Crowdsourcing at the Library of Congress: New Walt Whitman material to transcribe!

By the People Bulletin

 

New Walt Whitman material to transcribe! 

We've just launched two new projects for transcription from the Walt Whitman collections at the Library of Congress: Books and Miscellany! The Whitman campaign has been running for a while and we're nearing the end with only a few more additions left to go – so jump into the campaign now if you're curious.

The first project, Books, covers all manner of things related to the publication of Whitman's literary works. He trained in the printing trade and worked as a journalist, and as a result, Whitman had a keen eye for detail when it came to his own books. In this project, you can transcribe advertisements, handwritten drafts, notes, title page designs, and many other things relating to Whitman's publications over the decades.

The Miscellany file, as the name suggests, contains a delightful menagerie of odds and ends from Whitman's life. You'll find autographs, correspondence, calling cards, programs, invitations, scrapbooks with clippings and leaves from trees, railroad and ferry tickets, marginalia and annotated items, labels, birthday cards, property and contracting records, and financial papers. Each page provides a unique glimpse into all things Whitman. 

Transcribe Whitman, get a postcard! 

Are you a Whitman transcriber or reviewer? Email us at crowd@loc.gov with your address and we'll mail you a Whitman postcard. There are a limited number so get yours today!

Help Library interns find African American correspondents in the Roosevelt campaign

Have you helped transcribe the Theodore Roosevelt papers with By the People? Did you locate Black voices in these papers? If so, find out how you can participate in a project with the Manuscript Division. Emily and Chris, two fall interns in the Manuscript Division, are researching African American correspondents in the Roosevelt collection and they could use your help! 

 

Warmly,

Abby & the By the People team