DH Taster Sessions: Transcription for Archival Research

NB: this is a repeat of the session held on 14 May 2024

What: This workshop, designed for beginners, is a ‘taster’ session which aims to demystify the practical process of transcription and markup of archival sources, and the role of these tools in undertaking digitally-informed archival research.

The workshop will introduce the practical and conceptual principles of transforming archival material into computer-readable text. The workshop will develop your understanding of how and why digital transcription of archival documents can be used to pursue Humanities-based research questions, with a hands-on transcription session. Participants will collectively transcribe and mark up an archival document from Leeds’s Special Collections, and the original manuscript will be viewed in the workshop. The skills developed in this session will be applicable to texts of any genre or period. Lunch will be provided.

Who: Researchers in AHC or cognate disciplines who would like to develop skills in digital approaches to archival textual materials. The workshop will support researchers who would like to propose digital approaches to research in future research and funding applications.

Where: Digital Creativity and Cultures Hub, Brotherton Library (please ask for directions at the Brotherton Library welcome desk).

Format: Information presentation and interactive workshop. We understand that for accessibility reasons staff may be unable to attend the full event and are happy to consider requests for partial attendance as necessary. Please indicate this on your Expression of Interest.

Technical experience required: None.

Required equipment: Internet-enabled personal device (laptop or tablet). We will be transcribing using a browser app, but participants might also wish to work on drafts in a plain-text (.txt) editor (the built-in plain-text editor for windows devices is Notepad; for Macs, TextEdit).

Sign up: To express your interest, please complete this form by 21 October. We will notify attendees by no later than 25 October.

Outline Schedule (provisional):

10-11:15 Welcome and Meet the Manuscript! Introduction to digital transcription as research practice.

11:15-11:30: Break

11.30-12:30: Getting started with transcription and mark-up (practical)

12:30-1:30: Lunch (provided)

1:30-2:30: Group ideation exercise: developing a research idea through mark-up (practical)

2:30-2:45 Break

3-3:30: Planning your digital transcription project: next steps and where to get support

3:30: Close

Contact: Cassie Ulph (c.r.ulph@leeds.ac.uk), Digital Development Manager, Digital Creativity and Cultures Hub