Cortez W. Peters, Sr. (December 23, 1906-December 1964) was the world speed typing champion. Originally from Maryland, Peters lived most of his life in Washington, D.C.
Cortez Peters Sr. is often believed to the greatest speed typing champion of all time. While other speed typing champions have come close to matching his numerous world records, they have only done so on modern computer keyboards in which much higher typing speeds can be attained.
His son, Cortez Peters, Jr. became the world champion after him. His son's records only bettered his own records due to the advent of more advanced, electric and electronic keyboards that permitted higher typing speeds. Also see the article on Cortez Peters Jr.
Peters set a typing world record of 180 words per minute without a single mistake (an average of 15 keystrokes per second) on a manual typewriter. For those who have never typed on a manual typewriter, they require incredible finger strength and are extremely difficult to type at high rates of speed on. Cortez could type at astonishing speeds on manual typewriters for hours at a time without a single mistake. He appeared on "Ripley's Believe it or Not" in the mid 1950s when he typed 100 flawless words per minute on a manual typewriter while outdoors in subfreezing temperatures while wearing fingerless mittens.
Cortez Peters Sr. opened the Cortez Peters business schools in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Chicago. The schools were the first black-owned schools in the field, and during their tenure trained an estimated 45,000 students.
Peters, along with his son, developed special competition keyboarding methods and techniques that became the foundation of modern typing instruction worldwide.
I remember seeing Mr. Peters in 1948 at a presentation at Belvedere Junior High School in East Los Angeles. He had a thin mustache and I tried to talk to him but he would not look up from his typewriter.
Guest
2. 15-04-2009 08:55
My father, a Royal Typewriter Co. executive, brought Mr. Peters to our home in Worcester, MA for dinner in about 1944. I believe he was appearing on behalf of Royal at an area teacher's convention.
Guest
3. 05-10-2009 19:27
nice dont really care
Guest
4. 15-10-2009 14:02
Nice article. Today's generation has no idea of what a "manual" typewriter is. 180 wpm with no errors is ubelievable even by today's standards. It would be nice if there was some video of him typing avaialable to show my students. They would not believe it!
Guest
5. 27-10-2009 13:58
NO COMMENT!
Guest
6. 09-04-2010 23:07
Both my older brother and I recall a man, not sure if it was this guy or not, coming to our High School in 1959 in Whittier, CA...but our memories were that he typed much faster than any info we can find: supposedly the same guy was on the "You Asked For It" TV program, typing over 400 wpm on an electric typewriter. I recall him talking about typing over 300 wpm "with-mittens-on" during an outdoor assembly somewhere in New England
Guest
7. 24-05-2010 02:33
I found a page from a editorial new york daily mirror has Mr. Peters typing in the cold, and i also noticed if its his singnature on the bottom but not to sure how would i find out. Anyone
Guest
8. 22-06-2010 14:21
He typed over 200 wpm with mitten on.
Guest
9. 24-09-2010 15:26
My father had a beautiful grape green manual typewriter and I got a chance to check it out when I was in Grade 8. I still remember I had to press the keys hard and all the way down (atleast 1-1 1/2 inch) so that it could strike the paper. Comparing it now with my laptop?............believe me that thing was a torture and a keyboard today is a blessing, it is truly unbelievable how Mr.Peters typed so fast on a manual typewriter.
Guest
10. 17-12-2010 16:36
I remember Mr. Peters, Jr, coming to my High School and giving a presentation of typing skills. His presentation was very interesting and everyone was amazed at how fast he could type on both the manual and IBM Selectric (with the ball) typewriters. He was awesome! He typed to the tune of many songs and delivered an entertaining presentation. This is the first that I did a search on his name because of talking with a friend about typing speed. It is exciting to find information on him because so many people with skills fade away and no one knows how great these people were. This is an awesome accomplishment and should be recognized with greater fanfare. I commend these recordings and care tremendously for people with extraordinary skills.
Guest
11. 24-01-2011 18:40
I am trying to find a copy of a 1953 yearbook from the Peter Cortez Business College located in Washington DC.
Any suggestions on how to find one?
Guest
12. 16-01-2012 00:30
I wish I had a video of Cortez Peters, Jr., as well. I use his teaching methods in my keyboarding classes. They work!
