[Genealib] Transcribing Civil War Diaries

Tue Oct 24 17:08:12 EDT 2006

It is generally good practice to not correcting factual errors or mistakes of grammar or spelling in the original. --

I <unclear> must </unclear> start home in the morning on furlow [sic] ...

 <<    Because spelling was not important to early Americans, words were often written the way they sounded or "phonetically" in local accents. The same word may be spelled two or more different ways in the same document. 
        Transcribe documents exactly as they appear in the original. If you wish to include a personal interpretation of a word or abbreviation in the transcription of a document, brackets [ ] should be used. Indicate the omission of letters or words which are hard to read by using the word "illegible" within brackets, [illegible], or a question mark [?]. Use [sic], set in italics and inserted in brackets, to indicate that the word has been transcribed exactly as written, or that the original word was misspelled.  >>  (Kip Sperry)  

Punctuation, spelling errors, grammar, etc. are not  a sign of ignorance although probably a lack of formal education.  However, this is certainly not the only early diaries or letters with the same problem .. and some by those considered to have education in their day.  To destroy their integrity in any manner whatsoever destroys their real worth.  

I take issue with the person who told your volunteer to delete 'derogatory remarks.'  Who are we  to say that the remarks were derogatory --- maybe they were the truth!  

My preference for such material is to photocopy and add a preface or introduction.  This is not always possible so if a transcription must be made, my suggestion is to do it 'as is.'  

Trevia Wooster Beverly
Houston, Texas

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Levy, Suzanne S. 
  To: Librarians Serving Genealogists ; Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 2:20 PM
  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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