Would you like to contribute to the discovery of new research materials in the Bodleian’s manuscript collections? And to learn something about editing early modern letters and approaches to digital humanities along the way? Then please sign up for our Bodleian Student Editions editing workshops.
There are thousands of letters from the early modern period in the Bodleian Libraries, creating a vast bank of potential data for a myriad of research projects. But we actually know very little about the contents of each letter. With miles of manuscript records, it is impossible in the normal course of duties to describe the contents of archives in any detail. A typical catalogue entry reads ‘letters to Lord Guilford, from members of his family, 1766-73. 204 leaves’. This represents around 400 pages of text containing a continuous correspondence on a range of subjects, and in fact is part of an archive of hundreds of letters stretching across the 18th century. And this is just one collection! We would like to unlock these letters and encourage new research by guiding potential users to their value and interest.
At the workshop on 29 January we will look at a set of letters linked to the history of enslavement. These documents relating to the Codrington estates have already been digitised, in recognition of their importance to the story of life and work in Antigua and Barbuda. At the Bodleian Student Editions workshop we will take this a step further with transcription. Participants will be invited to discuss the challenges of transcribing such a history.
In this day-long workshop you will learn the skills to handle some of the Bodleian's special collections and to read eighteenth-century handwriting. No experience in history or historical texts is needed - we'll teach you all you need to handle, read and transcribe these letters.
Level – open to complete beginners and students from any subject, undergraduate or graduate
Content warning - The documents addressed in this workshop contain references to the slave trade and enslaved people, including historic language that is offensive, discriminatory and considered racist in today's society.
If you are interested in coming to this workshop, please register here by 14:00 PM on Friday 23 January 2026.
Refreshments will be provided
