gregg: a biography of the shorthand inventor. educator, publisher. and humanitarian. Whose achievements enriched the lives of millions. Oxford, England: Pre-Raphaelite Press at Oxford, 1984.

Grubbs, Robert L. Robert Lowell, 1919 - Gregg shorthand for colleges, speed building. series 90 / Scot Ober; shorthand written by Jerome P. Edelman. New York: Gregg Division/McGraw-Hill, 1982.

Leslie, Louis A. editor The story of Gregg Shorthand based on the writings of John Robert Gregg. New York: Gregg Division/McGraw-Hill, 1964.

Chronology - John Robert Gregg

• 1867 June 17 Born in Rockcorry, Monaghan County, Ireland.
• circa 1877. Partially deaf from a childhood accident. It affected his studies and Gregg only completed public education.
• 1885 Gregg moves to Glasgow Scotland
• Pamphlet "Script Phonography" published in Glasgow, Scotland under the name of T. S. Malone. Gregg claimed joint authorship.
• circa 1887 Gregg relocates to Liverpool, England.
• 1888 Light-Line Phonography published in Liverpool, England.
• 1893 The Light-Liner magazine established, edited and published by Gregg in Liverpool England.Gregg emigrated to the United States from England.Gregg conducted his first class at the Boy's Institute of Industry in Boston, Massachusetts.The name "Light-Line" was already protected by copyright in the United States, so Gregg changed the name to "Gregg's Shorthand". Subsequently the possessive was dropped to "Gregg Shorthand".Gregg's Shorthand: A Light-Line phonography for the Millions, the first American edition published in Boston.
• 1895 Dec. Gregg relocates to Chicago, Illinois.
• 1896 Gregg School is established, later known as Gregg College in Chicago.The Light-Liner, magazine was published in Chicago. Its name was changed to the Gregg Writer; Gregg served as editor 1901-1946.Gregg Publishing Company established.
• 1899 Gregg married Maida Wasson a teacher and journalist from Hannibal, Missouri.
• 1901 The Gregg writer, magazine appeared under the editorship of John Robert Gregg, who held the position 1901-1946. It was purchased in 1900 from Mr. W. E. Van Wert a teacher of Gregg shorthand.
• 1904 Gregg Shorthand was awarded the, Silver Medal for excellence and speed at the Louisiana Purchase International Exposition, St. Louis Missouri.
• 1905 Gregg becomes a United States citizen.
• 1907-1908 Gregg relocates to New York City. New York becomes the headquarters for the Gregg publishing Company.
• 1912 San Francisco office is established.
• 1913 Twenty-fifth anniversary of the first publication. The Silver Jubilee was celebrated in Chicago and Liverpool. England
• 1915 Gold Medal of Honor is awarded to Gregg Shorthand for results accomplished by students in a model school at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
• 1919 Awarded, the Victory Liberty Loan from the- secretary of Treasury. It acknowledges and records Gregg's patriotic service for interpreting espionage notes written in foreign shorthand system, for the United States government during World War I.Boston office established.
• ca. 1922 De Bear Schools Ltd. purchased. The name was later changed to Gregg Schools Ltd., Great Britain.
• 1925 British Company incorporated.
• 1928 Fortieth Anniversary celebrated in Liverpool, England.Dr. Gregg was presented with many tokens of esteem, among them a gold chest depicting the history of shorthand as a symbol of his lifelong interest.Maida Wasson, Gregg's first wife dies.
• 1929 Gold medals of, honor awarded to, Gregg Shorthand for excellence at the sequi-centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.Received, honorary, degree (Master of Commercial Education) from Bryant-Stratton College in Providence, Rhode Island.Appointed delegate of the United States Government to the International Congress for Commercial Education Amsterdam, Holland. Elected chairman of delegation and vice-president of the Congress.
• 1930 Received, honorary degree (Doctor of Commercial Education) from Boston University, Boston
• 1930 Married Janet Fraser, Kinley, daughter of David Kinley economist and president Emeritus of Illinois University.
• 1931 Received gold medal for distinguish service from the Eastern Commercial Teachers AssociationElected honorary Life member of the National Commercial Teachers Association.Honored at Latin American goodwill Luncheon. The Director General of the Pan-American Union presented Gregg a scroll bearing one-thousand signatures of Spanish teachers and students.
• 1932 Designated a delegate to the Fifth Triennial Congress of the International Society for Commercial Education.Birth of daughter Kate Kinley Gregg
• circa 1932-1937 Twice elected president of the National Arts Club.
• 1933 Business Education world, magazine begins publication under the Gregg Publishing Company.
• 1934 Latin-American, "Dia de Gregg" celebrated at the Waldorf-Asboria Hotel, New York city.Birth of son John Robert Gregg, jr.
• 1937 Honorary life member of the New York State Shorthand Reporters Association.
• Canadian Gregg News, Magazine begins publication under the Gregg Publication Company.
• 1938 Received award for "Distinguished Service to Education" by the New York Academy of Public Education.Golden Jubilee of Gregg shorthand.
• ca. 1944 Certificate issued by the United States Department of the Navy, in recognition for service performed during World War II. Gregg volunteered to decipher enemy coded messages.
• 1946 Awarded the "King George VI Medal, for Service in the Cause of Freedom".
• 1948, Feb. 23. Died of a heart ailment at age 80, in New York City. John Robert Gregg was survived by his wife Janet and children Kate and John jr.
• Post 1948 A stamps is issued in his honor from Cuba "Cuba Aereo".

Note: some data obtained, from "Important Dates in the Development of Gregg Shorthand".

History of The Gregg Publishing Company

The Gregg Publishing Company was established in 1896, in Chicago, Illinois. It evolved from the Light-Line Phonographic Institute founded in 1888, in Liverpool, England by John Robert Gregg.

Prior to this in 1885, Gregg worked on an earlier system of shorthand with Thomas Stratford Malone in Glasgow, Scotland. This shorthand system was based on Duploye, written with the slope of longhand. However, Malone published a pamphlet and claimed sole authorship of Script Phonography. Gregg denied this and proclaimed he was the joint author. Despite the lawsuit which followed between Gregg and Malone, the outcome unclear, Gregg published his first pamphlet in 1888 Light-Line Phonography in Liverpool, England.

In 1893, Gregg left England to take advantage of the Copyright Laws in the United States and to protect Light-Line Phonography, later to be known as Gregg Shorthand. He first opened up a small school, The Boys Institute of Industry, in Boston, Massachusetts, with little success. In 1895, Gregg closed the school and moved to Chicago, where in 1896 he established the Gregg School later to be known as Gregg College. This same year the Gregg Publishing Company was established. Eleven years later in 1908, Gregg moved his headquarters to New York City while retaining the Gregg College in Chicago.

The Gregg Publishing Company maintained numerous branches and interests in the United States and abroad. Domestic branches were located in New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston and Dallas. Foreign interests included the Gregg Publishing Co. Ltd. incorporated in England in 1925 and the Gregg Schools which numbered approximately 30. Agencies were also located in Great Britain, New England, South Africa, Canada, India and the Philippines. The company also published magazines under the following titles: Gregg Writer. Business Education World, Gregg News Letter, Gregg News Letter and the Gregg Teacher. The latter two were published in Great Britain.

The functions of the Gregg Publishing Company were diverse. The Company's primary aim was to establish Gregg Shorthand as the leading form of stenography, not only in the United States but in foreign countries as well. This was accomplished by persuading institutions, private, commercial, state or federal to incorporate Gregg Shorthand into their business and educational curriculum. By the time of his death, in 1948, Gregg succeeded in having the majority of United States public schools teach Gregg shorthand.

The Company published books not only in English but in Spanish, Tagalog, French, Polish, Portuguese, Italian, Irish, Esperanto and Russian allowing the Gregg method to be accessible to non-English speaking people. Magazine and advertisements also helped increase visibility. Another important publicity factor was the speed achieved by Gregg Writers. Winners of different speed contests included Fred Gurtler (1910), Albert Schneider, a world champion (1921), Charles Lee Swem (1923-1924), and Martin J. Dupraw (1925-1926) at speeds not previously seen in any other style of shorthand. This proved the appeal of the Gregg method to business, where time is always a factor.

The success and popularity of Gregg Shorthand is due largely to its unique features. There are: no compulsory thickening - may be either light or heavy; written on the slope of a longhand; position writing abolished; vowels and consonants are joined and angles are rare-curves predominate. John Robert Gregg never failed to acknowledge the early pioneers of shorthand, in his 1934 address "Evolution of the Principles of Shorthand Construction" Gregg states:

"As I was one of those who attempted the solution of the problem of constructing a system that would retain the best features of the system I have mentioned, I wish to do what I have done on so many occasions - acknowledge my indebtness to the English, French and German authors of shorthand".

It should be noted shorthand and commercial education provided women with an opportunity to enter the business world especially during the lifetime of Gregg. Some achievers were Perle N. Pervis, Margaret Kelecher and Lola McLean. Gregg employees included Florence Ulrich, Circulation Manager Gregg Writer magazine and Frances Effinger Raymond. Other individuals who held positions within the Gregg Publishing Co. include: Guy S. Fry, Secretary- Treasurer, Hubert A. Hagar - General manager, Louis A. Leslie, Henry Jesse Holm - Principal of the Gregg College, and Fred Jarrett - Director of the Gregg College. Abroad at the Gregg Publishing Co. Ltd. employees included: H. L. Carad, B. A., Managing Director, Ernest W. Crockett, Secretary and F. Addington Symonds, General Editor.

In 1948, the Gregg Publishing Company became a subsidiary of the McGraw-Hill Company which continues to publish monographs on Gregg Shorthand using the Gregg name.