Deciphering Old Handwriting

Live Broadcast: January 26, 2023
Presented by Ann Lawthers
While we might wish all our ancestors’ records were typed in a standard format and perfectly legible, that simply isn’t the case. Many of the records family historians turn to are handwritten and may be faded, use archaic terminology, unfamiliar abbreviations, or are just plain illegible. This online lecture will provide practical strategies for approaching handwritten documents, understanding and deciphering hard-to-read handwriting from different time periods, so that you can make the most of these important resources in your family history research.
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[@LBreitkopf]

I hadn't been able to watch this presentation on the 26th. Ironically, my daughter asked me to try to interpret a "Last Will and Testament" from 1719 and I immediately watched your presentation. I feel equipped to tackle the project now! Thank you.

[@sr2291]

Good presentation.

[@Alkis05]

It amazes me that a priest had to perform only a few christenings every month and write a few lines for each one. But many paid little mind how illegible it would be. What is the point of making a record if you assume no one is going to try and read that later?
And I'm not being unfair. You can clearly find clerks that had good and bad handwriting from the same period, with vastly different abilities in making readable entries.