Signed, Sealed, Delivered
A handwritten note, an envelope postmarked in 1919, an old record with scribbled-in tidbits of information—all of these can make a genealogist’s heart sing. But what else do each of them have in common? Those invaluable pieces of genealogical evidence contain a rare bit of easily overlooked history: your ancestor’s handwriting.
If you have these kinds of artifacts among your collection of goodies handed down through the generations, maybe you’ve already seen your ancestors’ handwriting. Perhaps the fine penmanship or curious cursive from a bygone era captured your attention. But Grandma Mary’s autograph can lead to even more rewarding connections than you might initially think.
“Signatures are as distinct and unique as people,” says Amberly Beck, who writes about family history on her blog The Genealogy Girl <thegenealogygirl.blog>. “Identifying the signatures of our ancestors—and then tracking each instance of their signature that we find—can help us correctly identify records about their lives.”
Grandma Mary’s autograph can lead to even more rewarding connections than you might initially think.
WHY SIGNATURES?
For one
