Regardless of the motives for writing, the scribe obviously had some latitude in using his own abbreviations, punctuation, and writing style. In some cases the writer's objective may have been to create an impressive looking document. īefore beginning the study of old handwriting it is important to realize that scribes, clerks, and church clergy did not write with the intent that researchers would be able to read their handwriting several years later. This 287-page book is available through Genealogical Publishing Company. In its entirety, Reading Early American Handwriting is an excellent reference and learning tool, filled with examples and ideas. In the following excerpt from Kip Sperry's Reading Early American Handwriting, the author outlines the basics of what you need to know to get started. Reading older documents takes patience and practice, as well as a bit of know-how.
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