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Author Topic: Help With Old Letter  (Read 7440 times)

snowflake

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Help With Old Letter
« on: October 22, 2011, 02:16:30 pm »
This letter was sent from Duluth, MN on May 7th, 1896. I am having quite a time reading it! Some things I can't even make out! But at the top I think it says Duluth Day the 5. I thought maybe it was a date or something. When I tried a search I get nothing. Can anyone help with this. Is it just maybe the place? I'm confused. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

I see someone took the stamp off!
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snowflake

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2011, 02:21:00 pm »
Now that I have blown it up on the computer, I get it. I was looking at the letter and see when she writes her M's it is the same. OK I feel stupid now, Duluth, May the 5.  :-[

Sorry
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Oceans64

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2011, 02:34:00 pm »
Having deciphered much old writing I feel your pain. You did the right thing (or at least what I always do). Find similar letters elsewhere an figure out what the letter in question is....  If you cant find that letter then you can be pretty confident it is one of letter used less frequently....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_alphabet#Letter_frequencies

Usually works  - Other times it's just frustrating! :D
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"In times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these." — Paul Harvey

snowflake

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2011, 04:04:47 pm »
Thanks, Oceans. The writing gets worse each page!
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mart

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2011, 04:11:37 pm »
I think this person used the actual letter sounds,, not phoenetic spelling !!  In the first pic the word nephews is spelled neffews !! Might help in figuring out the words to just say it !!
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talesofthesevenseas

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2011, 04:57:00 pm »
NEAT! I have found that it gets more and more difficult to read the old letters the less I do it. I have a feeling that it is going to become much more difficult for younger generations who grew up reading very few handwritten letters. I have even heard that there are some schools that no longer teach cursive writing. I think it is going to be a lost art, with just a few scholars able to read it in a few generations.
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snowflake

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2011, 05:44:36 pm »
Thanks, mart and tales! There are many spelling errors. Not only that, the lines are all over the place on some places.  I think you are right about not many people being able to read it in a few generations. Good thing, might be new occupations!
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mart

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2011, 06:29:34 pm »
Can you get a pic of the entire thing kind of close ??  Like your first pic ??  I would like to read it !! (If possible)
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greenacres

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2011, 06:44:01 pm »
Is the letter to someone in your family?
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snowflake

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2011, 06:54:42 pm »
The letter was written by my husbands great-great aunt to her sister-in-law. I'll get some pictures up later on tonight. It's a sad letter with her finding out about deaths of her family so late and asking about who is still alive or dead. Asking to be kept up to date. edit in bold.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2011, 10:37:38 am by snowflake »
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mart

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2011, 07:13:49 pm »
Actually that type of spelling was common in those days !! Letter sounds were taught and if it sounded that way,, thats how it was spelled !! Phoenetic spelling came along later I think !!  And as was common many people had little formal schooling !!
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snowflake

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2011, 08:19:24 pm »
If you click it, you should get double the size (I think)
Part one:
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snowflake

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2011, 08:34:21 pm »
Continued:

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snowflake

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2011, 08:50:13 pm »
Last one:

(Now that I have blown it up on the computer it is much easier to read!)
Hope you can read it okay, if there is an area you can't, just let me know.
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mart

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Re: Help With Old Letter
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2011, 01:03:07 pm »
Wow !!  Those are so big I can`t even download them without crashing !!  Guess I will pass on this one !!
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