Last May, I graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and psychology. This past summer, I was a reference intern at the State Archives. My main task was to watch the front desk and help patrons in the Reading Room. When we weren’t busy, I fulfilled remote requests, which included scanning documents and photos and finding obituary and naturalization records. I also logged visitors and collections used, completed four “Dakota Datebook” articles for Prairie Public, and fine-tuned six oral history transcripts in our “Flicker Tales of North Dakota” collection.

Coming to this job, I knew very little about what an archive was except that it had something to do with “documents.” Now that I’ve been here for a while, I’ve come to understand an archive as a collection of 2D objects (e.g., photos, books, periodicals, papers, state and local records, newspapers, movies, and oral histories) related to a certain topic. At the State Archives, that topic is the history of North Dakota and its people.

Here’s a bit about how I see the State Archives after my internship, including the challenges and opportunities I’ve encountered in this world.

1. Beginning research in the State Archives, like any research, can be like drinking water from a fire hose.

That’s why the reference team is here. We like to teach the research process instead of give the product. One patron I helped even called us “professors of genealogy” because we taught him how to do genealogical research. Still, I must remind myself not to provide too much of the process right away—there are just so many places one can search for information!

Showing off the Reading Room landing page—my favorite method of introducing patrons to our collections.

2. We interact with historical records on a daily basis.

A lot of our reference requests are for the naturalization records (citizenship papers) of people’s ancestors. I had the realization just recently that these records are way more than just a piece of paper. It means this person’s ancestor was in this place on this date interacting with this person, in line with various others waiting to be naturalized, and touching and writing on these pages. Doesn’t that give you goosebumps?

On the hunt for a naturalization record using a microfilm reader at the State Archives.

3. Indexes are awesome ... when they line up with your search words.

A record may be filed topically, descriptively, by individual, by record type, or in other ways. Consequently, finding records often requires some creativity and can be frustrating.

4. We must constantly wage the battle of getting people interested in history.

With mottos like “History starts with us” and “How can you know who you are without knowing where you came from?” we attempt to make history more personal. Perhaps, however, our culture is still prone to what Jonathan Metzl, writing in the journal Signs in 2002, called “an ahistorical notion of subjectivity.” In other words, we, individually and collectively, believe that we can be whoever we want to be with no regard for how the past has shaped us.

A highlight of my State Archives internship included a summer field trip to Medora. I was fortunate to page through a book in the collections of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park written and annotated by future President Theodore Roosevelt.

5. Preservation can be tricky.

The internet allows us to create so much more quickly, but deletion is often just as fast. Are we losing precious documents? How long will these technologies be around before becoming obsolete? Is digitization a form of preservation as well as access? Should we scan documents to the latest technology even if that tech will be obsolete in a few decades? These questions and more propel us to believe we are entering a digital dark age, where information may be lost because of rapidly changing technologies. It should also be noted that the shelf life of film is said to be hundreds of years, making it the highest form of preservation. However, it’s very costly to convert other media to film.

Well, that’s a wrap on my internship observations. I’m still working here during the State Archives open Saturdays and as part-time digitization staff, so stop by and say hello. Who knows, I just might be able to help you find what you’re looking for!

Preamble to the North Dakota Constitution, 1889. SHSND MSS 31372

The ability to read cursive is an important skill when working with handwritten historical documents. As a historian, exploring these old manuscripts and records is a gateway to the past, showing how events were recorded and information stored and shared. Many of us, including me, can recall learning to write cursive in school, but this skill has faded in recent years as computers have taken over nearly every aspect of life. While it may seem that understanding handwriting is not as important in an increasingly digital world, it is more vital than ever to know how to decipher this writing when dealing with historical documents. It also helps you to appreciate the beauty of the flowing words on the page.

The State Archives has thousands of pages of records spanning the 18th into the early 20th centuries that are in cursive. It’s interesting to note how the style of penmanship changes over time, aside from the differences you will also find among individuals’ unique styles. The subtle differences in a person’s handwriting become apparent when scrolling through microfilm of naturalization and county marriage records, especially when indexing or transcribing hand-written records.

First page of journalist Mark Kellogg’s diary of his time accompanying Gen. George Armstrong Custer and the 7th Cavalry, 1876. SHSND MSS 20017

In the mid-19th century, the Spencerian method of handwriting was the dominant method used in the United States, according to an article published by the National Museum of American History. By the 1890s, this style gave way to the new Palmer Method, designed for business writing, which was taught in schools into the first half of the 20th century. The changes in handwriting styles also reflected the shift from writing with quills to using pens, pencils, and a slate. There may be fewer flourishes in the Palmer Method, but the general appearance of letters in the Spencerian and Palmer methods is largely the same.

Army discharge papers of Nathan R. Goodfellow, 1865. SHSND MSS 80008

One important reason to be able to read cursive well is to promote accuracy in indexing records. This does not mean that there are not errors in transcriptions, as some older records simply cannot be deciphered completely. However, while artificial intelligence programs are starting to be used for indexing handwritten records, these may not pick up the subtle strokes of the pen that can change how a letter is seen by such a program.

The State Archives also holds a few books and manuals related to cursive handwriting and penmanship. One great example is Writing Lessons for Primary Grades (1912) that teaches children how to write the Palmer Method of cursive. Covering proper posture at the school desk and arm and hand placement, as well as muscle movements, this manual contains dozens of pages of drills for helping youngsters navigate the pitfalls of penmanship. The drills were repetitive in nature, ensuring children practiced and developed their skills.

Writing Lessons for Primary Grades, A.N. Palmer Co., 1912, p. 50

Writing Lessons for Primary Grades, A.N. Palmer Co., 1912, p. 13

Writing Lessons for Primary Grades, A.N. Palmer Co., 1912, p. 35

Knowing how this writing style works allows you to better understand how your ancestors may have learned to write and helps you see the beauty in older documents and the artistry of penmanship.

In recent years, efforts to enlist volunteers to help transcribe documents for archival facilities have emerged. The National Archives’ Citizen Archivist program is one such attempt to help make records more accessible to a wider audience through digitization. Knowing how to read and understand cursive is as important today as it was decades ago when children learned the art of writing as an everyday communication tool. Technology and digitization have not rendered handwritten materials obsolete, as many things are still written by hand in day-to-day communication. Failing to retain such comprehension skills will negatively affect our communication skills, which could have unforeseen consequences for future generations.

While technology enhances our lives, knowing older skills remains important. Next time you read a grandparent’s letter, or an older naturalization record, or our state constitution, remember the beauty that is the ink, lead, or graphite on the page and appreciate that cursive handwriting.