What Our Volunteers Do
Each volunteer gets a set of handwritten letters, accounts, or plans to work on. They access scanned documents on SharePoint and transcribe them into Word documents. This careful work brings our historical records to life in a new way.
Why Transcription Matters
Easier Searches
Transcribed documents are word searchable. This means researchers can quickly find names and places using the “Find” function. It’s a huge time-saver, especially if you’re working with many documents or have limited information to go on.
Accessibility
Transcribing documents also makes them accessible to more people. Handwritten texts can be hard to read, especially for those with visual impairments or those who use screen readers. Transcriptions ensure everyone can access and read these documents.
Tackling Handwriting Challenges
Reading old handwriting can be tough. Our volunteers do the hard work of deciphering these texts, making sure they’re accurate and easy to read. This effort helps preserve our history and makes research easier for everyone.
When you explore our Collections portal, remember the volunteers who made it possible. Their dedication helps keep our archives accessible and useful. We’re grateful for their hard work and commitment.
-Volunteer, The Common Room
