Understanding Colonial Handwriting

by Harriet Stryker-Rodda

Harriet Stryker-Rodda presents examples of colonial letter forms and script, showing the letter forms in the process of development and marking the ways in which they differ from later letter forms. She also provides a comparison of English and American handwriting and examples of name forms and signatures all to bear out her central thesis, that the reader must find meaning in a group of symbols without needing to see each letter of which the whole is composed. This is indispensable in dealing with the problems of reading and interpretation.

Genres: History

26 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Dorothea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charmingly-written pamphlet that developed from a lecture. It begins with a summary of the history of handwriting in Europe that informed writing in the American colonies, and incorporates the evolution of pens and ink. Then there is an encouraging description of the task of reading an unfamiliar handwriting. The pamphlet concludes with a few examples -- individual letters, signatures, and some words to show how letters can fit together.

I don't think this could be enough for most people to learn early American paleography, but it is a pleasure to read and full of sensible, well-contextualized principles. It lacks detailed instructions for transcription and longer examples, both of which can be found elsewhere.

[Jess Saravia 🧚‍♀️✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s ok... a little too colonized for my taste but some interesting facts and tips in here.