Henry M. Parkhurst: Official Court Reporter and Sex and Spelling Reformer

In addition to shorthand writing, Henry M. Parkhurst, a member of the first generation of official court reporters in America, had many other interests. Among them were sex and spelling reform. In 1880, he wrote a very popular book in his new alphabet, phonotypy, that advocated a contraceptive technique that encouraged affectionate contact between the sexes, including nudity, but did not allow sexual intercourse with ejaculation. The book was entitled, Diana: a Psycho-Fyziological Essay on Sexual Relations for Married Men and Women.

Additional information about Parkhurst and the origins of official court reporting in the U.S. can be found in Guardians of the Record, which can be purchased by clicking on its cover in the right hand column.