Author: Mary

Diary 38 Reflection

In this post I will describe the experiences I had while transcribing one of James Merrill Linn’s diary entries. The diary entry I transcribed was written in February of 1862. I started by opening a text edit page and the diary entry side by side. I made sure to space out each line on my text edit document in accordance to the letter, that way it was easy to find my spot when I went back to words I could not figure out upon the first read.

Overall the process was fun, but was very difficult and frustrating at times. When I first started the transcription I struggled the most. However, the further along I got, the easier transcribing became because I began to get used to his handwriting. I also figured out that I worked best when I worked on the entry for short periods of time.

Screen Shot 2014-09-15 at 6.01.23 PM — Word I could not figure out

Although I was able to transcribe most of the words, there were some instances in which the word was illegible or smudged. There was one particular word that bugged me and I was never able to figure out. There were also parts of the letter in which Linn’s handwriting got very sloppy, possibly because he was in a rush. These sections definitely took much more time to figure out.

Screen Shot 2014-09-15 at 6.32.03 PM — hint

One huge advantage during this process was having a partner to work with. There were many instances in which my partner was able to recognize a letter that I could not and based off that single letter, I was able to make up the word. Another aspect that made this easier was taking advantage of the context. Based on the rest of the sentence, it wasn’t too difficult to make out an individual word. For example the word “hint” alone I was not able to figure out. However the rest of the sentence was “…found a can of lard and by a ___ of greasing…”. The ending of the missing word looked like “int” and based on the context I was able to guess that the first letter was an h. Throughout the transcription process I was able to use the context several times to help me.

Blog #1

Examination of Digital Archives

Post author By Mary
Post date September 4, 2014
No Comments on Examination of Digital Archives

In this post I will be discussing digital archives. One specific digital archive that I will critique is the Sample DH Project. The new version of the Sample Digital Humanities Project is much more organized than the previous one we visited. On this website the projects are categorized by approach, which makes it very easy to navigate.

As seen above, each approach has its own tab which is extremely useful. The users can now focus on analyzing whichever category they find easiest to interpret. For example, a visual person does not have to waste his or her time looking through documents, but can instead click straight to the visualization or mapping tab.

lw044_1848treaty_3ef7f3f214 — The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

Under the archive tab, the links are categorized very nicely. In addition to there being easy access to the link itself, there is a brief explanation provided as to what the website entails and why it is useful. This is a huge time saver, because now the user does not need to click into the link to search for this basic background information. The viewer can focus on researching and analyzing within seconds of opening the link. Additionally the information given is useful because based on the description the user can tell whether the website appeals to their interests. The database of Indigenous Peoples in North America is my favorite of the three. The website allows the user to limit the archives by content, document type, and language. This setup is very convenient, especially if the user knows exactly what kind of archive he or she would like to analyze. The Lincoln website is also very easy to navigate and breaks up its categories by topics and events. For example, if I want to learn more about the Mexican War I can click that tab and view specific documents related to this war, such as the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo featured to the left.

Creating a digital artifact from archival documents has both advantages and disadvantages, but in my opinion the pros definitely outweigh the cons. For starters, a digital archive gives the public access to artifacts that they otherwise might not be able to get their hands on. Most archives are extremely private and only grant access to specialists. Additionally, digital archives are fast and easy, all the user needs is connection to the internet! Digital archives also allow for more complex research and they give the public the opportunity to reconsider materials, make connections, and conduct an interdisciplinary analysis. Even more obviously, many artifacts are so old and fragile to the point where the documents are illegible. With technology, the artifacts are now able to be preserved, transcribed, and transformed into a digital form in which the public can view, read, and analyze.

However, unfortunately digital archives take away from the experience of viewing the documents for yourself. When looking at the documents firsthand, you are able to make your own observations without being influenced by others interpretations.

When building my own digital humanities project I will face many challenges. Besides the basic obstacles that come along with making a website for the first time, there are many things that must be considered in order to create a successful project. Most importantly, the website must be organized and easy to navigate, which is definitely easier said then done.

Tags analysis, artifacts, digital archives, organization, preservation

Trial Post

David Livingstone

Post author By Mary
Post date August 31, 2014

In this post I will describe the importance of the Livingstone’s 1871 Field Diary project. For starters, this project makes it possible for the user to understand and delve into the life of David Livingstone. Livingstone was a British abolitionist and missionary who traveled and explored Africa. While in Africa, Livingstone kept a diary going. However, since the paper he was writing on was very fragile, his works remained illegible up until now. The main approach to this project is transcription, and through spectral imaging and processing technology it is now possible for the public eye to view, read, and analyze the works of Livingstone.

This is an image of what a typical page in Livingstone’s diary looked like. As you can see it is impossible to make out even one word. The field diary is now available in PDF form thanks to this project.

manuscript1_map — Fold-out map found in Livingstone’s journal

Mapping is also an important part in understanding Livingstone’s journey. Although it is not explicitly stated anywhere, I assumed that the red outline is the route in which he traveled. This map gave me an idea of the specific geography in which the events took place. Also, the map put his journey in perspective for me and truly illustrated how long and far Livingstone traveled in order to fight for his beliefs to fight against slavery.

An additional secondary approach that this project is useful for is close reading. Through the combination of transcription and close reading it is possible to analyze Livingstone’s words in order to piece together his true experience. History merely teaches us major events that occur, for example, the meeting depicted in the image to the right of Reporter Morgan Stanley and Livingstone. However, this digital project provides the viewer with much more. The diary informs the reader of Livingstone’s interior conflicts and gives the reader a strong perspective of his true nature and personality. As a result of this, the reader can understand Livingstone’s motives, and can gain even more respect for his accomplishments knowing all he went through in order to achieve them. The digital resource gives the public an inside scoop on the life of David Livingstone that could not have been acquired any other way.