For genealogists and historians, old manuscripts are often the richest sources of family history, but reading them can feel like learning a new language.
Handwriting styles changed across centuries, and many letters were written differently than they are today. With patience, practice, and a few strategies, you can learn to decipher the quirks of historical handwriting.
Start with the Script Style
Before diving into a document, try to identify the time period and style of handwriting:
- Secretary hand (16th–17th century England): Angular letters, long descenders, and confusing use of “r” and “s.”
- Italic hand (16th century onward): More rounded and easier to read, often used in personal letters.
- Copperplate / Round hand (18th–19th centuries): Elegant, looping letters common in formal documents and registers.
- Spencerian / Palmer hand (19th–early 20th century America): Familiar cursive style, though sometimes overly flourished.
Knowing the likely style narrows down how letters were typically formed.
Focus on Individual Letters
Here are some commonly confused letters and how to spot them:
- “s” vs. “f”: In many older scripts, the long s looks like an “f” without the full crossbar (example: “satisfaction” may look like “fatisfaction”).
- “r” vs. “v”: The secretary hand “r” sometimes looks like a modern “v,” especially in words like “Mary” or “married.”
- “u” vs. “n”: In tightly written documents, these can be indistinguishable. Count the humps and look at context (e.g., “burn” vs. “bum”).
- “c” vs. “t”: A faint cross-stroke can make a “c” look like a “t” or vice versa.
- “e”: In many scripts, “e” is just a small loop, sometimes open at the top, which can resemble “o.”
- Abbreviations: A superscript squiggle often stands for omitted letters (e.g., “ye” for “the,” or “wth” for “with”).
Use Patterns and Context
- Look for repeated words – Names like “William,” “Elizabeth,” or “Thomas” appear often. Once you recognize a name, it becomes a reference point.
- Read aloud – Sounding out the letters often reveals familiar words hidden in unusual spellings.
- Consider spelling flexibility – Before the 19th century, spelling wasn’t standardized. “Smith,” “Smyth,” and “Smithe” might all appear in the same family.
Practical Tips for Success
- Compare letters within the same document – How the clerk wrote “h” in one word will help you spot it in another.
- Transcribe in pencil (or digitally) – Leave room to revise as you learn more.
- Work with high-quality images – Zooming in on ink strokes can make the difference between “Carter” and “Caster.”
- Use a letter chart – Guides to secretary or Copperplate hands are invaluable for beginners.
- Take breaks – Eyes tire quickly when working with faded or cramped writing. Fresh eyes catch more.
The Joy of Discovery
Deciphering old manuscripts is slow work, but deeply rewarding. Every correctly identified word is like unearthing a small treasure—an ancestor’s occupation, a forgotten place name, a family connection. Over time, the quirks of a scribe’s hand will become familiar, and what once looked like a maze of loops and lines will turn into meaningful stories.
Reading old handwriting is part detective work, part puzzle, and part art. With practice, patience, and the right strategies, you can unlock centuries-old manuscripts and let your ancestors’ voices be heard again.
Heather Wolfe, Reading Early Modern Handwriting, Folger Shakespeare Library, accessed September 14, 2025, https://folgerpedia.folger.edu/Reading_early_modern_handwriting
Vivien Sklar, Reading Old Handwriting, 1500–1800: A Practical Guide (Kew: Public Record Office, 1999).
George Bickham, The Universal Penman: A Collection of Examples of the Finest Writing Styles of the 18th Century (London, 1733–1741; reprint, Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2011).
Austin Norman Palmer, The Palmer Method of Business Writing (Cedar Rapids, Iowa: A.N. Palmer Co., 1894).
Steven Carter, “Deciphering Secretary Hand for Family History Research,” FamilySearch Blog, November 12, 2021, https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/secretary-hand-genealogy
South Central Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists 