As you begin researching your family you will eventually find a need to read old handwriting (also called script). Learning how to decipher old difficult-to-read documents can be a valuable tool for genealogists. Typewriters did not become generally available until near the end of the 19th Century. So, it is inevitable that as you go back in time doing genealogical research, you will encounter various forms of cursive handwriting. One of the first places you may find cursive handwriting to be a challenge is with census records and vital records.
Understanding old handwriting can be a challenging task, but it can be a rewarding one. By learning about old handwriting, you can gain access to a wealth of information that can help you discover your family history. Fortunately, there are online resources that can help you learn.
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Beginning the process of deciphering old handwriting
In the past, schoolchildren were taught cursive handwriting. In the United States, the teaching of cursive has been almost completely abandoned and many younger people today cannot read old handwritten letters, documents, and certificates. You do not have to learn how to write in cursive to learn how to read what others have written but you do have to take the time to learn and recognize the letter forms.
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To begin deciphering a handwritten document start with a recent document such as the 1950 U.S. Census. You should try to identify each individual letter. To help, there are hundreds of online examples of alphabet cards in many languages. Alphabet Cards show examples of each letter in an alphabet with both upper- and lower-case letters. A search for alphabet cards with the country and approximate date will get you started. The most common handwriting style in the United States and many other countries since the late 1800s is the Palmer Method of penmanship. During the mid-1900s, the Palmer method was replaced by the Zaner-Bloser script.
As you work on deciphering a difficult script spend only a short time, less than half an hour, then quit for the day. Look for common words and phrases. If you are looking at digital files, magnify the image to see more detail. Try looking at the script each day for a short time and meanwhile study the closest alphabet card you can find. Over a week or so, the letters will start to appear. If the script is in an unfamiliar language, you can find genealogical word lists online to help. See Genealogical Word Lists.
Get help with a script tutorial
Paleography (spelled Palaeography in England) is the study of ancient writing systems and the deciphering and dating of historical manuscripts. Here is a list of some of the websites with tutorials about different historic handwriting styles.
- Brigham Young University's Script Tutorial - instructions about the script in various languages
- English Handwriting Online 1500-1700 - a variety of resources including lessons from Cambridge College, England
- Paleography: reading old handwriting 1500 - 1800 - A practical online tutorial - from the British National Archives
- The Oxford Handbook of Latin Palaeography - for very old Latin script
Writing styles have changed over time so the further you go back in time; the language of the document may change as well as the handwriting.
Explore more about old handwriting
- Deciphering Old Handwriting: Paleography Strategies and Tips on the MyHeritage Knowledge Base
- Names: I Can't Read That! on the MyHeritage Blog