Wanted - A few crazy people
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
As some know there is a continuing Numismatic Transcription Project whose goal is to convert US Mint documents from handwritten to machine-readable text. (Several board members have been or are participants.) These volunteers work on individual letters which I send them.
Now, however, we are gradually producing images of complete volumes of US mint correspondence. A typical volume might contain 500 pages of letters plus 25 pages of an index. Each page can have one to four letters on it.
To make these volumes available for research, every page of the original has to be transcribed. This is a massive task yet at present it is the only way to unlock the secrets hidden in these volumes.
We have handwritten volumes beginning in the 1830s, and typed (but not OCR'able) volumes from the Philadelphia Mint, Denver Mint and Mint Headquarters. PDF files will come through the Newman Numismatic Portal (NNP) and completed transcriptions will be uploaded to the NNP site on completion and checking.
Anyone out there who might be interested in tackling one volume, please let me know.
_
PS: One option is for a club to "adopt-a-book."_ Each member might transcribe a few pages, then pass it on to another, until the entire thing is complete (or maybe a large portion).
Comments
I'll be the first to apologize in public to Roger as I requested to join this project and while the first batch of letters sent were very interesting to read and not too hard to figure out (the folks in this batch had good penmanship), I didn't have the time to even complete one and send it back.
I hope some retired numismatists here can make up for my failure. We all look forward to Roger's posts!
Perhaps a summer seminar group session.
Are there time constraints on this project? Sounds like a fun project but I can only devote a few hours a week.
I have been called crazy many times. I am not this crazy tho, good luck with your awesome project.
Time to go back out into the Pacific Ocean on my kayak to see if I can see a third huge great white shark
I did it for awhile too. But either I forgot to request more, or Roger forgot to send them....whichever....but it was for the best since real-life tended to get in the way of my progress.
I may jump back in at some point.....I'll tag this thread.
I will say that I did enjoy it a great deal! Even the most mundane of correspondence was interesting for anyone interested in the history locked up in them!
There are no time deadlines, but we ask that volunteers complete a minimum of 100 consecutive pages within a few months. Transcriptions will be typed in MSWord (or similar) and meet certain simple layout requirements such as identifying the original page number.
Many pages have 3 or 4 short letters and are thus mostly blank. Others are full page typed or handwritten and might continue for several pages. Here are three sample pages (reduced size):
Philadelphia Mint & Related - letters sent (1837)
Mint Headquarters - letters sent (1882)
Denver Mint - letters sent (1911)
Talking about hardcore. I am crazy but not Insane
For those who offered to help with individual letter transcriptions (and who continue to do so), your efforts - regardless of how great or small - are appreciated. This is not something everyone feels comfortable doing, and it can be a very taxing endeavor. Transcribers face variations in old handwriting, confusing syntax, obsolete words/letters, and odd word choices - these things make it more difficult to figure out what word(s) the writer intended.
On the other hand, there is a tremendous challenge and subtle reward in knowing that you've helped open the doors of numismatic knowledge - even if just a little.
Awhile back there was a thread about how important cursive writing is, and how sad some schools do not teach it today and I disagreed by saying today's keyboards do not have cursive keys. Dexterity was an augment but videos game overcome that and way more.
Here is a perfect example why cursive may not be a good idea ....
It is also an example of why this work needs to be done while older folks who learned to write in longhand are still alive. This was an easy one to read with only two words unknown.
I'll bet the government could sell these original pages in auctions after they are copied and transcribed. Don't hate me.
Here is an interesting thought. Why not just post a few pages on this forum per day and let everyone takes a crack on it?
I have done these transcriptions and am continuing at my leisure to enjoy the diversion they provide. I find them mostly interesting and they have motivated me to explore other areas of interest through the topics covered. I open them up only when I am feeling motivated. What I do appreciate most is that Roger reminds me that there is no expectation of output or rate of production to which I must adhere. I agree there is a very subtle reward, yet I do feel it- that maybe, just maybe someone else will also benefit from my efforts.
Interesting idea. However I suspect the board hosts (and board members) would not like having their servers clogged with these page files. If there were a dedicated server/web site someplace that might be workable, though.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
I was doing this for awhile as well. I enjoyed the history, the challenge and the linguistic peculiarities very much.
I'd be willing to give it a crack, Roger, if you'll have me. We'll see if what you're proposing here overwhelms.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
I still have a few yet to do, Roger. I'll get to those soon.
Those who are interested send me a PM with your email address. I'll send you the simple instructions an a 10 page sample. Let me know if you want typed, early Philadelphia or HQ pages.
Here's a reduced size sample transcription from two full pages and part of another. Notice the use of the original page number in bracketed bold red on the left, and the ample blank lines between items. These will make machine reading accurate and allow users to match transcribed text against the original volume pages. Notice that text flows from one page to the next with no attempt to make each original page = each transcription page.
I am glad you are getting help with this most worthy task Roger. I cannot join the effort at this time. I do hope you get further volunteers though. I enjoy reading the old documents (letters) you post. The separate site/forum is also an interesting concept that could help. Cheers, RickO
Thanks for the encouragement. The project scale is daunting, but with present technology, it is impossible to transcribe any other way.
A couple of members signed on to give this a try. One has already returned 10 pages of excellent transcription from one of the Denver Mint volumes!