The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-30
THE FIRST AMANUENSES.
when and whcrc They Got Employment
In This City.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: Your
correspondent az p. s." asks where and
when stenographers were first employed
as amanuenses in offices as they are TO-
day. Amanuenses in offices to-day are
stenographers and typists. 20 we may as
sumo II. r. s." desires to know where the
first photographers and typists secured
employment.
In the May, 1894. issue OF Gokey's
Mdodstne is a biography OF ID. l.. Scott
Browne by his wife The article states
that "the fret and for a long time the
only school in the country devoted ex-
clusively to the teaching Of photography"
was first opened by Mr.. Browne as the
New York College Of Photography at
1877 Broadway. opposite Aston place. In
September. 1874.
which II. r. g." wants In these words:
"Mr. Scott-Browne visited one OF the
leading banking houses OF New York
(Drexel. Morgan Il Coz and personally
explained to its officers how they could
make use Of stenographer and save at
least four-f ifths OF their time now wasted
In attending to their correspondence.
They asked for an experimental trial,
which was given, and they were so de-
lighted with the result that they asked
for a stenographer at once. Mr.. Scott.
Browne engaged to furnish them one,
and accordingly took one Of his pupils
whom he had been fitting for banking
correspondence. young man about 10.
clerk In A. r. Stewards dry goods
store receiving a salary Of 81 week.
and at the time appointed went TO the
office Of the bank again. where letters
were dictated to the young man, who
took them at a high rate OF speed, tran
scribed them rapidly In beautiful Spen-
cerian longhand and submitted them TO
be inspected and signed. So satisfactory
was the result that the young man was
engaged on tho spot to take the posi-
ton OF stenographic secretary in the Of
fee as soon as he could arrange TO do
so. at a salary OF $25 a week.
This was the first banking house In
New York. and probably In the world.
TO employ n stenographer. Immediately
after that one of the officers Of this
bank sent his son. a young man Of IS,
graphic secretary OF Brown Brothers
banking house. the second bank in the
city to employ such secretary. The
third bank was that OF Kountze Brothers.
and George Francis Train. Jr, young
man OF 10 and OF unusual brightness and
ability. was the lucky fellow He was
already connected with that house. learn
ing the banking business He. too, re-
ceived his preparation as stenographer
1
raphy. Business houses Of all kinds were
visited In the same way by Mr.. Scott
Browne for the same purpose OF showing
business men how they could save their
time. or quadruple the value of It, and
with corresponding good effect. and
thereby he was enabled 20 furnish our
pupils with good positions as fast as
| they could be prepared until the demand
for stenographers became greater than
could be at once supplied In addition
TO shorthand he took hold OF the type
writer. recommending it's use In connec-
ton with shorthand; and the first pro-
fessional operator on such machine.
and teacher OF its use In New York, a
Connecticut school teacher. Miss Mary
, HILL came directly to our place to be ad-
visod how to get a footing in New
York" DAVID II. O'kryFy
Editor of the Shorthand and Tune
tcriter Ne,rs
| New YORK, January 20