Deidre Lynch: Trying to design an undergrad assignment using Harvard Library charging records. That all those records are digitized feels miraculous: a treasure trove! But, sadly, the students will rebel at being asked to read cursive. Anyhow, here, for ex, is what Agassiz was borrowing in summer 1860.

Trying to design an undergrad assignment using Harvard Library charging records. That all those records are digitized feels miraculous: a treasure trove! But, sadly, the students will rebel at being asked to read cursive. Anyhow, here, for ex, is what Agassiz was borrowing in summer 1860.

This was one of the first digitization projects I ever worked on as a full-fledged librarian -- wonderful to see this still inspiring people!

Thank you so much for the work!

Would have entirely geeked out at this assignment. I thought (and still think) the libraries are astounding

Thanks for the encouragement!

It’s also so deliciously snoopy

Maybe that s the way for me to spin it (to counteract the pain I inflict via cursive writing)

Maybe some will balk, but getting to play around with the material history of the library is effing cool.

Plus they might learn which budding literary celebrity or future Supreme Court justice got in trouble for overdue or damaged books 👀

If anyone else read this post and thought "where are these records???", let me google that for you: hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories...

Collection: Records of the Harvard College Library : Library charging records, 1762-1897. | HOLLIS forhollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu

Thank you! I should have done that myself !

DAYUM, that’s exceptionally easy, clear cursive! Absolutely beautiful and easy to read. Alas, I’m neither an undergrad in need of a project nor anywhere near Harvard, or I’d volunteer. That’s probably the easiest transcription I’ve seen in the last decade.

Histoire du Senegal? Interesting.

incredible 🤩

Amazing to have this!

Post