The off-site material finally came! I did not quite get through the most important folder because of terrible nineteenth-century handwriting, but at least progress was made! I got very close to finishing up my folder, but took the last few minutes before closing time to take some phone-photos as a stop-gap measure. (I can’t take my camera and my umbrella to the archive as things currently stand, so the camera has been staying home when the weather is threatening.) I then spent all afternoon trying to transfer the photos to the computer in hopes of finishing up those transcriptions tonight, only to find that none of them were of good enough quality to use *tears out hair*. I’ll have to work super-efficiently tomorrow if I’m to stay on schedule, although happily the last two spiritual experiences look to be pretty legible.
I spent the evening in a self-confessedly ridiculous effort of which you-all may hear more tomorrow.
On the plus side, the secretary from the correct church at Sanbornton called me back, as a result of which I have a revised schedule for the weekend:
Saturday–Sacred Harp in Vermont in the morning; take off immediately for Sanbornton in the afternoon and then Ashland to see the churches
Sunday–Visit Candia and North Hampton cemeteries in the morning; head back to Portland for more Sacred Harp in the afternoon; swim if good weather
Monday–Visit Robinhood/Georgetown church in the morning; nip over to Bristol for bookstore; then to Bowdoin to transcribe songster; swim if good weather
Also, I have the most ridiculous academic chore ahead of that weekend: buy a 100-foot tape for church-measuring!
said: terrible nineteenth-century handwriting is THE WORST. Enjoy the Sacred Harp!!!
Those of you who took the quiz may appreciate today’s photo haul!
Philip “Clearly Used to Be a Businessman” Tittcomb:
J. W. “What’s Spacing?” Windsor:
Samuel Barker “Loop-D-Loop” Wells:
John
D. “Legible with a Learning Curve” Emerson:
Charles “Barely Even Cursive” Jerry:
Lewis “I Had a Penmanship Tutor in the Distant Past” Goodrich:
Samuel W. “Clerical Pencil” Pearson:
C. H. “Lord Have Mercy on Me, a Sinner” Gates:
J. R. “Literally Did Not Learn to Write until My Twenties” Chalmer:
Do you ever find yourself liking or disliking long-dead people based on their handwriting? I definitely preferred the employees of the American Consulate in Kobe, Japan who appeared to have trained as clerks. That said, I remain extremely fond of the irrepressible Nathan J. Newitter, Esq. who signed his name like me as a six-year-old.
Mooncustafer 