Family Historian User Group

I have just come across a set of circumstances that I have not encountered before and wondered whether someone could advise me how to deal with it. Just recently I have come across a couple of relatives that have provided family history documentation. One was a 70 page document which was handwritten back in 1936. The other is a more complex one in that it is 55 page PDF file, which is on the University of Chicago website. This was a transcript of a taped interview with one of my relatives who had emigrated to the USA. I suppose there must be some copyright issues here but the website does not seem to make it clear. I would very much like to be able to attach the media to the appropriate individuals files and I'm not sure how to go about it.

Re: the handwritten document, I have two choices: -- one is to scan the document into the system (laboriously process, and one that will still require interpretation of the handwriting) the second is to use my Dragon NaturallySpeaking software, to dictate the documentation into the system. This will also be a laborious process but at the end of the day I will have translated the handwriting into a readable format.

Has anyone else encountered this sort of issue and how they dealt with it?

Bill


ID:3916

Personally I would scan the 70 page document and translate it to text as well.

If you scan it you have a digital copy which can be backed up etc.

The PDF file could be attached to a source and then if you wanted also converted to a note (copyright allowing)

In a slightly different area, three years ago I faced similar issues with a school log book belonging to my wife's primary school: the journal covered the period from 1914 - 1957, quite often with daily recordings and pasted newspaper cuttings for fete days and celebrations etc.

It has been a long, hard, slog to digitise it, by reading and typing and double checking etc, and scanning the cuttings etc but, at long, long last, it is completed. Now the staff and children can access the information, and the original document can be lodged with the county archives.

Making a start is daunting, but I'm sure everyone will thank you for your efforts.

Brian

Brian

Thanks for your encouragement it is much appreciated.

Bill