The history of graphology, handwriting analysis, dates all the back to eleventh century China. There a man named Kuo Jo Hsu claimed that he could discern personality characteristics by their handwriting.

However, it was in Italy in 1662 by Camillo Baldo that graphology has its most proven origins. Baldo, a respected scholar from Bologne, wrote a book on this very subject; On the Way of Knowing the Nature and Qualities of the Writer by Analyzing a Letter Missive Although this book represents the first known writing of graphology, the book concentrates more on philosophy than on the science of graphology.

Graphology developed in Europe at the latter stages of the nineteenth century. Johann Caspar Lavater, a German, wrote several studies concerning the human mind and its relationships with handwriting.

Meanwhile in France, Father Jean Michon declared graphology as a science. He joined forces with Michel Desbarolles and are considered the fathers of grahpology. Two books were the cornerstone of this new science, both by Father Michon. The Mysteries of Handwriting was published in 1869, and that book was followed by The Practical Method. Both of these books were based upon countless studies and analysis; formulating the imperical data gathered utilizing the scientific method. To this day the basis of graphology has not changed dramatically from that starting point.

The science of graphology proceeded to grow and gain popularity early in the twentieth century, as it spread through out Europe. In Switzerland, John Crepieux-Jamin along with Max Pulver worked together to continue and build graphology further along; writing numerous books on the subject. Their work is still appropriate to date, even though graphology has progressed during this past century.

Their followers took up the cause, and these included psychiatrists, Rene Rasten, Paul Joire, and Paul Carton. This is an important turn, as now the science of psychology became interested in graphology. They found that indeed they could utilize graphology to help them with their patients.

This was no surprise; since handwriting is better described as brainwriting. It is really the brain which controls all automatic habits of handwriting. Since the brain is in full control; the subconscious and unconscious mind seeps through these habits and into the handwriting. No where is this more easily evident than with mentally ill patients; like those these early psychologists and psychiatrists were studying.

From this the sub-field of graphotherapy developed. Graphotherapy is the science of changing personality characteristics by changing elements and characteristics within the subject's handwriting. One of the most common aspect of graphotherapy is to improve the personal ego symbols such as the PPI [Personal pronoun "I"] and the signature to improve the subject's self-esteem.

By the 1920's, graphology, handwriting analysis, was being accepted and utilized in Europe. It seems to have followed closely to the spread of psychology. Graphology has grown as a field, and it has spread to the United States. Graphology is now a bona fide science; being classified as a branch of psychology.

However, although graphology is widely accepted in Europe; it still has a stigma in the United States. Changing that is the next step in the history of graphology.