Transcribing the Library's collections

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A tool for digitally transcribing historical handwritten documents from our collection.

The State Library of New South Wales is dedicated to making our collections more accessible and you can help us achieve this goal. We hold millions of pages of historically important handwritten documents in our collections, but this material can often be difficult to read and cannot be indexed by search. By using our purpose built Transcription Tool, we are able to produce digital transcripts of original materials from our collections, making them more accessible, discoverable and useful for research and study.

You can help us to transcribe these items, which include diaries, letters, journals and manuscripts. In doing so you will be contributing to the improvement and enrichment of our collections, as well as taking an opportunity to delve deeper into the wonders of NSW cultural heritage.

How to get involved:

  1. New transcribers can create an account using our quick sign up form. All you need is a valid email address.

    Register now

  2. Once you've registered, take a look at our how-to guide for tips and tricks in transcribing historical documents.

    How-to guide

  3. Choose one of our available collections below, and jump in. Happy transcribing!

Collections we're currently transcribing

Hassall family papers, 1793-2000
Rowland Hassall (1768-1820), missionary, lay preacher and landholder, was born...
100% Available for transcription
painting of John Macarthur, ca. 1850s
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection]
About the Macarthur Family John Macarthur (1767-1834), soldier and...
76% Available for transcription
Captain James Cook
A collection of the works of Captain James Cook.
0% Available for transcription
Joseph Banks portrait
Banks Papers
About the collection When Sir Joseph Banks died in 1820, he left behind a well...
0% Available for transcription
ww1_01
World War I Diaries
The Library holds over 500 World War One diary and letter collections which...
0% Available for transcription
indigenous1
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages These Indigenous languages materials are...
53% Available for transcription

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Collection Page Document ID
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 140 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 294 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 156 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages Box 1/Folder 2/Item 2: German vocabulary of native tribes, North East South Australia,ca. 1898-1932 - Page 87 Ind.Langs. Document MLMSS 161/Box 1/Folder 2/
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 336 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 175 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 91 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 352 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 107 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 370 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 123 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 252 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 141 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 295 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 157 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages Box 1/Folder 2/Item 2: German vocabulary of native tribes, North East South Australia,ca. 1898-1932 - Page 98 Ind.Langs. Document MLMSS 161/Box 1/Folder 2/
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 337 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 176 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 92 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 353 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418

Pages

Collection Page Document ID
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 161 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 159 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 160 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 158 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 157 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 156 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 155 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 70 Item 05: Macarthur family record of character and descriptions of fleeces, 1837: No. 03 Macarthur Document 07.70.05
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 292 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 142 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 141 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 140 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 135 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 130 Macarthur Document 06.65
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 65: Macarthur-Onslow correspondence, 1846-1929: No. 129 Macarthur Document 06.65
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 285 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 06: John Macarthur accounts, 1806-1832: No. 013 Macarthur Document 01.06
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 320 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Rediscovering Indigenous Languages John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 281 Ind.Langs. Document B 1418
Macarthur family papers, 1789-1936 [First Collection] Volume 58: Sir George Macleay correspondence, 1848-1880: No. 010 Macarthur Document 06.58

Pages

Document Page Updated date
File 2: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 1, pp. 691-1800, 1855-1874 File 2: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 1, pp. 691-1800, 1855-1874: No. 004 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 19:02
File 2: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 1, pp. 691-1800, 1855-1874 File 2: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 1, pp. 691-1800, 1855-1874: No. 003 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 18:57
James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770 James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770 - Page 115 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 18:33
James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770 James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770 - Page 114 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 17:47
Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884 Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884: No. 099 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 17:28
Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884 Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884: No. 100 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 17:24
Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884 Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884: No. 101 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 17:18
James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770 James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770 - Page 113 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 17:16
Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884 Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884: No. 102 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 17:12
Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884 Volume 67: Macarthur family papers relating to livestock, 1814-1884: No. 110 Friday, January 17, 2020 - 17:02