Transcribing Earl Shaffer's 1948 AT Hike Diary

[Don H]

The Smithsonian has a program where volunteers can help transcribe documents. Currently they are working on Earl Shaffer's 1948 AT Hike diary. You can see the diary here: https://transcription.si.edu/project/6734

I signed up and transcribed page 31 in about a half hour.

[rocketsocks]

That's interesting Don, curious what do you do if you can't make out a word, is there a foot note system er somethin.

...reading further, I see how it works now, pretty cool program.

[Kerosene]

Pretty cool. Thanks Don H! I transcribed one of the pages just for kicks covering The Priest to Waynesboro. Neat. Maybe I'll submit my trail journals to the Library of Congress or Smithsonian!

[Don H]

That's interesting Don, curious what do you do if you can't make out a word, is there a foot note system er somethin.

...reading further, I see how it works now, pretty cool program.

They have a short tutorial you take before starting. It tells you if you can't make out a word you type [[?]].

I'm hooked, I did page 32 also! Interesting read too. Seems he's walking the Parkway a lot in VA.

[SawnieRobertson]

Cool is definitely the right word. Thank you.

[gunner76]

Good find. Just read several of the translated pages. I can see I will be back to read some more.

[rocketsocks]

They have a short tutorial you take before starting. It tells you if you can't make out a word you type [[?]].

I'm hooked, I did page 32 also! Interesting read too. Seems he's walking the Parkway a lot in VA.

Lots of other cool projects too, I could get lost there...Book marked!

[Fussymary]

Thanks for sharing. Just transcribed several pages and its really cool! Will go back for more.

[Ricky&Jack]

That's pretty neat. I had no idea about the transcribing possibilities.

[Patrickjd9]

Interesting read too. Seems he's walking the Parkway a lot in VA.

I understand the Parkway was put on top of the original trail route in many places between Roanoke and Waynesboro. It would have taken time to lay out replacement trail, especially before people had cars to get there again after WWII.

[Don H]

"Decided to follow Parkway a while since trail parallels it on dirt roads and its easier walking on grass along Parkway."

Shaffer's AT Journal, page 31

[Old Hiker]

Jumped to page 91 - transcribed in about 15 - 20 minutes. I only had trouble with one word: the last name of a fisherman who gave him a ride. Pretty cool.

[rocketsocks]

Jumped to page 91 - transcribed in about 15 - 20 minutes. I only had trouble with one word: the last name of a fisherman who gave him a ride. Pretty cool.

note takin like that sure adds flavor to a journal.

[Wise Old Owl]

Hey I got deep into it - great find, a lot more detail than the book. Short on matches - corn grits and oatmeal - wrong turns and hiking ten miles down and back. Rain so bad it almost puts out the fire. Nice score! Thanks

[nitegaunt]

I saw your post yesterday and have been transcribing and proof reading. Incredible opportunity to contribute to something of historic value and do a little volunteer work, as well. I am a recent graduate with a degree in history so this is right up my alley. Thanks again to the OP for turning me on to this. I'm now obsessed.

[wnderer]

The transcription for page 5 is closed and I think it is wrong. It says [[?]] Morts Alto [[?]] South Mountain Ka. A.T.C 1915 Sunderland Place N. W. Wash. 6 D.C. [[end page]] I think it is reference to Mont Alto State Sanatorium in South Mountain Pa which is near York PA where Earl Shaffer was from. I think the 1915 should be 1916 and I think the Wash 6 is Washington with some of the letters removed. So it should be A[[?]] Mont Alto [Sanatorium] South Mountain Pa. A.T.C 1916 Sunderland Place N. W. Wash[]to[] D.C. [[end page]]

[Don H]

My understanding is the Smithsonian staff do a final review so maybe they'll catch it.

[Don H]

I just completed the final proof read on the day he summited Katahdin.

"In morn climbed Katahdin in leisurely fashion, reached summit of Baxter peak about 1:30. Had pic taken by sign. Talked a while with several fellas come on down to campground. finis"

Shaffers' AT Journal 1948, page 94

[Crash]

If your into transcribing, the National Archives has the "Citizen Archivist" program that does that.

[BillyGr]

N. W. Wash. 6 D.C.

That could be correct - I've seen addresses similar before - I believe that was how they "subdivided" larger areas before the Zip Codes came into use.
So N. W. Wash. 6 D.C. vs N. W. Wash. 5 D.C., kind of like today it might be Washington, DC 20007 vs Washington, DC 20018