The Gregg Group was founded 22 May 2004, prompted by the lack of online shorthand resources. As the primary use for shorthand — business and legal recording — has waned in recent decades, we generally acclaim the skill as a hobby or personal tool. The purpose of the group is to promote the use of Gregg systems of shorthand by providing advice to beginners, support for students, and an association of users of this efficient, attractive, and enjoyable method of writing.
Does anyone have any information about Greghand, other than what is in the shorthand comparison document? I would *really* love to see this system, or at least know more about how it works. The manual itself seems incredibly difficult to get a hold of. As far as I can tell, there are only 4 libraries in the world that are listed as having this book, and none of them will release it for interlibrary loan.
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I have a facsimile of it. It's pretty interesting. Let me see if I can post some pages.
That would be great. Greghand is a complete unknown to me. Was it published in book form? Was it ever a real project, or just a proposal? Alex
There was a very limited release in manuscript format, with an accompanying reading book.
I've created a 12MB pdf of the Greghand pamphlet from the invaluable but less convenient sources at Rider's digital Louis Leslie collection.
It's too big to put in the documents section, but I'll gladly send it upon an email request. My email address is in the members information section.
Synopsis:
Greghand is a 42-page, 64-lesson manual which contains the entire alphabet, including blends, and just 10 efficiency devices:
1) ending -shun
2) endings -ly, -ily/-ally
3) prefix (and word) over-
4) suffix (and word) -self/-selves
5) word beginning con-, com-
6) word ending -ure
7) word beginning trans-
8) word endings -ing, -ings, -ingly
9) word beginnings for-, fur-
10) suffix -ful
It also contains the most concise statement of the abbreviating principle I've seen ("[The] principle of abbreviation may be extended to long and familiar words. Thus *satis* would be sufficient for *satisfactory*, or *prob* for *probable*."), the 1916 "joining" device for awkward (usually vowel) joinings, and 35 brief forms.
I really like this system. I've often imagined my own "short-list" of Gregg principles, consisting only of those which seemed indispensable and orthogonal, and this manual goes in that direction. None of its rules conflict with either the Anniversary or (except for its brief form for *good* (g-d)), the 1916 edition. I think that recommends Greghand as a very quick-starting "beginner" system.
Unfortunately, the Greghand manual was designed along with a 180-page "Greghand Reading Book" to go with the concise lessons. I don't have that publication, and I'm not sure where one might find it (besides through ILL). If anyone has a copy, I'd love to hear about it.
In either case, maybe a "Greghand" folder in the documents section and a little volunteer writing would fill the gap ; )
I wonder, is this PDF is still available?
Rider University removed this book from their available electronic books. However, their catalog shows that they have both the lesson book and the accompanying reading book. I have a photocopy of the lesson book and a scan is on my to-do list.
Hi Carlos, were you ever able to scan in the reading book, by chance? I'd love to see it. I'm refreshing my shorthand skills after all these years by working through Notehand and Greghand. I'm teaching my son the Notehand. It'd be good to get some extra practice in.
Unfortunately, I never had a copy (nor a photocopy) of the reading book, just the regular manual.