Phyllis Margaret Handover
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Phyllis Margaret Handover (1923-1974), who published as P. M. Handover, was an English writer on
typography Typography is the art and technique of Typesetting, arranging type to make written language legibility, legible, readability, readable and beauty, appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, Point (typogra ...
.'Miss P. M. Handover: Writer on typography', ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'', 24 July 1974
Her obituary describes her thus: "She was a rather frail-looking woman, with a gentle, refined appearance and soft, low voice which imperfectly concealed an incisive, uncompromising intellect and an iron determination to go her own way."


Education

According to her obituary, Handover attended Brentwood High School and
St Anne's College, Oxford St Anne's College is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It was founded in 1879 and gained full college status in 1959. Originally a women's college, it has admitted men since 1979. ...
, at that time called the Society of Oxford Home Students.


Life and work

Early in her career, Handover tried her hand at fiction, prompting a publisher's reader to recommend she turn to factual writing. She then wrote historical biographies on
Lady Arbella Stuart Lady Arbella Stuart (also Arabella, or Stewart; 1575 – 25 September 1615) was an English noblewoman who was considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I of England. During the reign of King James VI and I (her first cousin), she marrie ...
and
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, (1 June 156324 May 1612) was an English statesman noted for his direction of the government during the Union of the Crowns, as Tudor England gave way to Stuart period, Stuart rule (1603). Lord Salisbury ser ...
. Interested in further pursuing historical studies, she joined
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
as a research assistant to
Stanley Morison Stanley Arthur Morison (6 May 1889 – 11 October 1967) was a British typographer, printing executive and historian of printing. Largely self-educated, he promoted higher standards in printing and an awareness of the best printing and typefaces ...
, who recognized her ability and encouraged her to write. Working with Morison, she developed an interest in
typography Typography is the art and technique of Typesetting, arranging type to make written language legibility, legible, readability, readable and beauty, appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, Point (typogra ...
, writing a number of scholarly articles. She gave a series of lectures at
St Bride Library St Bride Library (formerly known as St Bride Printing Library and St Bride Typographical Library) is a library in London primarily devoted to printing, book arts, typography and graphic design. The library is housed in the St Bride Foundation In ...
, published in 1960 as ''Printing in London : from 1476 to modern times''.


Works

* ''The Site of the Office of the Times: the history from 1276 to 1956 of the site in Blackfriars, consisting of Printing House Square ... and other thoroughfares, the whole now being the freehold property of the Times Publishing Company limited'', Times Publishing Co., 1956 * ''Arbella Stuart, royal lady of Hardwick and cousin to King James'', 1957 * ''The second Cecil: the rise to power, 1563-1604 of Sir Robert Cecil, late first earl of Salisbury'', 1959 * ''Stanley Morison: a second handlist 1950-1959'', 1959 * ''Printing in London : from 1476 to modern times: competitive practice and technical invention in the trade of book and Bible printing, periodical production, jobbing &c'', 1960 * ''A History of the London Gazette, 1665-1965'', 1965


References

1923 births 1974 deaths Historians of printing English bibliographers Women bibliographers {{England-nonfiction-writer-stub