Palaeography Resources

Books Available at the BCGS Library

Barrett, John and David Iredale (1995) Discovering Old Handwriting (Discovering Series Number 285) Call# 652 BAR

Buck, W. S. B. (1965) Examples of Handwriting, 1550 - 1650. Call# 652 BUC

Emmison, F. G. (1973) How to Read Local Archives, 1550 - 1700. Call# 652 EMM EMM

Gardner, David E. and Frank Smith (1964) Genealogical Research in England and Wales, Volume 3: Old English Handwriting, Latin, Research Standards and Procedures. Call# 942 GAR V 03

Grieve, Hilda E. P. (1950) More Examples of English Handwriting. Call# 652 GRI GRI

Grieve, Hilda E. P. (1954) Examples of English Handwriting 1150-1750. Call# 652 GRI GRI

Kirkham, E. Kay (1973) The Handwriting of American Records for a Period of 300 Years. Call# 973 KIR

McLaughlin, Eve (1987) Reading Old Handwriting. (Mclaughlin Guides) Call# 652 MCL MCL

Simpson, Grant S. (1973, Revised 1977) Scottish Handwriting 1150 to 1650. An Introduction to the Reading of Documents. Call# 652 SIM SIM

Stryker-Rodda, Harriet (1980) Understanding Colonial Handwriting. Call# 652 STR STR

University Of Durham, Palæography & Diplomatic Department (1976) Durham Diocesan Records, Bishops' Transcripts of Parish Registers, Summary List of Outside Dates of Transcripts. Call# 942.81 DDR

Unknown. How to Read English Documents. Call# 652 ENG ENG

Wright, Andrew (1846) Court-Hand Restored: or The Student's Assistant in Reading Old Deeds, Charters, Records, Etc (Includes Ancient Place Names, Surnames, Latin Words). Call# 652 WRI WRI

Books Available at the Internet Archive

A dictionary and digest of the law of Scotland, with short explanations of the most ordinary English law terms

A dictionary of archaic and provincial words, obsolete phrases, proverbs and ancient customs, from the fourteenth century

The dictionary of Old English

Handbook of dates for students of English history

The new invention, intituled, calligraphia: or, the arte of faire writing

The record interpreter: a collection of abbreviations, Latin words and names used in English historical manuscripts and records

A system of the forms of deeds used in Scotland

Parish law: or, A guide to justices of the peace, ministers, churchwardens, overseers of the poor, constables, surveyors of the highways, vestry-clerks, and all others concern'd in parish business: compiled from the common, statute, and other authentick books; as also from some adjudged cases never before published: together with correct forms of warrants, commitments, &c

A Justice of Peace for Ireland : consisting of two books : the first declaring the exercise of that office by one or more Justices of Pease out of sessions, the second setting forth the form of proceeding in sessions, and the matter to be enquired of and handled therein

The clerks' and conveyancers' assistant. A collection of forms of conveyancing, contracts, and legal proceedings

A Few Other Helpful Books/Websites

Dictionaries of the Scots language

A dictionary of occupational terms based on the classification of occupations used in the census of population 1921

Dorchester & Fordington Glossary

Folger Shakespeare Library: Briefing on brevigraphs, those strange shapes in early printed texts

Latin genealogical word list

New Advent: ecclesiastical abbreviations

Roman numeral converter

Select word list from manorial records

William Whitaker’s words: a digital Latin-English dictionary

Martin’s Practice of conveyancing; with forms of assurances

The accomplish'd conveyancer containing precedents of all sorts of large and special conveyances, assurances, settlements to uses, wills, &c.

A blog about formularies by Family History Gifts