10/22/2026
One of the most fascinating aspects of archival work is transcription: converting handwritten or printed historical documents, letters, ledgers, and records into searchable digital text.
Take this 1879 handwritten deed from Conrad Albrecht to The Houston Cemetery Company (Glenwood Cemetery), for example. Through transcription, we can piece together history, solve centuries-old mysteries, and gain a clearer window into Glenwood Cemetery's early landscape.
If you want to transcribe your family heirlooms, journals, or letters at home, keep these simple guidelines in mind:
1. Transcribe Verbatim: Type everything exactly as it is written, including any original spelling and grammatical errors.
2. Use Digital Copies: Work from a high-resolution photo or scan to protect the original paper and allow for close inspection.
3. Utilize Brackets: Use [illegible] or [word?] whenever the handwriting is too faded or unclear.
4. Identify Letter Patterns: Examine the rest of the page to recognize how the writer forms specific letters like S, T, or e.
5. Preserve Line Breaks: Keep paragraphs and line breaks identical to the source to facilitate easy side-by-side reading.
Transcribing these records gives the written word a digital voice, ensuring their stories remain accessible to our community and our families in the future.
Happy Transcribing!
