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Transcribing Items from the Delaware Archives

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Writing the Transcription File See Some Sample Images to see what a typical image looks like for the transcriber. Transcription Sequence: You should transcribe the image files in numeric order. If for some reason you are not transcribing the file, make a page for it anyway and note [in square brackets] why it is not being transcribed here. For example [image completely illegible], [typed transcript of the image was given in image ...], etc. Filename: We are using Microsoft(SM) Word to write the transcription files. The filename should indicate that this is a transcription file and give the initial image number. If the filename for the first image covered by this transcription file is 241-03.tif, the transcription filename should be T241-03.doc. Place the transcriptions for about 25 images in one file. This gives files of manageable size. Pages: If we all use 12 point Times New Roman font the pages will be uniform and the material from one image will generally fit on one page in portrait orientation. Each image should be transcribed on a separate page. Use portrait orientation and set margins for one inch all around unless you have a table that won't fit that way. Page Header:At the top of each page place a line indicating the image name, your name, and the date within square brackets and dashed lines as shown below: [----- 241-03-4.tif, George Read, 2007 Feb 16 -----] We need this to identify and to track the progress of the images. Leave a blank line after this before starting the text. Spacing: Do not indent the start of a paragraph. Skip a line between paragraphs to leave white space that clearly separates them. Do not double-space the lines. Line Breaks, Continuations a to New Page: Use the full width of the page and do not break lines to match the original breaks unless the original is a table or there is some other reason to do so (such as signature lines). Tables and Forms: These require thought and judgement and perhaps consultation. Since there is limited unique information on the forms used for pension payments we could consider typing one blank form and then listing the names, amounts, places, and dates in a table. However, if many of the forms have notations in the margins it may be better to copy and paste a blank for on many pages and fill each one in with its notations. Annotating the Transcription Capitalization, Punctuation, Superscripts: We are trying to retain the general feel of the documents without duplicating the entire structure. People who want to see the sideways writing and superscripts can obtain the archival photos of the original and study them. Use the capitalization of the original writing -- Lafayette capitalizes all the tenses of the verbs "be" and "have" -- as well as the abbreviations -- Colo, M, Generl -- usually not followed by a period. Sentences are not always clearly ended and are often run-on after a ". -" or a ";" or an ampersand (see symbol shown below). Bad Spelling: When a word is incorrectly spelled you may add [sic] after it to let the reader know that it was incorrrectly spelled in the original and is not a transcription error. There is no need to do this for British variants [favour for favor] or frequently (in the 1780s)-used abbreviations [obedt Srvnt]. Odd Names: If a name familiar to you is incorrectly spelled, transcribe it as it is presented in the image, but you might add a comment [probably Davidson] to assist in indexing the text. If a brief reference might be obscure to a reader you may include a brief explanation Wretched Writing: In the days before white-out and computers with spell-check, people crossed out errors, inserted additions in tiny writing between the lines, and wrote extended comments in the margins. The context of a word or phrase can often provide clues to what a mysterious word is, and if several letters fit the clue, write that in and add [probably, hard to read] if you aren't quite sure about it. If you can't decipher it, say something like [tiny writing, can't decipher] or [words torn out] or [illegible, blotched]. Unusual Organization: Note text placed in unusual places with [in left margin from bottom to top] before a phrase written in the left margin, [at bottom left] for an addressee (they did this so when the page was folded the address would be visible), or [notation apparently added later] for material added by someone other than the original author -- such as an archivist. Contextual Notes: It may be helpful to indicate the likely date of a letter by noting the date of the event to which it refers [the battle of the Brandywine was on Sept 11, 1777]. Help with Old Script Following are several examples of writing that may be obscure for people not familiar with 18th century writing. is three examples of & (ampersant) The letter "s" can be written in the modern was (as in "Christiania" 1st graphic below), but a double S, as "ss" may look more like "sf" as in "Impressing" (2nd graphic below), where the second "s" looks like the "f" in "for" (1st graphic below). Several Extended Examples

Christiania [sic] Bridge Jany 31 1783. 6 PM On hearing last Evening by Lt Bennet of the D Reg [Delaware Regiment] there was [sic] two large Packets for the Generl [abbrev] assembl [?? can't decipher],

and some others in public should have a wrap in my oppinion [sic] & Impressing [?hard to decipher?] Provisions & as & letter & my last [doesn't make sense], have enclosd [sic] you the whole

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