The Humanities nerds are transforming into real techie geeks, but perhaps it was only a matter of time until they, too, had harnessed the latest technological trends in their scholarly endeavours. Scripto, an open source crowdsourcing tool, was developed to facilitate the online transcription of historical archives. In clear terms – the initiative allows interested members of the public to help transcribe historical documents, and contribute to the creation of a large digital archive that would be open to all, and not merely to a small number of academics with access privileges.

Scripto is being developed by the Center for History and New Media (CHNM) at George Mason University (USA) with the financial support of the Office of Digital Humanities of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Historical Publications & Records Commission. Sharon Leon is the Director of the project on the CHNM side.

Since March 17, the tool is being used for the transcription of the 55,000 scanned documents of the Papers of the War Department, 1784-1800. Similar to Wikipedia or Flickr’s Creative Commons, Scripto relies on the contribution of voluntary enthusiasts, as well as students and scholars, to create a platform that will be available for the public. Considering that historical institutes and archives usually have limited funds, the transcription of such a large number of historical documents would not have been otherwise possible.

Similar projects already exist, such as the Bentham Project – which exemplifies the value of public contribution. About 50 years ago the University College of London started transcribing the work of Jeremy Bentham, the English philosopher, but the project is still barely half-way as only 27 out of the 70 expected volumes are completed, reports the New York Times. In the autumn of 2010, the University College scanned and put online 40,000 documents, in hopes that the help of the general public would boost the transcription work.

By giving the public access to historical documents of national importance, Scripto may, indirectly, allow the archive of the American War Department to overcome one of its childhood traumas. Indeed, in 1800, a fire destroyed all its manuscripts, collected since 1784. The transcription by the public, for the public, will allow the Center for History and New Media to preserve the written words of the nation’s founding fathers thus locking it into digital eternity.

Volunteers, who wish to participate in the project, are invited to register as a ‘transcriber’, choose a document and then simply start transcribing according to the guidelines. 
The archive includes fascinating documents such as the speech of the Mohawks to the Committee of Corporations at Albany, in New York, alluding to “rivers of blood” and “peace among the nations” (see Captain Joseph Brant’s letter, June 16th, 1790, recipient unknown).

Scripto is an open-source software and can be used and adapted for any transcription project.

Example of a transcription done in Scripto

The last page of a letter (Above) by United States Secretary of War, James McHenry, written in 1797, addressing the United States’ “responsibility to Indians”. The text below is its transcription.

[“... further than as mediators or umpires between them, where they can effectually interpose to adjust their differences.
Were the United States to pay for the provisions, it would be laying a foundation for the Nation to expect like assistance on future similar occasions, and would, besides, furnish the military adventurers with a claim against the United States for their Service.
It is however to be observed, that claims, which if brought forward by a Citizen, would be justly regarded as improper, acquire when urged by an Indian a degree of respect proportionate to the Share of Influence he may possess in his nation in conjunction with the power of the nation to injure or serve the United States. For this reason it is not always safe or expedient to reject their applications which have as colour of right; nor safe or expedient to yield to them formally when doing so would establish an inconvenient or expensive precedent. The Executive in such cases is obliged to choose a middle way where the request is not wholly inadmissible. As Colbert therefore was arising Character in his nation, and son of one of the prin:ipal Chiefs, whose influence is considerable and increasing, he has received in presents, what was calculated to have satisfied him
I am of opinion therefore that it would be proper to report in his case.
That however commendable the motive might be which induced the party of frontier Citizens to offer their services to an Indian Nation threatened with invasion, yet, inasmuch as the proceeding was unauthorized by Government, and if countenanced might lead other Citizens to a like intermeddling, and thereby involve the United States in hostilities with the offended Nation; and inasmuch as the United States are not expressly bound by the Treaty to afford succours to the Chickasaws in their wars, and as it would be inexpedient to establish a precedent which might countenance the principle, the Committee are of Opinion that the prayer of the petition might not to be granted.
With great respect.
I am Sir
Your most obedient Servant
James McHenry”]

Published: March 30, 2011