United States Handwriting

United States Wiki Topics

United States Beginning Research

Getting Started Guided Research Online Learning Record Finder Research Strategies

Record Types

Adoption Bible Records Business & Occupations Cemeteries Census Church Records Colonial Records Compiled Genealogies Court Records Crime & Punishment Directories Divorce Records Emigration & Immigration Funeral Records Land & Property Medical Records Military Records Naturalization & Citizenship Newspapers Obituaries Online Genealogy Records Passports Probate Records Religious Records Schools & Education Social Organizations Social Security Records Taxation Town Records Vital Records Voting Records Websites

United States Background

Biographies Church History For Further Reading Gazetteers Handwriting Historical Geography History Jurisdictions Maps Naming Customs Periodicals Social Life & Customs

Cultural Groups

Cultural Groups Indigenous Peoples Chinese in America African Americans

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Local FamilySearch Center

United States

Handwriting

English

Early American colonial handwriting in English is similar to other English handwriting of the period. For more information see:

• England Language and Languages Wiki article
• English Script Tutorial
• FamilySearch Research Classes Online, 2010.
• Kirkham, E. Kay. The Handwriting of American Records for a Period of 300 Years. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1973; Digitized by Family History Archives.
• Kirkham, E. Kay. How to read the handwriting and records of early America: the reading and interpretation of the handwriting, symbols, abbreviations, legal terminology, etc. as found in original records and on microfilm for researchers in American genealogy and history. Salt Lake City: Kay Publ., 1961; Digitized by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2008.
• Sperry, Kip. Reading Early American Handwriting. Baltimore: Genealogical Publ., 1998. [FS Library Book 973 G3sp].
• Stryker-Rodda, Harriet Mott. Understanding Colonial Handwriting, rev. ed.. Baltimore: Genealogical Publ., 1986. [FS Library Book 973 G3s 1986].

Latin

Some American records are written partially or mostly in the Latin language. For more information see:

• Latin Genealogical Word List Wiki article
• Latin Handwriting - 10-part video