Favorite Writing Tools on the Frontier by Caroline Clemmons

 I write using a desktop computer now.  In fact, I like to listen to classical music while I write. On the frontier, writing wasn’t as simple as popping open a laptop! Historians and fiction writers know that the tools of the trade shaped how stories, records, and letters were created in the Old West. Let’s explore the everyday implements that kept the West in touch and paved the way for modern storytellers. 

Quill Pens and Reed Pens 

In the 1800s, quill pens—made from large bird feathers—were the most common writing tool before steel nib pens became mainstream. Quills needed regular cutting and dipping, but their fine lines suited everything from ledgers to heartfelt letters. Reed pens, used earlier, fell out of favor but are still worth a mention for their influence on writing’s evolution. 

Metal Nib Pens 

By the mid-nineteenth century, steel-nibbed dip pens had mostly replaced quills. These pens offered better durability, were less expensive, and were easier to use for people living far from trading posts or towns with stationers. A steel pen, a bottle of ink, and a steady hand—those were the tools of many a frontier correspondent. 

Pencils—Yes, Even Mechanical! 

Pencils were surprisingly common in the Old West—both the classic wooden type and early mechanical pencils! Easier to use on the go, they required no ink or sharpening on the spot (especially the mechanical kind). Soldiers and travelers preferred graphite for convenience and legibility, keeping stubs in pockets for everything from making notes to sketching a map.  Plus, letters written in pencil didn’t smear if they got wet, an important plus for travelers who might get caught in a rainstorm or have to ford a river or creek. 

Ink and Inkwells 

Powdered or liquid ink, usually black or dark blue, paired with a small glass or ceramic inkwell was a standard desk accessory. Ink was precious on the frontier; spilling it meant a delay in correspondence until the next shipment arrived—sometimes by stagecoach or telegraph delivery wagons. 

Paper and Notebooks 

Paper could be scarce and valuable on the frontier, with folks often using scraps, ledger books, or folded sheets for letters. Some writers reused envelopes or stitched their own paper together into makeshift notebooks, especially in Army regiments or remote settlements. 

Why This Matters for Western Readers

For today’s historical and romance readers, seeing the right details in a romance when the heroine pens a letter to her beau adds depth and authenticity to the characters and their world. Next time the heroine pens a secret letter or the cowboy tallies supplies, you’ll know just what’s lying on their desk—or tucked into their pocket. 

What writing or communication details do you love seeing in Old West stories? Share your favorites in the comments!