Albert Tangora
{{Short description|American speed typist (1903–1978)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Albert Tangora
| image = Albert Tangora in 1938.jpg
| caption = Tangora in 1938
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1903|7|2}}
| birth_place = Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1978|4|7|1903|7|2}}
| death_place = Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
| known_for = being the fastest typer on a typewriter
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Dorothy Lane|1926}}
- {{marriage|Virginia Martin|1934}}
}}
| children = 2{{cite news |title=TANGORA |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/146573310/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=April 9, 1978 |page=111 |language=en}}
| signature = Albert Tangora signature.svg
}}
Albert Tangora (July 2, 1903 – April 7, 1978) was an American competitive typist who was widely regarded as having the fastest typing speed on a typewriter.{{cite news |title=Albert Tangora, World's Fastest Typist, To Visit Greenville |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advocate/146556695/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=The Daily Advocate |date=January 28, 1939}} Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Tangora began typing in 1916, entering typing contests the following year.
On October 22, 1923, Tangora set the 60-minute typing speed world record at 147 words per minute (WPM). After a rest period, he typed 159 words in a one-minute "sprint". The typewriter he used was a QWERTY keyboard Underwood Standard. Although it was eventually beaten by an electric model in 1941,{{cite news |title=NEW TYPING CHAMPION |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/belvidere-daily-republican/146597442/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Belvidere Daily Republican |date=June 25, 1941 |page=4 |language=en}} Tangora continues to hold the record on a manual typewriter.{{cite news |title=Action Line |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune/146619109/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The South Bend Tribune |date=March 25, 1982 |page=2 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Fastest typist on a manual typewriter in an hour test |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/67975-fastest-typist-on-a-manual-typewriter-in-an-hour-test |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=May 4, 2024}}
Throughout his typing career, he appeared in advertisements for typewriter companies Underwood Typewriter Company and Royal Typewriter Company.{{cite news |title=Speed Typists Say "ROYAL" |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkshire-county-eagle/146573894/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Royal Typewriter Company |publisher=The Berkshire County Eagle |date=January 7, 1942 |page=2 |language=en}}
After retiring, Tangora began competing again in subsequent typing competitions sponsored by the International Commercial Schools Association. He held the record there as well at 141 WPM, set in 1937 on a Royal typewriter. He later beat his own record with a typing speed of 142 WPM. In all, he won the competition seven times.{{cite news |title=Who Knows On This? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-herald/146597343/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Washington Times-Herald |date=November 5, 1946 |page=14 |language=en}}
Life and career
Tangora was born on July 2, 1903,{{cite web |title=WWII Draft Registration Cards For Illinois, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947 |publisher=National Archives at St. Louis |access-date=May 4, 2024 |url=https://www.ancestryinstitution.com/discoveryui-content/view/39803545:2238 |website=Ancestry.com |location=St. Louis, Missouri |url-access=subscription}} in Paterson, New Jersey.{{cite news |title=Obituaries - Albert Tangora, 73, Ex-Typing Champ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/morning-news/146562060/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Morning News |date=April 10, 1978 |location=Paterson, New Jersey |page=31 |language=en}} He was one of eight children raised by contractor Charles Tangora and his wife, Angelina,{{cite news |title=Angelina Tangora Died Yesterday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-obituary-for-angelina-t/62277337/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Morning Call |date=July 15, 1937 |page=26 |language=en}} an Italian-born couple who immigrated to the United States in 1903.{{cite United States census | url = https://www.ancestryinstitution.com/discoveryui-content/view/19788412:6224?ssrc=pt&tid=34075030&pid=19268024070 | title = Charles Tangora | year = 1930 | location = Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey | roll = T626_2,667 | page = 33A | enumdist = 0018 | accessdate = May 3, 2024}} On June 20, 1916, Tangora graduated from Paterson's Public School Number 5.{{cite news |title=List of Those Successfully Passing Examinations at Schools Nos. 4, 5 and 10 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call/146565922/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Morning Call |date=June 21, 1916 |location=Paterson, New Jersey |page=14 |language=en}}
=Competitive typing=
Tangora began learning the practice of typing in late 1916, just months after his graduation from public school.{{cite news |title=Typist Champ Is Aiding Navy Now |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser/146574132/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=May 8, 1945 |page=4 |language=en}} On January 31, 1917, as a novice student, he received his diploma from Spencer's Business College during the graduation ceremony.{{cite news |title=SPENCER GRADUATES RECEIVE DIPLOMAS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call/146566670/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Morning Call |date=February 1, 1917 |location=Paterson, New Jersey |page=8 |language=en}} Additionally, he and three other graduates were entered to compete in the World's Championship set for October 1917.{{cite news |title=Spencer's Business College |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call/146566559/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Morning Call |date=January 30, 1917 |page=8 |language=en}}
Tangora began competing in typewriter speed typing contests in the "Novice" (15-minute) division, when during the New England Business Show held at Mechanics Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, Tangora won the Eastern States typewriting contest held on April 9, 1917,{{cite news |title=OSWALD SETS NEW ENGLAND RECORD IN TYPEWRITING |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/146567320/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Boston Globe |date=April 10, 1917 |page=2 |language=en}} for having a 15-minute typing speed of 91 words per minute (WPM).{{cite news |title=Men Using Underwood Typewriters Score in Eastern Contest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tacoma-daily-ledger/146567513/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Tacoma Daily Ledger |date=April 12, 1917 |page=5 |language=en}} On October 15, 1917, he went on to win the Novice division for the World's Championship Typewriting Contest in New York City with a 15-minute typing speed of 110 WPM.{{cite news |title=Results of World's Championship Typewriting Contests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/146567759/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Gazette |date=October 22, 1917 |page=8 |language=en}} He began competing in the "Amateur" (30-minute) division, where on October 14, 1918, he competed in the World Championship Contest with a 30-minute typing speed of 117 WPM,{{cite news |title=DEMONSTRATION CHAMPION TYPIST |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kingston-daily-freeman/146568852/ |work=The Kingston Daily Freeman |date=September 26, 1919 |page=6 |language=en}} winning the following year on October 20, 1919, with a 30-minute typing speed of 133 WPM.{{cite news |title=For the sixteenth time, a Spencer graduate wins the greatest victory in typewriting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call/146569398/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Morning Call |date=October 23, 1919 |page=10 |language=en}}
In the early 1920s, Tangora began touring throughout the United States to present typing demonstrations at educational institutions and businesses in partnership with the Underwood Typewriter Company,{{cite news |title=CHAMP TYPIST DEMONSTRATES HIS ABILITY |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun/146596136/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Springfield News-Sun |date=February 18, 1921 |page=23 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=YOUTH TO SHOW SPEED AS TYPIST |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news/146595936/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Dayton Daily News |date=February 10, 1921 |page=8 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=He's Some Typist! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marion-star/146595785/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Marion Star |date=February 4, 1921 |page=3 |language=en}} including at Goldey–Beacom College,{{cite news |title=TYPEWRITERS SPEED DEMONSTRATION |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-journal/146569742/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Evening Journal |date=February 12, 1920 |page=7 |language=en}} West Chester High School in Pennsylvania,{{cite news |title=Educational |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-local-news/146569939/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Daily Local News |date=February 19, 1920 |page=3 |language=en}} as well as the Massey Business College.{{cite news |title=Typist Wizard Visits Houston |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post/146596286/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Houston Post |date=March 8, 1921 |page=1 |language=en}} He additionally began competing in the "Professional" (60-minute) division by entering the World Typewriting Championship held at Grand Central Palace on October 25, 1920,{{cite news |title=FOR TYPEWRITER TITLE |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen/146570639/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |date=October 23, 1920 |page=3 |language=en}} placing fourth with a 60-minute typing speed of 124 WPM.{{cite news |title=WINS TYPIST TITLE OF U.S. AND CANADA IN SPEED CONTEST |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times/146570764/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Journal Times |date=November 2, 1920 |page=9 |language=en}} Tangora worked for the Underwood Typewriter Company in its education department, spending the first half of 1921 touring throughout the south and west United States. After returning to New Jersey in June 1921, he began training for the Professional division.{{cite news |title=Typist Marvel Seen At Neptune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press/146653012/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=Asbury Park Press |date=June 15, 1921 |pages=1}} Tangora competed in the next World Typewriting Championship held in New York City on October 17, 1921, where he placed third with a typing speed of 132 WPM.{{cite news |title=Hossfield Keeps Typing Crown; Londoners Last |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/146654031/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=Daily News |date=October 18, 1921 |location=New York |page=43}}{{cite news |title=Hossfield Still the Typewriter Speed Champion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/passaic-daily-news/146653532/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=Passaic Daily News |date=October 18, 1921 |page=12}} The following year, he again placed third at the next World's Championship Typewriting Contest on October 23, 1922, with a typing speed of 141 WPM.{{cite news |title=Underwood Wins All |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser/146655188/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=Underwood Typewriter Company |publisher=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=November 22, 1922 |page=6 |language=en}}
On October 22, 1923, Tangora set the 60-minute typing speed world record at 147 WPM. After a rest period, he typed 159 words in a one-minute "sprint".{{cite news |title=Typist Sets New Speed Mark at Business Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union/132195646/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Brooklyn Times-Union |date=October 23, 1923 |page=2 |language=en}} The typewriter he used was an Underwood Standard,{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Lars-Erik |title=Christmas shopping... in 1903 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/146620161/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |date=December 23, 1983 |page=24 |language=en}} which had QWERTY keyboards.{{cite web |title=Underwood Standard Portable Typewriter |url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_850027 |website=National Museum of American History |access-date=May 5, 2024 |language=en}}
File:Albert Tangora typing 1938.jpg
After temporarily retiring, he began competing again in subsequent typing competitions sponsored by the International Commercial Schools Association.{{cite news |title=World's Outstanding Speed Typist to Offer Two Exhibitions for Chicoans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chico-enterprise/146621766/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=The Chico Enterprise |date=April 29, 1948 |page=3}}{{cite news |title=World's Typing Champion To Give Demonstrations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-city-daily-news/146620961/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=The Park City Daily News |date=June 27, 1948 |page=16 |language=en}} In 1936,{{cite news |title=Insures His Fingers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/carroll-daily-herald/146655658/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=Boone News-Republican |publisher=Carroll Daily Herald |date=September 2, 1936 |page=2 |language=en}} Tangora insured his hands for $100,000.{{cite news |last1=Shnay |first1=Jerry |title=He's Type Who Toils at Typing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/146655895/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=October 13, 1968 |page=113}} In preparation for competing in speed typing competitions, he would dip his fingers in mixed talcum powder and alum.{{cite news |title=Women Best Fans, Typing Champ Says |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/146655771/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=January 13, 1937 |page=5 |language=en}} The following year, he used a Royal typewriter to set the International Commercial Schools Association typing record with a typing speed of 141 WPM.{{cite news |title=CHAMPION TO DEFEND TITLE |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-press/146622397/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=Evansville Press |date=April 2, 1941 |page=16}}{{cite news |title=Albert Tangora, Champion Typist, at SINU, Tuesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-independent/146622050/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=The Daily Independent |date=July 18, 1941 |page=4}} He later beat his own record with a typing speed of 142 WPM.{{cite news |title=Champion Types and Adds Up 4 Columns of Figures |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/146622249/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=Star-Phoenix |date=June 3, 1946 |page=3}} Tangora wrote a booklet about typing, called "Fifty Common Typing Faults and How To Avoid Them."{{cite news |title=ALBERT TANGORA |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-nebraska-state-journal/146573423/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Lincoln Nebraska State Journal |date=July 7, 1940 |page=4 |language=en}}
=World War II service=
On February 16, 1942, Tangora was registered to draft for World War II. At the time, he was working for the Royal Typewriter Company in New York City. By March 1944, he was serving in the United States Naval Reserve as a lieutenant commander.{{cite news |title=Tangora Drafted For Union Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news/146574398/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The News |date=March 4, 1944 |location=Paterson, New Jersey |page=11 |language=en}} He later became a Chief Yeoman at Oahu,{{cite news |title=World's Fastest Typist Teaches Navy Men How To Speed Up Keys |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin/146573743/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=May 22, 1944 |page=1 |language=en}} giving typing lessons to classes in the Navy. He is the subject of the film Albert Tangora in Action, in which he demonstrates typing techniques including proper posture, arm positioning, and warmups.{{cite news |title=BEGINNING TYPISTS SHOWN TECHNIQUE OF CHAMPION |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-northeastern-news/146573997/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Northeastern News |date=December 5, 1945 |page=2 |language=en}}
Personal life and death
In January 1926,{{cite news |title=Tangora-Lane |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call/146623414/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=The Morning Call |date=February 5, 1926 |location=Paterson, New Jersey |page=2}} Tangora married typing pupil Dorothy Lane.{{cite news |title=Albert Tangora, Champion Typist for Three Years, Marries-Best Man Is Ex-Champion |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103731156 |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=February 5, 1926 |page=22 |id={{ProQuest|103731156}} |language=en}} In early 1934, Tangora was living in Paterson, New Jersey; he married Virginia Martin of Evanston, Illinois,{{cite news |title=Romance Begun at World's Fair Leads to Altar |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news/146571727/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The News |date=April 30, 1934 |location=Paterson, New Jersey |page=2 |language=en}} a music teacher at Watseka Community High School in Watseka, Illinois.{{cite news |title=Champion Typist Is Wed in Illinois |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call/146572220/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Morning Call |date=April 30, 1934 |page=14 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Interesting Items from Around Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fairbury-blade/146572069/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=The Fairbury Blade |date=August 28, 1936 |page=6 |language=en}} He later moved to Evanston, where he owned the Albert Tangora Typewriter and Office Equipment Co. and eventually retired.{{cite news |title=Albert Tangora dies; set speed typewriting record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-albert-tangora-obituary/146556905/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=April 9, 1978 |page=111 |language=en}}
On April 7, 1978, Tangora died in the Evanston Hospital at the age of 74 after a heart attack. At the time of his death, his hour-long typing record of 147 words per minute was not known to have been broken.