You Can Read Handwritten Documents! -- It's not all about handwriting Post #3

 

"United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYG-TZ3?cc=1803959&wc=3XTM-1JC%3A1584070703%2C1584070750%2C1584071568 : 14 May 2015), Massachusetts > Barnstable > Barnstable > image 2 of 7; citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

The image above illustrates some of the problems associated with trying to read handwritten documents. Although deciphering the script itself can be a challenge, often the real problems include damage to the original document, faded ink, improper conservation and preservation efforts, and physical deterioration of the document. This 1790 U.S. Federal Census Schedule from Barnstable, Massachusetts illustrates all of these problems. Here is an analysis of each problem.

This part of the image seems to show some sort of tape, possibly cellophane tape used to reinforce or repair the document. Most of these early efforts were misguided. The tape would discolor with age and as here, the image would be obscured and impossible to read. When the information in the document is completely missing, as in this and some of the additional examples I will show below, the information is just lost and usually unrecoverable. 

This part of the document shows physical damage with parts of the document missing. Again, this is not an issue that can be resolved. The information has been completely lost. The discolorization of the edges of the larger missing piece could be from a fire. 

This part of the document shows "bleed-through" from the following page. Because ink is a liquid, when you write on one side of the page and when the paper is porous, you will see the reverse image on the preceding page. The discoloration of this part of the page also appears to be from some kind of tape used to mend a tear caused by folding the paper. 

The bold number was added to the document at a later time. It is likely a page number in some compilation of the original documents. 

It is a given that the physical condition of the document and the preservation efforts or lack thereof will dramatically affect the researcher's ability to obtain information. This is something, like the passage of time, we can do nothing about now but it should be an incentive to adequately preserve and care for genealogically important documents.