Reading early American handwriting / Kip Sperry.
This book is designed to teach you how to read and understand the handwriting found in documents commonly used in genealogical research. It explains techniques for reading early American documents; provides samples of alphabets and letter forms; defines terms and abbreviations commonly used in early American documents such as wills, deeds, and church records; and, furthermore, presents numerous examples of early American records for the reader to work with. Each document -- nearly 100 of them at various stages of complexity -- appears with the author's transcription on a facing page, enabling the reader to check his own transcription. Also covered in the work, with particular emphasis on handwriting, are numbers and roman numerals, dates and the change from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, abbreviations and contractions, and standard terms found in early American records.
Record details
- ISBN: 080630846X
- ISBN: 9780806308463
- Physical Description: ix, 289 pages : illustrations ; 28 cm
- Publisher: Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Pub. Co., [1998]
- Copyright: ©1998
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 73-100).
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Reading early American handwriting -- Guidelines for reading old documents -- Abbreviations and contractions -- Terms -- Numbers and Roman numerals -- Dates and the calendar change -- Sample alphabets and handwriting styles -- Accreditation and certification -- Appendix A: Using archives and record repositories -- Appendix B: The Internet and compact discs -- Documents and transcriptions.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Paleography, American.
English language > United States > Writing > History.
Available copies
- 21 of 24 copies available at NC Cardinal.
- 1 of 1 copy available at Onslow County Public Library. (Show)
Holds
- 0 current holds with 24 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Main Library | Ref OCR 427.973 S (Text) | 36015000002036 | Genealogy | Available | - |
| Barco Library | K 427 SPE (Text) | 39488200680504 | Adult Nonfiction NC Collection | Available | - |
| Braswell Memorial Main Library | LH 427.973 S751r (Text) | 540191010091825 | Local History Reference | Available | - |
| Cumberland Headquarters | R-GEN 417.7 S (Text) | 31781050618089 | Local History Reference | Available | - |
| Forsyth Central | NC427.973 S (Text) | 0112508860726 | North Carolina Collection | Noncirculating | - |
| Goldsboro Library | LH AA INS .274 SPE (Text) | 640191002494824 | Local History Reference | Available | - |
| Government and Heritage Library | 427.973 S751r (Text) | 33091006012256 | NC Research Room | Available | - |
| Harnett County Main Library | 427.973 Spe (Text) | 33630003501553 | Adult Nonfiction | Checked out | 08/06/2026 |
| Henderson Main Branch | 427.973 S Genealogy Room (Text) | 33258005865105 | Genealogy | Available | - |
| High Point Library | R NC 929.1 S751R (Text) | 30519004617315 | North Carolina Room Adult Reference | Available | - |
Accessibility Features
Summary:
This book is designed to teach you how to read and understand the handwriting found in documents commonly used in genealogical research. It explains techniques for reading early American documents; provides samples of alphabets and letter forms; defines terms and abbreviations commonly used in early American documents such as wills, deeds, and church records; and, furthermore, presents numerous examples of early American records for the reader to work with. Each document -- nearly 100 of them at various stages of complexity -- appears with the author's transcription on a facing page, enabling the reader to check his own transcription. Also covered in the work, with particular emphasis on handwriting, are numbers and roman numerals, dates and the change from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, abbreviations and contractions, and standard terms found in early American records.
