Tip - reading handwriting

[Guy Etchells]

There have been a couple of threads recently involving handwriting problems.

When trying to read handwriting it really helps if the context and style of handwriting is shown.
By this I mean when you load the image to a website add one or two other images showing a larger section of the page the writing is from.

Difficult letter can often be resolved by referring to a known word on the same page.
An occupation can be deduced by other occupations in the same location.
Also the statistician's marks can be distinguished from the enumerators transcripts by comparison.
Cheers
Guy

[Jo Simpsons]

I have become very stumped many times with old handwritting. If possible I save it to the irfanview programme so I can enlarge as I need easily. I also found a few sites that helped too.
http://www.amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/oldhand.html

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/handwriting.html

All in the fun though.
Jo :)

[Clive Blackaby]

If possible I save it ... so I can enlarge as I need easily.
I have been known to resort to using a digital cmera, without flash of course, to photograph the screen of a film reader. This has proved very useful in being able to enlarge the image and study it in detail when I get home.

Probably against the rules, but if done with discretion ....

[John]

Guy hints at it in his message, it can be well worth the time spent looking at the document and building up an alphabet from the more obvious and readable words.
Obviously documents like wills and deeds can be easier as their contents have some logical make up and some words don't even need to be read, or they can be guessed at from the context of the document.

John