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Barbara Blackburn (typist)
Wikipedia, n.d.
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- An encyclopedia article on Barbara Blackburn, who was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for typing speed in the 1970s and 1980s. It reports her self-claimed peak of 212 words per minute and Guinness's later removal of keyboard speed records.
- How much weight it carries
- A secondary summary that cites Guinness editions and contemporary press. Her speeds were self-reported or measured in short bursts, and she used the Dvorak layout, so the figures are not a verified modern record.
Facts taken from this source
- Barbara Blackburn's peak speed of 212 words per minute, from 1986, was self-claimed and was held for a brief time.
“Blackburn's self-claimed peak speed, in 1986, was 212 words per minute for "a brief time."” (Typing section)
- Barbara Blackburn was recognized for a claimed fast typing speed using the Dvorak keyboard layout.
“recognized for her claimed fast typing speed using the Dvorak keyboard layout” (Lead paragraph)
- The Guinness Book of World Records listed Barbara Blackburn as able to attain 170 words per minute in its 1976 to 1986 editions.
“attain a speed of 170 wpm” (Lead and Guinness history section)
- The Wikipedia article on Barbara Blackburn says her records were removed from the 1986 edition of the Guinness book.
“Blackburn's records were removed from the 1986 edition” (Guinness history section)
- Guinness removed its typing speed records for electronic and computer keyboards from the 1987 edition onward, citing accuracy concerns.
“Guinness's typing speed records for electronic and computer keyboards, including Blackburn's records, were removed from the 1987 edition onwards, citing their accuracy.” (Typing section)