Research Guides: Archive Discovery: A How-To Guide: Paleography / Reading Old Handwriting

Historical Handwriting

Handwriting styles have changed significantly over time. Especially since we are so comfortable with computer printing today, it can take some work to adjust to reading handwriting in historical documents from different places and periods.

These resources might help you get started.

Tips for Reading Old Records: Handwriting, Spelling, and Boundaries
(Genealogy.com)
Simple Tips For Reading Old Handwriting in Genealogy Documents
(Are You My Cousin? [genealogy blog])
National Archives' Paleography Tutorial, 1500-1800
"This web tutorial will help you learn to read the handwriting found in documents written in English between 1500 and 1800." (National Archives)
English Handwriting 1500-1700: Free Online Course from Cambridge
"Drawing on the rich manuscript holdings of some of the older Cambridge colleges, it presents an extensive archive of manuscript images unparalleled in printed guides and introductions. Joined to this you will find a range of pedagogical materials--transcription conventions, tips on dating, a bibliography and list of links--suitable for beginners, but convenient also for continuing reference."
Deciphering 19th Century Handwriting and Type in Records & Newspapers
Shows a good example of how to reason your way through difficult-to-decipher handwriting. Also provides a chart of common mistakes in newspaper typesetting and printing. (GenealogyBank.com Blog)
Medieval Paleography - Free Online Course
(University of London's Institute of Historical Research)
Brigham Young University's Script Tutorial
Includes palaeography exercises in English, German, Dutch, Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese (Brigham Young Univ.)
Find More Free Online Paleography Resources...
List of resources compiled by the many-headed monster' blog