Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Transcription Tuesday Makes A Comeback

As the coronavirus outbreak forces us to stay at home, Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine want to help their readers find fun and productive ways to pass the time, gain new skills and help others while observing social distancing.  As part of this, they have decided to bring back their popular Transcription Tuesday event.

For those unfamiliar with this annual event, WDYTYA readers have been able to transcribe vital family history records for volunteer projects, making them accessible to all.  Earlier this year, their army of volunteers collectively transcribed nearly 25,000 records, from nonconformist parish records to First World War Royal Navy crew lists.

WDYTYA describes transcription is a fascinating way to discover the individual stories hidden in historic records and improve your ability to read old handwriting.  It’s also a way to give back to the family history community. The record you help put online could be a vital breakthrough for another family historian.  Best of all, transcription can be done from your home on your computer or laptop – so it’s the perfect activity for the coronavirus outbreak.

During the coronavirus outbreak, WDYTYA will bring back Transcription Tuesday on a weekly basis, highlighting a different project every Tuesday.  If you have time during the day, even if it’s just a few minutes, you can take part and show your support by transcribing their chosen project.  For their first Transcription Tuesday project on 31 March, they partnering with Ancestry to support their non-profit World Archives Project.  Readers can help to work on a new set of records – English Criminal Lunatic Asylum Registers, 1820-1843.  These records include original letters, prisoner registers and inspection reports relating to the administration of convict, ship and local prisons and to their inmates.  They reveal details of prisoners such as the name, residence, age, crime and sentence.

Click here for instructions to get started transcribing the records.  Note that you will also need to register for a free Ancestry account and download the Keying Tool if you haven't already done so.  You can find out how to do so here.

It is worth noting that you can participate in Transcription Tuesday any day you want - you're not limited to just one day a week.

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