Pen, Paper, Presence: Deciphering Historical Documents

As part of the Educating for the Virtues of Attention (EVA) initiative, the Wilson Special Collections Library will host a hands-on transcription event inviting students to practice mindful attention through close reading and historical inquiry. Participants will work with handwritten documents, such as letters and diaries, from the Library’s collections while learning strategies for deciphering cursive and unfamiliar handwriting. With guidance from library staff, students will slow down, attend to the details of each document, and consider what handwritten records can reveal about the lives and experiences of people from the past.

 

No prior experience with historical handwriting is required. Join us for community, conversation, and food!