Enrollment options
Course image Palaeography: Reading and Understanding Historical Documents
Advanced Methodology
Course Summary:
Optional Print Course Material: Palaeography Workbook Only
Optional Print Course Material: Palaeography: Reading and Understanding Historical Documents includes the Workbook*Course materials will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Tackle unfamiliar documents spanning the past five hundred years. The primary goal involves transcribing the unfamiliar writing in old documents to the modern-day hand. As Britain had a major influence on the cosmopolitan development of North America, examples will be taken from British and Canadian resources. Introduction to the following topics:
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Writing Materials
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Palaeography
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Roman Numerals
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Currency
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The Calendar
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The Religious Calendar
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Weights and Measures
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Origin of Family Names
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Social Structure in Britain
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Occupations
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Introduction to Latin Terminology
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Bibliography
The workbook provides physical hand/eye coordination practice needed for evaluating antique documents.
Contact Hours: 24
Grading Scale: 70% Tests/30% Assignments
Course Length: 10 weeks
Course Content
MODULE 1
WRITING MATERIALS
PALAEOGRAPHY
Techniques for Reading Early Documents
Transcribing the Manuscript
Workbook Challenges #1-1 to #1-7
MODULE 2
EARLY FORMS OF SPEED WRITING
Reading Words Containing Contractions or Ligatures
Punctuation, Grammar & Literary Style
Creative Spelling
Common Spelling Variations
Workbook Challenges #2-1A to #2-7
MODULE 3
ROMAN NUMERALS
CURRENCY
Workbook Challenges #3-1 to #3-6
MODULE 4
CALENDARS, ANCIENT & MODERN
Dating Manuscripts
Regnal Year
Civil Registration/Vital Statistics/Vital Records
Workbook Challenges #4-1 to #4-7
MODULE 5
WEIGHTS & MEASURES
Length
Surveyors’ Measurements
Capacity
Common Usage in Home Therapy
Workbook Challenges #5-1 to #5-7
MODULE 6
THE CHURCH, THE MANOR & SOCIAL LIFE
Church Feasts & Festivals
Manorial Records
Court Leet
The Records
Workbook Challenges #6-1 to #6-7
MODULE 7
SURNAMES
Origins of Surnames
Naming Patterns for Newborns
Social Structure in Britain
OCCUPATIONS
Workbook Challenges #7-1 to #7-7
MODULE 8
LATIN TERMINOLOGY
Understanding Latin
Family Relationships
Latin Terms in Parish Documents
Latin Terms in Legal & Manorial Documents
Latin Terms & Abbreviations in Medical Documents
Apothecary Weight (Mass)
Fluid Measurement
Workbook Challenges #8-1 to #8-7
MODULE 1
WRITING MATERIALS
PALAEOGRAPHY
Techniques for Reading Early Documents
Transcribing the Manuscript
Workbook Challenges #1-1 to #1-7
MODULE 2
EARLY FORMS OF SPEED WRITING
Reading Words Containing Contractions or Ligatures
Punctuation, Grammar & Literary Style
Creative Spelling
Common Spelling Variations
Workbook Challenges #2-1A to #2-7
MODULE 3
ROMAN NUMERALS
CURRENCY
Workbook Challenges #3-1 to #3-6
MODULE 4
CALENDARS, ANCIENT & MODERN
Dating Manuscripts
Regnal Year
Civil Registration/Vital Statistics/Vital Records
Workbook Challenges #4-1 to #4-7
MODULE 5
WEIGHTS & MEASURES
Length
Surveyors’ Measurements
Capacity
Common Usage in Home Therapy
Workbook Challenges #5-1 to #5-7
MODULE 6
THE CHURCH, THE MANOR & SOCIAL LIFE
Church Feasts & Festivals
Manorial Records
Court Leet
The Records
Workbook Challenges #6-1 to #6-7
MODULE 7
SURNAMES
Origins of Surnames
Naming Patterns for Newborns
Social Structure in Britain
OCCUPATIONS
Workbook Challenges #7-1 to #7-7
MODULE 8
LATIN TERMINOLOGY
Understanding Latin
Family Relationships
Latin Terms in Parish Documents
Latin Terms in Legal & Manorial Documents
Latin Terms & Abbreviations in Medical Documents
Apothecary Weight (Mass)
Fluid Measurement
Workbook Challenges #8-1 to #8-7