ABOUT THE UNDERWOOD

Paul Jamieson (1903-2006) was a renowned author, environmentalist, and professor best known for his writing about the Adirondacks. He received his education at Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa) and Columbia University (New York, New York) and began his teaching career as an English professor at St. Lawrence in 1929.

His typewriter gives students today a glimpse into what life was like for an author and professor at St. Lawrence in the early twentieth century. It also connects them to the ongoing creative tradition on campus and shows the evolution of writing tools over time. In addition to his academic career, Jamieson was a passionate outdoorsman whose experiences in the Adirondacks inspired much of his writing and editorial work. He used this Underwood No. 5 typewriter to write and edit some of his most well-known works, including The Adirondack Reader, Adirondack Pilgrimage, Adirondack Canoe Waters, North Flow, and Uneven Ground.

The Underwood No. 5 was produced between 1914 and 1929. At the time, Underwood was the highest quality typewriter money could buy. John T. Underwood was responsible for the design and production of models Nos. 1-5. These typewriters were appealing to consumers by the 1920s because they included three major improvements that made them easier to use and more efficient. The previous models contained many steel and plastic parts used for mechanical functions, margin and paper guides, ink casing, and typing keys. Underwood’s improvements included the four rows of straight keyboards, the single-use shift key, and point striking bars. The No. 5 featured new characters and introduced automatic ribbon reverse, making typing easier. Later versions of the No. 5 added upgrades such as backspace, paper guides, and a two-color ribbon selector, which were monumental additions at the time. These additions increased efficiency and pushed Underwood to sell five million No. 5 models by 1939. -Nathan Coghlin ’28

 

Paul Jamieson’s Typewriter Underwood No. 5, c. 1914-1929
Paul Jamieson Collection, mss. 74 Special Collections
Owen D. Young Library
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY