Thank you, volunteers! We are processing the incredible work you did and will add it to the online Michael Field Diaries publication. All participants will be notified when the transcription goes live!
FAQ
How do I transcribe abbreviations, etc. ...
Look at the Field Guide first! It has instructions for abbreviations, ampersands, ellipses, and many more problematic elements of these documents. If you don't see it in the Field Guide, ask a question in the linked discussion. We are happy to add more guidance to the Field Guide as well, if that helps.
Which workflow should I start with?
You can pick any one to get started. Volume 1 is written by a young Katharine Bradley at school in France. If you know French, this is a good one for you! Volumes 5 and 10 are co-written by Bradley and Cooper and the subjects are continuous from front to back, subdivided into smaller subject sets. Volume 29B is unique: it was created by archivists at the British Library who used it to hold the loose-leaf material found in all of the other volumes. Because it includes many different hands, we have created subject sets for individual writers, where possible.
Can I use my smartphone to transcribe the journals?
Due to the nature of the full-page transcriptions, this project is not optimal for mobile devices.
What happens to my transcription?
The text provided by Zooniverse volunteers will complete new volumes of the online Michael Field Diaries, which is freely available to everyone. The transcript will appear side-by-side with a facsimile of the original page. See a sample page.
Will transcriptions be available to download?
Yes! Plans for the final site include the ability to download a complete PDF transcript of each volume. TEI and plain text formats will also be available.
When will the revised website be ready?
The Dartmouth teach is applying for external grant funding and the timing will depend on the grant funders. The earliest date for publication is in 2023.
How do I know whether I'm transcribing Edith Cooper's handwriting or Katharine Bradley's?
Michael Field expert Carolyn M. Dever offers the following suggestions:
- This is a handwriting sample from Edith Cooper. Of the two Michael Fields, Cooper's handwriting tends to appear far more orderly; to me it is generally legible. Some “tells” that you are reading Cooper’s handwriting: the wonderful, swooping crossbars on her t’s; the open loops; and her consistent use of “+” for “and.”
- In contrast, here is a sample of Katharine Bradley’s handwriting from the same volume. Cooper once described Bradley’s handwriting as “brambly,” and for good reason. Bradley’s cues include exuberant loopiness, and highly defined initial and final letters but harder-to-distinguished letters in the middle of words. I am a particular fan of her capital “I” and her scrawl “Michael.”
- Finally, here is a same-page comparison of Michael Fields’ contrasting hands, also from the same volume.
