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transcribing etiquette

Peter Dunbar

I'm new to transcribing for history hub.  I've been searching in vain for a guide on transcription etiquette.  While transcribing for another organization I received an assignment of 10 pages.  I transcribed the content.  It was all mine to complete.   History Hub seems to be a free-for-all where anyone can add to or edit at will.  If so, that's ok with me. I'm just worried that if I start in the middle of a document that I'm stepping on someone else's toes or violating some aspect of community etiquette.

I hope that there is a guide already compiled on sharing and editing work.  If so will someone send me the link?

Thanks!!

Pete

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  • 0 in reply to Kim Ebers Deitloff

    as i understand it, both crowd and history hub are under the Library of Congress.

    To put it colloquially a la Jack London, Crowd is the gang of hardy volunteers doing their thing in the gold fields, digging and uncovering nuggets where they lie. History Hub's crowd forum (where we are now) is the bar where they go to talk about it afterwards, swap stories, hear the old guys give sage advice (And you really need to listen to them) and generally get reassurance.

    As far as getting assignments of designated work, not here -- the LOC puts up masses of work to do and folks just grab and do as they can.  I"m having fun exercising my cursive skills on letters to Teddy Roosevelt. Saw one today in copperplate.

    Have at it and have fun and good luck figuring out that shorthand.

  • 0 in reply to Kim Ebers Deitloff

    Thanks very much for your reply Kim.  You were the first .  I thought I asked something ridiculous because, as you discovered, my question was out there for 5 months.  The link you sent me was the most comprehensive guide on transcribing I've seen.  And it did answer my main concern, i.e. that LOC is a free-for-all.

    I've given up on LOC.  I am spoiled on being given a chunk of work that only I worked on.  It allows me to really absorb the piece of history.   Instead of LOC I'm either going back to the Trustees of Reservations in Massachusetts or trying to get some transcription in local libraries or museums.

    Thanks again!

    Pete

  • 0 in reply to Charles Trentelman

    Thanks Charles.   In past transcription work, a chunk of work was given to me and only I worked on it.   Therefore, it was a culture shock to see that someone else had already transcribed the next page.  I understand now that LOC is a free-for-all.  I may be warming to the idea that it wouldn't be so hard to work that way.

    Thanks for responding!!

    Pete

  • 0 in reply to Peter Dunbar

    So sorry that we missed responding to your original post, Peter!  It's been a whirlwind of a year in many ways for everyone, including those of use who manage our volunteer outreach. That said, we really hate to have left you hanging! But we're incredibly grateful for our volunteer community who jumped in with answers for you.

    We're glad we haven't driven you to give up on transcription volunteering altogether!  If you're ever willing to give By the People another go, we'd love to have you. Best wishes on all your future transcribing!!

  • 0 in reply to Peter Dunbar

    Hi, Peter!

    Glad you saw my reply, but sorry to hear you became frustrated by the lack of controls over transcriptions, during the 5 month lag time.

    I've been hanging around for about 3 weeks now, and have landed at the Freedmen's Bureau on https://transcription.si.edu/  for the past couple.  I love the challenge of translating Spencerian & Copperplate scripts used during Reconstruction, and figuring out all the abbreviations commonly used for the time. Unfortunately, I have grown a bit disillusioned by the lack of controls (better termed as transparency), to know whom else I am working on a document with.  It can feel like an "edit war," if we transcribers are unable to connect directly with other transcribers, especially when it is not easy (i.e., quick) to re-open a document for additional editing.

    I've been transcribing since 2013, for The University of Nebraska Lincoln Archives & Special Collections, which first crowdsourced with UNL Yearbooks, and have since added letters from WWI and WWII soldiers, correspondence of famous Nebraskans, Board of Regents Minutes from the formative years, etc.  http://transcribe.unl.edu/

    As people have discovered that transcription as a good COVID-19 activity, I have found less work there yet to be done. Or maybe, I just longed to learn more about other parts of American history!

    Regardless, the double-edge sword of having more individuals adopt transcription as a noble use of their time, there has been a slew of individuals for whom the word "detail" is bad. For others, being able to say they worked on a "5 stars out of 5 stars" in level of transcription difficulty is important, without gaining experience first.  To know when one is in over their head is important.

    You sound well experienced, having earned the ability to take sole responsibility for transcribing chunks of material, without worrying that someone will come in and undo it!

    I'm hoping the LOC (or whomever coordinates this stuff) will add some stop-gaps into the current system.

    I liken the current system to watching children at a lengthy water playstation at a Children's Museum... where they learn the importance of dams & locks; how to slow down, divert, and pool water.  If these are addressed sooner rather than later, more experienced transcribers like you, will stick around during the growing pains.  If not...