Frank McGurrin wins the Cincinnati typing contest (1888)

Frank Edward McGurrin, a court stenographer from Salt Lake City, defeated Louis Traub in a typing contest in Cincinnati on July 25, 1888. McGurrin, reportedly the only person using touch typing at the time, won decisively. The event is often cited as the birthday of touch typing, though whether he was the first to use the method or merely the first to be popularly noticed is disputed.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Touch typing involves typing without using sight to find keys, relying on muscle memory. McGurrin taught himself to touch type without looking at the keys before challenging others. He was a court stenographer in Salt Lake City who taught typing classes. The contest pitted his method against Louis Traub, who used an eight-finger method on a Caligraph machine.

The Contest. On July 25, 1888, McGurrin won a decisive victory over Louis Traub in a typing contest held in Cincinnati. McGurrin was purportedly the only person using touch typing at the time. Traub operated a Caligraph with an eight-finger method. The event is frequently referred to as the birthday of the touch typing method widely used in modern times.

Legacy and Disputes. Whether McGurrin was actually the first person to touch type or simply the first to be popularly noticed is disputed. Later, Corbitt's efforts demonstrated that touch typewriting could be accomplished with time and labor savings, challenging the notion that it was an unattainable ideal. The term 'touch typing' refers to typing without sight, often involving the home row.

People involved

Sources

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