The good news is, with the right approach and tools, you can unlock the secrets of old, hard-to-read, and strangely spelled documents. Here are five practical tips to help you interpret almost any document.
- Create a Copy Embrace modern technology as your first step. Avoid trying to interpret the handwriting directly from the original, especially in an archive or courthouse setting. You’ll need ample time to study the writing, so opt for photocopies, digital images, or, ideally, a scanned version of the document. If dealing with microfilmed records, print them out.
Even if you own the original, working from a copy is advisable. This prevents frequent handling and potential damage to the document. Additionally, photocopies are easier to read, with black ink contrasting sharply against a white background, unlike the faded tan of old paper. This also allows you to annotate the copy, a crucial step in the analysis process.
Photocopying and scanning offer the advantage of magnification, a vital tool for some deciphering tasks. An enlarged copy, say at 1,000 percent, allows for detailed examination of pen strokes, their overlaps, and directional changes, providing clearer insights into the intended letters.
When examining a scan on your computer, you can zoom in incredibly close, even to the extent of observing minute details like a split in the quill pen’s tip. I recall enlarging a single word from a letter by P.T. Barnum, known for his challenging handwriting, to full-page size. By periodically examining it at my desk, the word eventually became clear: Jumbo, the name of Barnum’s renowned elephant.
Not only does a photocopier help in magnifying a document, but it also allows you to tweak the density settings to boost contrast, making the script more prominent.
Try photocopying the document using various settings; different adjustments might be more effective for certain sections. If you’re working with a scanned document, a digital photo, or an online download, photo-editing software like Photoshop Elements becomes a valuable tool. Here, you can fine-tune contrast, brightness, and color levels (navigate to Enhance > Adjust Lighting in Photoshop Elements).
Test different settings to see which ones enhance readability the most. Remember to experiment on a duplicate of the image to avoid the need for rescanning in case of errors.
- Deciphering Spelling and Abbreviations The unconventional spelling and abbreviation habits of our ancestors can be quite challenging. Standardized spelling is a relatively recent development, and historically, people often spelled words phonetically. The older the document, the more likely you are to encounter phonetic spelling.
For genealogists, this can be particularly tricky when it comes to names, which often appear in various spellings. Factors like regional accents, limited education, and simple mistakes can lead to significant variations. For instance, if your ancestor verbally communicated their name to a town clerk, similar-sounding letters like ‘c’ and ‘k’ might have been used interchangeably, or silent letters might have been omitted, as in ‘Knight’ or ‘Schmidt’.
It’s not uncommon to find individuals who spelled their own names differently at different times. In my research, I’ve encountered numerous variations of ‘Arsenault’, including Arsenaulte, Arsenauld, and even more creative versions in junk mail like Arsenabavlt and Earsneal.
Ancestor Surname Variant Research Chart
Our ancestors were also liberal with abbreviations. You might find names reduced to just the first few letters with a diminutive ‘t’ at the end, or lines and dots used in place of letter groups. For a comprehensive list of common abbreviations and name short forms, refer to specific resources.
Genealogical documents are rife with other abbreviations as well. Each type of document, era, and geographical area introduces its own set of abbreviations. In British documents, for example, ‘Lo’ stands for Lord, ‘M’ for Majesty, etc. A more extensive list can be found in “The Record Interpreter: A Collection of Abbreviations, Latin Words and Names Used in Historical Manuscripts and Records” by C. Trice Martin (Phillimore & Co.).
- Understanding Letter Formation Reading old documents involves grappling with unfamiliar letter formations. These variations can be categorized into class characteristics (common to a group who learned a specific writing style, like the Palmer Method in the early 1900s or the Elizabethan Secretary Hand in the 1500s and 1600s) and individual characteristics (unique to each writer).
First, familiarize yourself with the class characteristics of the era you’re researching. For instance, in 1700s and 1800s documents, an ‘s’ might look like a cursive ‘f’. Websites like English Handwriting Online provide information on when various styles were prevalent. In older texts, you might encounter backward ‘e’s or the ‘thorn’ character, resembling a ‘y’, used for ‘th’.
Once you’ve identified the class characteristics, focus on the writer’s individual traits. Start with familiar words like names of months, days, and common phrases. This helps in recognizing specific letter formations unique to the writer.
For instance, most people have a distinct way of writing the ‘th’ combination. Once you identify this in a known word, you can apply it throughout the document, gradually making the text more legible. Try the provided example to practice this technique.
- Creating an Alphabet Key For particularly challenging documents, consider creating an alphabet key, a technique often used by forensic examiners. Compile a key by cutting and pasting identified letters (either digitally or using a photocopier). Include every letter you can identify with reasonable certainty.
When struggling with a difficult word, compare each letter to your key. Create a matrix of possible letters for each position in the word. This method allows you to scan the possibilities and make educated guesses. Once you’re confident about a word, note it on your document copy and in a separate transcription.
- Expert Tips for Deciphering Challenging Documents Even seasoned professionals encounter tough cases. Here are some of their go-to strategies for those tricky moments:
- Flip the document upside down. This fresh angle might spark new insights.
- Read the text out loud. Vocalizing can aid in recognizing phonetic spellings.
- Use a search engine for unusual names or words. Google’s suggested alternate spellings might be the clue you need.
- Get a second opinion. Someone else might see something you missed.
- Optimize your microfilm viewing. Place colored paper on the microfilm reader’s screen, clean the glass plates, or find a dimmer spot in the library for better visibility.
- Persistence is key. If you’re hitting a wall, take a break and return later with a clear head. A methodical and detailed approach will gradually make the writing more comprehensible, bringing you closer to unlocking your genealogical mysteries.
Challenges to Look Out For Navigating through old handwriting styles, unusual characters, abbreviations, faded ink, and unique quirks of individual writers can be daunting.
Genealogy expert D. Joshua Taylor shares insights on recognizing certain letters and characters that often cause confusion:
- u, n, w, and m; a, o, and u; v and r These letters can appear strikingly similar in their lowercase forms.
as, os, us In lowercase, these letter combinations often look alike.
i, t Without their dots and crosses, lowercase i’s and t’s can be mistaken for each other, or for an e or an l. Be mindful of misplaced dots and crosses, as in the example of ‘Miller’, where the dot over the ‘e’ makes it appear like an ‘i’.
Capital Letter Confusions:
- I and J; M and N; S, L, and T; T and F; U and V These pairs of capital letters can be easily confused due to their similar appearances.
Common Abbreviations in Names:
- Jno, Elizth, Nics, Geo, etc. These are abbreviations for names like John, Elizabeth, Nicholas, and George. For a more comprehensive list of such abbreviations, refer to specialized resources.
Double Letters: A double-letter formation might be represented as a single letter with a horizontal line beneath it.
“do” or “” These symbols stand for “ditto,” indicating repetition of the above text, commonly found in records arranged in rows, like censuses.
? or ƒ The ‘s’, particularly in a double-s formation, may feature an elongated flourish. This ‘long s’ can be confused with a ‘p’ or an ‘f’. For instance, the word “blessing” might be misinterpreted.
Thorn Character: In very old texts, a character resembling a ‘y’, known as a thorn, represents ‘th’. An example from the 1620 Mayflower Compact, with an ‘e’ over the thorn, translates to “the.”
Numerals 3, 6, 8: These numbers can appear similar. To differentiate, compare them with page numbers or other numerical references in the document.
Diane Haddad
Case Study: Analyzing a Prison Register In this Waterbury, Connecticut, prison register, the inmate’s name appears to be Matthew (1). But the father’s name (2) is less clear. Is it Matthew again, or perhaps Matthus or Malthus? It’s risky to interpret a single word in isolation, but understanding individual handwriting quirks can bring clarity.
Prison Register from Waterbury, Conn. Consider these observations:
- Compare the ‘M’ in ‘Male’ under ‘Sex’ with the first letter of the father’s name. They seem to match, suggesting the name begins with ‘M’.
- Look at the ‘e’ in ‘Male’. It resembles a modern cursive lowercase ‘i’ without a dot, similar to the end letters of the father’s name.
- Observe the ‘w’ in ‘Matthew’ at the top. Notice its unique curve and slightly extended right arm. This is mirrored in the last letter of the father’s name, resembling a ‘w’ with an extra mark.
- Contrast this with the angular ‘s’ in the two instances of ‘Yes’ at the bottom of the document. The dissimilarity here makes ‘Malthus’ and ‘Matthus’ unlikely. The evidence points towards the name being ‘Matthew’.
