Transcribing The Revolutionary City

Join the APS on February 26 at 6:00 p.m. as we transcribe the stories of Philadelphians during the American Revolution. These documents are already digitized and available for viewing on The Revolutionary City: A Portal to the Nation’s Founding’s digital portal but they still need to be transcribed. We invite you to help us transcribe 18th-century handwritten documents from the American Philosophical Society (APS), the Library Company of Philadelphia (LCP), and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP). You will also get to test out innovative digital transcription tools from the Center for Digital Scholarship (CDS) at the APS. No transcription experience is required but you will need to bring your own laptop or tablet.

The Revolutionary City is a collaborative, multi-institution open-access portal that digitally unites collections about Philadelphia and Philadelphians from all walks of life during the Revolutionary Period. This project provides an unprecedented resource for students, teachers, scholars, and anyone interested in the history of the nation. Learn more about the project here.  

This transcription event features materials curated by the Center for the History of Science as part of their work on “America’s Scientific Revolutionaries,” a two-year initiative sponsored by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation highlighting lesser known scientists and physicians active during the Age of Revolutions. Attendees will transcribe documents related to 18th century chemistry debates, meteorological observations, and the nature and uses of electricity. 

This program will take place in the APS’s Philosophical Hall. Please either bring your laptop and be ready to work in groups to decipher these revolutionary stories.

Registration is required.  

If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessing this event, please contact the education office at [email protected]. We appreciate two weeks of advance notice for any accommodation requests.