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u/COMountainKid

r/shorthand
Image 1 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 2 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 3 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 4 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 5 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 6 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 7 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 8 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 9 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 10 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 11 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 12 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 13 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 14 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 15 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
Image 16 — Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s
▲ 10 r/shorthand

Diary of a UK emigrant to the US in the late 1800s

I have a diary written by my great grandfather as he emigrated from Cornwall to the western US. I will post a few pages and see if this is translatable and if it is of any interest. I think it could be a fascinating read...but I don't know!

Some background:

  • Written starting in 1885, by my great grandfather who was a Cornish/English miner. He sailed to the US 7/4/1885 (as can be seen on the title page written in clear English).
  • He traveled through Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska before settling in Minnesota
  • My great aunt thought it was in Pitman shorthand. She managed a few transcriptions; I've included those too in case they help
  • I've contacted a few historical societies (2 in the US, 1 in the UK). All seemed very interested in the diary, yet none had anyone who knew how to transcribe it.

Assuming this is transcribable, I'd be curious what a few people think of the value of transcribing the rest if the diary as that could be a bit of work. Is the story worth the effort? TIA

u/COMountainKid — 2 days ago