Practical Paleography

Practical Paleography is an opportunity to learn how to read secretary hand in a completely informal setting. These sessions were originally sponsored by Early Modern Manuscripts Online (EMMO) for staff and researchers at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Each session will focus on transcription and mark-up (i.e. XML encoding) of 16th or 17th century manuscript pages from the Folger collection in Dromio, the Folger's transcription platform.

No experience or registration is required, and you can attend as many or as few sessions as you like. Handouts will be provided. Please bring a laptop if possible.

The Alphabet Book contains examples of early modern alphabets, abbreviations, Roman numerals, and other resources. Also handy is the alphabet cribsheet template, for copying out letter forms in an unfamiliar hand.

Questions about Dromio? Check out Dromio Frequently Asked Questions to see if your question is covered there. Want to learn more about paleography? Check out List of online resources for early modern English paleography.

Also see resources developed by EMMO partners for using Dromio during transcribathons:

EMROC's guide to using Dromio

EMPOP's guide to using Dromio

Practical Paleography Series Fourteen: Still Virtual

Heather Wolfe, Nicole Winard, and Sara Schliep will lead these sessions. We will meet via Zoom on Thursdays from 1pm to 2pm (EST) for ten sessions, September 5 through November 7. As before, there will be two rooms, a beginner/refresher room and an intermediate room. Participants are welcome to drift between them. Anything we transcribe as a group will be added to the EMMO corpus!

The sessions are:

       Sep 5, 2024 01:00 PM
       Sep 12, 2024 01:00 PM
       Sep 19, 2024 01:00 PM
       Sep 26, 2024 01:00 PM
       Oct 3, 2024 01:00 PM
       Oct 10, 2024 01:00 PM
       Oct 17, 2024 01:00 PM
       Oct 24, 2024 01:00 PM
       Oct 31, 2024 01:00 PM
       Nov 7, 2024 01:00 PM

If you are interested in joining us, contact Sara (sbschliep@folger.edu) for the Zoom link and calendar invite. Material for the series can be found at Dromio by navigating to 1-To-be-transcribed > PracticalPaleography (unless otherwise noted).

Mystery manuscript homework

Sept. 5: n/a

Sept. 12: L.a.307 and for extra (reading) practice L.a.286

Sept. 19: X.d.483 (100) and for extra practice L.f.517

Sept. 26: L.f.830 and for extra practice L.f.557 (an inventory) and/or L.f.534 (a receipted bill)

Oct. 3: continue with the second leaf of L.f.557, and get started on L.a.144

Oct. 10: L.f.410, continuing with L.a.144

Oct. 17: L.b.675 and for extra practice X.d.533 (short bit of Latin) or L.f.887

Oct. 24: X.c.132 (1) (Letters folder) and L.d.76 (Bacon-Townshend folder)

Oct. 31: continue with L.f.410

Nov. 7:

Practical Paleography Series Thirteen: Still Virtual

Heather Wolfe and Sara Schliep will lead these sessions with several guest appearances by Nicole Winard. We will meet via Zoom on Thursdays from 1pm to 2pm (EST) for ten sessions, January 18 through March 21. As before, there will be two rooms, a beginner/refresher room and an intermediate room. Participants are welcome to drift between them. Anything we transcribe as a group will be added to the EMMO corpus!

The sessions are:

      Jan 18, 2024 01:00 PM
      Jan 25, 2024 01:00 PM
      Feb 1, 2024 01:00 PM
      Feb 8, 2024 01:00 PM
      Feb 15, 2024 01:00 PM
      Feb 22, 2024 01:00 PM
      Feb 29, 2024 01:00 PM
      Mar 7, 2024 01:00 PM
      Mar 14, 2024 01:00 PM
      Mar 21, 2024 01:00 PM

If you are interested in joining us, contact Sara (sbschliep@folger.edu) for the Zoom link and calendar invite. Material for the series can be found at Dromio by navigating to 1-To-be-transcribed > PracticalPaleography (unless otherwise noted).

Mystery manuscript homework
NB: Homework listed is the manuscript for the following week's meeting. (E.g., X.d.483 (147a) will be discussed on Jan. 25.)

Jan. 25: X.d.483 (147a) and for extra practice X.d.483 (147b)

Feb. 1: L.f.256 and for extra practice X.d.483 (115)

Feb. 8: X.d.104 (8)

Feb. 15: X.d.104 (1, 4, 5); might have a look at the Latin ones as well: X.d.104 (2, 3)

Feb. 22: X.d.104 (6, 7)

Feb. 29:

Mar. 7: L.f.576 and for extra practice L.f.761 (more Rose Hale)

ATTN Beginners: X.d.225 is in the Practical Paleography folder if you want to start transcribing before we meet on March 7!

Mar. 14: L.f.147 (more Rose Hale) and for extra practice L.f.585

Mar. 21: L.d.669 (in the Bacon-Townsend folder)

Practical Paleography Series Twelve: Still Virtual

Heather Wolfe and Sara Schliep will lead these sessions with several guest appearances by Nicole Winard. We will meet via Zoom on Thursdays from 1pm to 2pm (EST) for ten sessions, September 7 through November 8. As before, there will be two rooms, a beginner/refresher room and an intermediate room. Participants are welcome to drift between them. Anything we transcribe as a group will be added to the EMMO corpus!

The sessions are:

      Sep 7, 2023 01:00 PM
      Sep 14, 2023 01:00 PM
      Sep 21, 2023 01:00 PM
      Sep 28, 2023 01:00 PM
      Oct 5, 2023 01:00 PM
      Oct 12, 2023 01:00 PM
      Oct 19, 2023 01:00 PM
      Oct 26, 2023 01:00 PM
      Nov 2, 2023 01:00 PM
      Nov 9, 2023 01:00 PM

If you are interested in joining us, contact Sara (sbschliep@folger.edu) for the Zoom link and calendar invite. Material for the series can be found at Dromio by navigating to 1-To-be-transcribed > PracticalPaleography.

Mystery manuscript homework
NB: Homework listed is the assignment for the following week's meeting. (E.g., L.d.385 will be discussed on Sep. 14.)

Sep. 14: L.d.385 and for extra practice L.d.62 (both in the Bacon-Townsend folder); bring any outstanding questions on L.d.670

Sep. 21: X.d.428 (186) and for extra practice X.d.428 (29)

Sep. 28: L.d.454 and for extra practice L.f.656 (for the beginners, we'll look at X.d.313)

Oct. 5: L.f.254 and for extra practice L.f.262

Oct. 12: L.f.418 and for extra practice L.f.404

Oct. 19: L.f.139 and for extra practice L.f.67 (for the beginners, continue with X.d.80 in Dromio)

Oct. 26: X.d.483 (144) and for extra practice L.f.410

Nov. 2: L.f.545 and for extra practice L.f.1040

Nov. 9: X.d.483 (112) and for extra practice L.d.795

Practical Paleography Series Eleven: Still Virtual

Folger archivist Sara Schliep and Folger docent Nicole Winard will lead the fall 2022 Practical Paleography series. Sessions occur on Thursdays from 1pm to 2pm (EST) beginning September 22. Nicole's Beginner's/Refresher sessions will run for the first six weeks and Sara's Intermediate mystery manuscript sessions will run every week through December 8 (skipping the November 24th Thanksgiving holiday) for a total of 11 sessions.

The sessions are:

      Sep 22, 2022 01:00 PM
      Sep 29, 2022 01:00 PM
      Oct 6, 2022 01:00 PM
      Oct 13, 2022 01:00 PM
      Oct 20, 2022 01:00 PM
      Oct 27, 2022 01:00 PM
      Nov 3, 2022 01:00 PM
      Nov 10, 2022 01:00 PM
      Nov 17, 2022 01:00 PM
      Dec 1, 2022 01:00 PM
      Dec 8, 2022 01:00 PM

If you are interested in joining us, contact Sara (sbschliep@folger.edu) for the Zoom link and calendar invite. Material for the series can be found at Dromio by navigating to 1-To-be-transcribed > PracticalPaleography.

Mystery manuscript homework
NB: Homework listed is the assignment for the following week's meeting. (E.g., L.e.611 will be discussed on Sep. 29.)

Sep. 22: L.e.611 and for extra practice X.d.138 (6) [in Italian]; bring any outstanding questions on X.d.687 (3)

Sep. 29: X.c.61 (101) and for extra practice X.d.483 (159)

Oct. 6: X.d.483 (152) and for extra practice X.d.483 (163)

Oct. 13: X.d.451 (121) and for extra practice X.d.428 (129)

Oct. 20: X.d.451 (96) and for extra practice X.d.483 (132)

Oct. 27: X.d.428 (10) and for extra practice X.d.428 (69)

Nov. 3: X.d.428 (22) and for extra practice X.c.61 (77)

Nov. 10: L.e.473 (1) and (2) and for extra practice L.e.612

Nov. 17: X.d.428 (152) and for extra practice X.d.428 (173), X.d.428 (86)

Dec. 1: X.d.483 (159) and for extra practice X.d.428 (102) and X.d.428 (103)

Following our series meetings, keep practicing with L.b.116 and G.b.9.

Practical Paleography Series Ten: Still Virtual

Folger archivist Sara Schliep and Folger docent Nicole Winard will lead the spring 2022 Practical Paleography series. It will meet every other week on Thursdays 1pm to 2pm (EST) from January 20 to May 26, for 10 Zoom sessions.

The sessions are:

       Jan 20, 2022 01:00 PM
       Feb 3, 2022 01:00 PM
       Feb 17, 2022 01:00 PM
       Mar 3, 2022 01:00 PM
       Mar 17, 2022 01:00 PM
       Mar 31, 2022 01:00 PM
       Apr 14, 2022 01:00 PM
       Apr 28, 2022 01:00 PM
       May 12, 2022 01:00 PM
       May 26, 2022 01:00 PM

Interested people should contact Sara (sbschliep@folger.edu) for the Zoom link and calendar invite. Material for the series can be found at Dromio by navigating to 1-To-be-transcribed > PracticalPaleography.

Mystery manuscript homework

Jan. 20: X.d.451 (140) and for extra practice L.d.274

Feb. 3: L.d.9 and for extra practice X.c.61 (177)

Feb. 17: X.d.323 and for extra practice X.d.428 (195)

Mar. 3: L.d.311 (in the Bacon-Townshend folder) and L.d.662, which are both short. For even more practice, try L.d.574.

Mar. 17: X.d.67 and for extra practice L.a.930

Mar. 31: FromThePage demo day! (For extra practice try L.a.989 in Dromio)

Apr. 14: Z.d.20 (in FromThePage)

Apr. 28: X.d.483 (181) and X.d.483 (182) in Dromio; bring your FromThePage questions!

May 12: X.d.428 (81) in Dromio

May 26: Z.d.20 Transcribathon in FromThePage! (Bonus transcription: X.d.483 (72) in Dromio)

Practical Paleography Series Nine: Still Virtual

Folger archivist Sara Schliep and Folger docent Nicole Winard will lead the fall 2021 Practical Paleography series. It will meet on Thursdays 1pm to 2pm (EST) from September 9 to December 16, for 13 Zoom sessions. We will have two breakout rooms: Nicole will run the beginners room (for people who want an introduction or refresh of the alphabet, abbreviations, and Dromio) and Sara will run the mystery manuscript room (for people who want to explore the collection and transcribe in Dromio together, with a new manuscript each week).

The sessions are:

       Sep 9, 2021 01:00 PM
       Sep 16, 2021 01:00 PM
       Sep 23, 2021 01:00 PM
       Sep 30, 2021 01:00 PM
       Oct 7, 2021 01:00 PM
       Oct 14, 2021 01:00 PM
       Oct 21, 2021 01:00 PM
       Oct 28, 2021 01:00 PM
       Nov 4, 2021 01:00 PM
       Nov 18, 2021 01:00 PM
       Dec 2, 2021 01:00 PM
       Dec 9, 2021 01:00 PM
       Dec 16, 2021 01:00 PM

Interested people should contact Sara (sbschliep at folger.edu) for the Zoom link and calendar invite. Homework can be found in Dromio by navigating to 1-To-be-transcribed > PracticalPaleography.

Mystery manuscript homework

Sept. 7: X.d.451 (198), L.d.343, and X.d.483 (65)

Sept. 16: L.d.204 (2) and for extra practice, X.c.13 and X.d.483 (66)

Sept. 23: L.d.256 and for extra practice X.d.483 (128)

Sept. 30: X.d.483 (143)

Oct. 7: X.d.483 (45)

Oct. 14: L.d.300

Oct. 21: X.d.483 (145)

Oct. 28: X.d.483 (111) and for extra practice L.d.556 (related to L.d.300 from 2 weeks ago)

Nov. 4: No homework

Nov. 11: No meeting (Veteran's Day), but you can work on X.d.483 (71) for our Nov. 18th meeting

Nov. 18: L.d.460 (to go over at the Dec. 2 meeting)

Nov. 25: No meeting (Thanksgiving Day)

Dec. 2: L.d.460

Dec. 9: X.c.61 (54) and for extra practice L.d.703 (related to L.d.460 from last week)

Dec. 16: L.a.799 and for extra practice L.a.787

Practical Paleography Series Eight: COVID Series

Updated May 11, 2021: Well, we are still going strong! We now meet on Thursdays at 1pm. Please contact Heather Wolfe for the Zoom invitation. We are currently divided into two breakout rooms: one group works on a mystery manuscript each week, and another group is working on John Ward's diary, V.a.294. A beginner Tuesday morning group may begin in June, but beginners are always welcome at Practical Paleography as well. Let Heather Wolfe know if you are interested in the Tuesday group.

Updated June 2, 2020: Practical Paleography Series Seven has extended well beyond its typical six session format, and we have decided to continue meeting at the same time/same Zoom indefinitely. We meet every Tuesday at 2pm to review manuscript "homework" transcriptions and/or learn new concepts. Please contact Heather Wolfe for the Zoom invitation. The group is about 15 people right now and is at the intermediate level, and welcomes new participants. If there is interest in a beginner group, open to anyone, please reach out to Heather Wolfe.

Practical Paleography Series Seven

Update: After session 1 on March 10 we are going virtual! Next meeting will be March 24 via Zoom. We will meet in the Foulke Room in 301 from 2 to 3pm, for six weekly sessions: March 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14, 2020. These sessions are open to all! Folger staff and Folger docents. Please contact Heather Wolfe for the Zoom invitation.

March 10: transcriptions of L.d.18 and L.a.164 from emmo.folger.edu.

March 17: week off

March 24: transcription of V.a.140, fol. 28r

March 31: X.c.62 and worksheet; Wills (transcriptions to be added after class)

April 7: Dromio tutorial (transcribe.folger.edu); introduction to Joscelyn font developed by Prof. Peter Baker, University of Virginia

Practical Paleography Series Six

We will meet in the Board Room from 2:30 to 3:30 on October 8, 15, 22, 29, and November 5, 2019. On November 5, we will be participating in an EMROC transcribathon of Folger MS V.b.400. The transcribathon starts at 10am, so feel free to spend the whole day with us!

Practical Paleography Series Five

We will meet in the Board Room from 3:30 to 4:30 on the following dates: Oct 2, 16, 30 2018; Nov 13, 27 2018; Jan 29 2019; Feb 12 2019; March 12, 26 2019, April 9, 23 2019.

Oct 2 2018

Series Five will include ten sessions led by Dr. Heather Wolfe, Curator of Manuscripts. An introduction to minuscule and majuscule letters of the early modern alphabet will be followed by an opportunity to identify their usage in a manuscript.

Oct 16 2018

After a review of the early modern alphabet, Dr. Wolfe will lead the group in reading a letter by Sir Charles Cornwallis (1621) with attention on abbreviations and brevegraphs.

L.d.242 - Letter from Sir Charles Cornwallis to Roger Townshend, 1st bart

Oct 30 2018

During session three the group will set up their accounts on Dromio, the transcription program. Dr. Wolfe will cover review the meanings of the tags used in transcribing these manuscripts and the group will read the death certificate of Edwin Rich from 1648. Dr. Wolfe will use this certificate to discuss how early modern documents were addressed.

X.d.451 p. 6-7 - Certifies Edwin Rich died 25 Feb 1639 [i.e. 1640]. Signed by the mayor of Hartlepool, Durham.

Nov 13 2018

Dr. Jack Bouchard, Folger Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, will lead the group in a reading of an early modern recipe for gingerbread. This will provide an excellent opportunity for paleographers to become acquainted with the upcoming exhibit, First Chefs.

Jan 29 2019

Session postponed due to snow.

Feb 12 2019

Dr. Owen Williams, Associate Director of Scholarly Programs will further celebration of the First Chefs exhibit by transcribing a recipe from a 1690 pharmaceutical and recipes for seasonal soups from a book divided into two parts with part II being inverted and reversed.

V.b.286 p. 56-57 - Pharmaceutical recipes [manuscript].

V.a.612 - Manuscript cookery book containing more the four hundred and fifty recipes. [manuscript]

Oct 25 2016

The first of ten sessions in the fourth series of Practical Paleography. Curator of Manuscripts Dr Heather Wolfe & EMMO Paleographer Sarah Powell will be on hand to lead the group in transcribing a bargain and sale (L.b.356) from the Loseley Collection, specifically one involving the sale of seven upper rooms to James Burbage. These rooms would become the famous Blackfriars Theatre. The session will start with Dr Heather Wolfe introducing the early modern alphabet.

L.b.356 - More, Sir William. Bargain and sale of seven upper rooms in the Blackfriars to James Burbage ⇒ Transcription

Nov 8 2016

Dr Heather Wolfe will give a brief review of the early modern alphabet and common abbreviations. In the first half of the session the group will transcribe more from L.b.356 (see October 25th session). In the second half of the hour Dr Hillary Nunn will give a short introduction to Lady Grace Castleton's booke of receipts from which the PracPaleo group will transcribe a seventeenth-century recipe for chocolate cream! EMMO Paleographer Sarah Powell will transcribe & tag this transcription on site using Dromio, the Folger's online transcription tool. This special session will serve as a preparation for the Early Modern Recipes Online Collective (EMROC) "transcribathon" at the Folger on Wednesday, November 9th.

Nov 22 2016

In the third session of Practical Paleography we will transcribe L.a.190, from the Papers of the Bagot Family collection. The group will practice writing their own early modern alphabets by copying letters from the manuscript. Dr Heather Wolfe will also explain early modern letter folding. All are welcome.

L.a.190 - To Richard Bagot, Langley⇒ Transcription

Dec 6 2016

This special session of Practical Paleography will be a "Paleography Pub Night" from 5.00 - 7.00pm in the Foulke Conference Room, in tandem with the Folger Institute's Introduction to English Paleography lead by Dr Heather Wolfe. We will look at wine & ale recipes over pizza & beer! EMMO Paleographer Sarah Powell will be on hand to transcribe these transcriptions in Dromio, the Folger's online transcription tool.

Dec 20 2016

In the fifth session of Practical Paleography Dr Meaghan Brown, Dr Lizzie Williamson, Dr Owen Williams and Dr Heather Wolfe will lead the group in transcribing a page of J.b.3, the Women's Prize. We will use Dromio, the Folger's online transcription tool.

Jan 17 2017

In the sixth session of Practical Paleography Curator of Manuscripts Dr Heather Wolfe & EMMO Paleographer Sarah Powell will be on hand to lead the group in transcribing a letter from V.b.333, Papers of the Goodricke family of Ribston Hall, Nidderdale, Yorkshire.

Jan 31 2017

In the seventh session of Practical Paleography EMMO Paleographer Sarah Powell will lead the group in a transcription of a warrant from V.b.333, Papers of the Goodricke family of Ribston Hall, Nidderdale, Yorkshire. We will also further explore Dromio, the Folger's online transcription tool.

V.b.333 (20) - Warrant from Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington, to Sir Henry Goodricke⇒ Transcription

Feb 14 2017

In the eighth session of Practical Paleography EMMO Paleographer Sarah Powell and Curator of Manuscripts Dr Heather Wolfe will lead the group in a transcription of L.a.97, a letter from Walter Bagot to Richard Bagot describing a ' very strange wedding'. We will also go over the homework from last time; a letter from V.b.333 (34), the Papers of the Goodricke Family, Nidderdale Yorkshire. We will use Dromio, the Folger's online transcription tool, to collate these transcriptions.

L.a.97 - Letter from Walter Bagot, London, to Richard Bagot⇒ Transcription

Feb 28 2017

In the ninth session of Practical Paleography Curator of Manuscripts Dr Heather Wolfe will lead the group in a transcription of L.a.857, a letter from Sir Thomas Skrymsher to Walter Bagot. In it he protests a privy seal for 10 that was left for him at Aqualate, since he now lies at Shrewsbury and has a privy seal for Salop (Shropshire), which he will pay. We will use Dromio, the Folger's online transcription tool, to collate these transcriptions.

L.a.857 - Letter from Sir Thomas Skrymsher, Aqualate to Walter Bagot, circa 1610 March 23⇒ Transcription

March 14 2017

Session postponed due to snow.

March 21 2017

In the tenth session of Practical Paleography Curator of Manuscripts Dr Heather Wolfe will look at the use of numbers in early modern manuscripts. The session will also go over the homework from last time; L.a.990.

L.a.990 - Letter from Thomas Worswick, Stafford, to Walter Bagot? ⇒ Transcription

April 4 2017

In this extra session of Practical Paleography Curator of Manuscripts Dr Heather Wolfe & EMMO Paleographer Sarah Powell will help the group pick a manuscript to continue working on remotely. These transcriptions will be added to the EMMO corpus in due course (available on emmo.folger.edu).

• Please note this will take place in Deck A meeting room.

L.a.894 - Letter from William Thomson to Thomas Beardmore ⇒ Transcription

Oct 20 2015

The first of ten sessions in the third series of Practical Paleography. A brief explanation of secretary hand and Dromio, the Folger's online transcription-collation tool. Then a look at V.a.307, a poetical and prose miscellany. People will be encouraged to participate remotely and the manuscript will stay open and accessible to the Folger's paleography community for remote transcription after the end of Tuesday's session.

V.a.307 - Poetical and Prose Miscellany⇒ Transcription

Nov 3 2015

A further look at V.a.307, a poetical and prose miscellany. We will transcribe 29v and 31 in the session. People will be encouraged to participate remotely to transcribe the subsequent pages. The manuscript will stay open and accessible to the Folger's paleography community for remote transcription after the end of Tuesday's session.

V.a.307 - Poetical and Prose Miscellany⇒ Transcription

Nov 17 2015

Continuing with our target to transcribe V.a.307, a poetical and prose miscellany. We will transcribe 30 and 29 in the session. People will be encouraged to participate remotely to transcribe the subsequent pages. The manuscript will stay open and accessible to the Folger's paleography community for remote transcription after the end of Tuesday's session.

V.a.307 - Poetical and Prose Miscellany⇒ Transcription

Dec 1 2015

A further look at V.a.307, a poetical and prose miscellany. We will transcribe 86 in the session. People will be encouraged to participate remotely to transcribe the subsequent pages. The manuscript will stay open and accessible to the Folger's paleography community for remote transcription after the end of Tuesday's session.

V.a.307 - Poetical and Prose Miscellany⇒ Transcription

Dec 15 2015

A special Practical Paleography evening session today: 'Transcription Night 2' will take place at the Big Board, H street, DC. From 5.30pm - 7.30pm we will be transcribing selections from different manuscripts with pitchers of beer as prizes! Come join us!

Jan 12 2016

We will use Dromio, the Folger's online transcription-collation too to transcribe part of X.d.428 in the session. People are encouraged to participate remotely, if they wish.

X.d.428 - To Lady Elizabeth, later Countess of Shrewsbury

Jan 26 2016

Session did not take place. The Folger was closed due to a winter storm.

Feb 9 2016

We will transcribe one page in V.a.307, a poetical and prose miscellany, and a section of an early modern newsletter. Newcomers are welcome and no registration is required.

V.a.307 - Poetical and Prose Miscellany⇒ Transcription

Feb 23 2016

We will transcribe and tag some mid-seventeenth-century letters in this session as part of a special request by Dr. Patrick Tuite of the Department of Drama at Catholic University of America. Dr. Tuite supplied the images and will be joining us for the session. He is working on letters by Arthur Bennet (Earl of Arlington) and Captain Bartlett (who ran the packets sent between Dublin and Holyhead) for an upcoming paper.

Mar 8 2016

We will transcribe and tag a mid-seventeenth-century letter in this session as part of a special request by Dr. Patrick Tuite of the Department of Drama at Catholic University of America. Dr. Tuite supplied the image and will be joining us for the session. He is working on letters by Arthur Bennet (Earl of Arlington) and Captain Bartlett (who ran the packets sent between Dublin and Holyhead) for an upcoming paper. In addition we will transcribe one page in V.a.307, a poetical and prose miscellany, and a section of an early modern newsletter. Newcomers are welcome and no registration is required.

V.a.307 - Poetical and Prose Miscellany⇒ Transcription

May 5 2015

The first of ten sessions in the second series of Practical Paleography running through summer 2015. A brief explanation of secretary hand, minuscule and majuscule letter forms and some common abbreviations (eg. which, with, you, your, the, that). Then a look at two interesting family letters, one from the Papers of the Bagot family and the other from the Bacon-Townshend collection.

L.a.161 – Bagot Family Papers ⇒ Transcription

L.d.18 – Bacon-Townshend Collection ⇒ Transcription

May 19 2015

A recap of how to use dromio, the Folger's online transcription-collation tool, including a brief overview of its tag set. Then an opportunity to transcribe L.a.63, a letter from Walter Bagot's eldest son Lewis to his father. Lewis is writing from commons [at one of the Inns of Court]. He mentions The Kynnersley-Trew case, being followed hard by Sir Walter Chetwynd and Mr. Wolseley (Wouslye).

L.a.63 – Bagot Family Papers ⇒ Transcription

June 2 2015

An examination of numbers, both Arabic and Roman. Also covered will be days, dates and Regnal years (including how to modernize dates), with worksheets providing examples.

June 16 2015

A look at a probate copy of the will of Edward Grant dated April 25th, St Mark's day, 1601. After declaring himself sound in mind and perfect in memory Grant goes on to bequeath a house lease, goods and money to his wife and children. He leaves money to the poor of Toppsfield and Barnet and a copy of Ortelius' book of maps to Westminster's College Library. Not forgetting his friends, he leaves a little silver cup to his affectionate friend Mr Samuel Haslewood.

Z.e.40 (4) – Probate copy of Edward Grant's will ⇒ Transcription

June 30 2015

Latin Part I: A look at some Latin snippets found in the Folger's manuscript collection. EMMO Paleographer Sarah Powell will lead the group in transcribing and translating Latin found in early modern manuscripts, copied from Virgil's Aeneid & Eclogues and Ovid's Metamorphoses, Tristia & Heroides.

July 14 2015

Latin Part II: A further look at Latin taken from the Folger's manuscript collection. EMMO Paleographer Sarah Powell will lead the group in transcribing and translating Latin, including Latin snippets from the Macro Plays: Castle of Perseverance [ca.1440], Henry Oxinden's miscellany [ca.1642-1670], Letter from John Parker at Dublin Castle to Thadeus O'Carroll [1548], Letter from Harvey Bagot at Oxford to his father Walter Bagot [1609], The Smith family miscellany [ca.1620-1655] and annotations by Gabriel Harvey in Facetie, motti, et burle di diversi signori et persone privat [1580-1608]. There will also be an opportunity to use dromio, the Folger's online transcription tool, to transcribe and tag a Latin excerpt from V.b.26, Book of magic, [ca.1577-1583].

V.b.26 -The Book of magic V.b.26 ⇒ Transcription

July 28 2015

An opportunity to transcribe an interesting page written in English secretary hand from the Diaries of Richard Stonley, 1581-1598, including Latin citations from Book 3 of Cato's distichs on the need to balance work with pleasure. There will be a further opportunity to compare these transcriptions at the end of the session, using dromio, the Folger's online transcription-collation tool.

V.b.460 - Diaries of Richard Stonley V.a.460 ⇒ Transcription

August 11 2015

A look at drama in manuscript form, using the seventeenth-century play The Inconstant Lady. Transcriptions will be collated and compared at the end of the session.

J.b.1- The Inconstant Lady J.b.1 ⇒ Transcription

August 26 2015

An opportunity to transcribe two pages from the Commonplace book of Matthew Day ca.1650 using Dromio, the Folger's online transcription-collation tool. Transcriptions will also vetted in the latter part of the session.

V.a.160-The Commonplace book of Matthew Day V.a.160⇒ Transcription

September 8 2015

A look at a page on Italy and the Medicis of Florence, taken from Edmund Tilney's Topographical Descriptions, Regiments and Policies. Transcriptions will be collated at the end of the session to produce a final version, using dromio, the Folger's online transcription-collation tool.

V.b.182 -Topographical Descriptions, Regiments and Policies by Edmund Tilney V.b.182⇒ Transcription

Nov. 18 2014

Brief introduction to secretary hand and common abbreviations. Intriguing recipes from the following manuscript collections:

V.a.430 – Cookery and medicinal recipes of the Granville family ⇒ Transcriptions

V.b.301 – Cookbook of Grace Blome ⇒ Transcriptions

Dec. 2 2014

Quick review of alphabet then a look at some interesting letters from the following manuscript:

X.c.61 – Papers of the Rattray family of Craighall ⇒ Transcriptions

X.c.61 (119) – Letter from John Ogilvy of Balfour to James Rattray of Craighall, 1674 September 9 ⇒ Transcription

X.c.61 (137) – Letter from John Ogilvy of Balfour to James Rattray of Craighall 1677 April ⇒Transcription

Dec. 16 2015

Further examination of secretary hand and review of alphabet before working with a volume of a poetical miscellany:

V.a.245 – Poetical miscellany (manuscript)⇒ Transcriptions

Dec. 30 2015

A very brief review of the alphabet and some of the common abbreviations used in secretary hand and then a look at two letters with seasonal references from the Papers of the Bagot Family⇒ Transcriptions

L.a.156 – Letter from Walter Bagot to an unnamed knight ⇒ Transcription

L.a.176 – Letter from William Bagot (Walter's son), Oxford, to Walter Bagot, 1619 November 7 ⇒ Transcription

Jan. 13 2015

Introduction to Dromio, the Folger's online transcription/collation tool, and semi-diplomatic conventions and then a chance to practice both transcribing and encoding secretary hand with some poetry from a volume of poetical miscellany :

V.a.245 – Poetical miscellany (manuscript)⇒ Transcriptions

Jan. 27 2015

A quick refresher on the use of Dromio and conventions of semi-diplomatic transcription, and then practice transcribing a mixed secretary/italic hand with a newsletter about some maritime matters:

L.c.2102 – Newdigate family collection of newsletters ⇒ Transcriptions

Feb. 10 2015

An introduction into the way numbers were written in manuscripts of the time, and then an opportunity to transcribe some interesting lists of items (with numbers) in :

V.b.147 – Inventories of the Townshend family ⇒ Transcriptions

Feb. 24 2015

An educational experience with quill pens, iron gall ink, and rag paper followed by a turn at transcribing an early modern recipe for black ink.

V.a.159 – A Miscellany (sometimes known as Giles Lodge's Lute-Book)⇒ Transcriptions

Mar. 10

A quick review of numbers and then a more specific look at how numbers are used in references to money in early modern manuscripts. Several examples of amounts will be shown in snippets from the Bacon-Townshend collection, then a transcription of a bill/receipt to Lady Stanhope.

L.d.101–775 – Bacon-Townshend collection ⇒ Transcription

Mar. 24 2015

A brief review of features in Dromio and then a chance to transcribe some chivalric romance, specifically a few pages about the adventures of St. Denis and his horse from V.a.139 – Gawdy Brampton's rhyming version of Richard Johnson's very popular literary work.

V.a.139 - The Famous Histories of the Seven Champions of Christendom ⇒ Transcription