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Archiver > SOCAL > 1998-06 > 0897948307


From: <>
Subject: Paleography - anyone?
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 18:05:07 EDT


Howdy,
Until last Saturday(June 13th) I had never heard of PALEOGRAPHY. But I'll
bet in this group, I'm in the minority.
My old, old "Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary" defines paleography as
"the study or science of deciphering ancient writings, determing their origin,
period, etc." I suspect the definition of "ancient" is in the eye of the
beholder:-)
Anyway, our local downtown liberry head jennilologist, Lloyd BOCKSTRUCK,
wrote in his weekly column in our remaing newspaper, on how "Paleography is
valuable in research." Essentially, his column was a review of a recent book
I'm not touting, or even naming, the new book - just want to explore
paleography. And HOPE that one, or more, of you kind souls with give us some
helpful handwriting reading hints, erc.
Bockstruck says::
"Genealogists and historians must spend much of their time searching
original records - either in libraries, archives or courthouses. Prior to much
of the 20th century, these original sources will be handwritten. That format
makes it necessary to master letter forms in the records of yesteryear. the
styles of handwriting vary over time and by language. Paleography is the study
of reading old handwriting. If you are at least 50 years old, you can recall
your report card actually contained a grade for your penmanship - that
emphasis on handwriting will certainly be reflected in the records."
.[BOY, can I - a cursed subject for us lefthanders, never, ever, ever
made an "A" in it.]
A little more quoting, before I throw it to you:
"I recall one novice who recounted how she had traced her lineage back
to the fifth century. What she had actually done is copy the work of somebody
else. She had absolutely no ability to read the original records and, no
doubt, would have been utterly frustrated in trying to read 19th-century
American English. A 17th century document would have appeared utterly
unrecognizable to her."
.[I once tried to read a 15th or 16th century will filed in East Anglia,
Eng. - what a joke! With liberry help, I think we got the spouse's name and
maybe, just maybe, a couple of children. But that's all I needed}
Bockstruck closes with:
"It remains for someone to prepare a definitive work on American
paleography incorporating the French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Swedis
languages as well." Without further adieu, folks, care to share your
paleography expertise? If not expertise, then what about your handwriting
pitfalls and mess ups:-)))

I can't tell you how many times I have seen my Norris spelled Morris. And
according to my Santa Maria Valley researcher friend Alice<AMitch2398>, it's
spelled MORRIS:-( at least one time in a CA county U.S. Census.:-).

Have a nice day,
Bob Norris in Dallas
<BNorris166aol.com>

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