If you read cursive, the Newberry has a job for you
11 hours ago
- #archival preservation
- #historical transcription
- #cursive literacy
- The Newberry Library in Chicago seeks volunteers to transcribe its handwritten historical documents.
- Crowdsourced transcription efforts expanded during the pandemic, providing meaningful engagement.
- Cursive literacy is declining, threatening access to pre-printing press archives and family documents.
- The collection includes Civil War letters, early modernist correspondence, and city-specific history like accounts of the Great Chicago Fire.
- A 17th-century book of magic spells is among the unique items needing transcription.
- The Newberry currently has 146 active transcribers and welcomes more volunteers.