[Genealib] Transcribing Civil War Diaries

[April Earle]

I do not know if there is a right or wrong answer to this, but I have
dealt with some Civil War letters. I have a few that were photocopied
from my relative's pension file. I used those letters to work with a
fifth grade class in the same community that the Civil War soldier was
from. I showed the students the letter as it was written. I also
transcribed the letter exactly as the soldier had written it, spelling
mistakes and all. I did not interpret in writing what the soldier was
trying to say. We discussed that as a group in some instances.
Personally, I think that if you are going to transcribe the letters, a
true transcription should be letter by letter. I wouldn't correct
spelling or editorialize in anyway. I think that removes some of the
value of the letter. If I was not able to determine what word the
soldier wrote, I used "_" in place of the illegible letter or words.

 

-April

 

-----Original Message-----
From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Levy,
Suzanne S.
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 3:20 PM
To: Librarians Serving Genealogists; Discussion of research and writing
about Virginia history
Subject: [Genealib] Transcribing Civil War Diaries

 

ONe of my volunteers owns a family Civil War Diary and 80 letters from
the diarist to his wife. Her question is in transcribing how do you deal
with punctuation, spelling errors, grammar, etc.? His vocabulary, but
his spelling and grammar are atrocious. He has also made rare derogatory
remarks about companions and superiors and she has been advised against
including full text of those remarks.

 

She has checked Turabian and Chicago Manual of Style for ideas but they
weren't helpful. A google search has also not been very productive.

 

Can anyone recommend any guidelines or offer suggestions on how best to
approach this. She is leaning toward transcribing them as written but
wants to make them understandable.

 

Any information and ideas would be most welcome. I thank you.

 

Suzanne S. Levy, Virginia Room Librarian

Fairfax City Regional Library

3915 Chain Bridge Road

Fairfax VA 22030

703-293-6383

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/vr/

 

suzanne.levy at fairfaxcounty.gov

 

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