# Unfamiliar handwriting is so difficult **URL:** \ **Category:** Hilfe bei Problemen\ **Created:** [1. Mai 2023 um 18:11 UTC](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/t/unfamiliar-handwriting-is-so-difficult/4603 "2023-05-01T18:11:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sharai.pollock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sharai.pollock](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/u/sharai.pollock)\ **Post date:** [1. Mai 2023 um 18:11 UTC](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/t/unfamiliar-handwriting-is-so-difficult/4603/1 "2023-05-01T18:11:05Z")
On handwritten documents, oi am unable to determine the letters, especially capitals. I am from the US, and have lots of genealogy research done here. The older letters are in a different script than todays, but I am familiar with them from school and family. Is there any kind of reference available so we can see the standard form for each letter. Sorry if this seems like a whine, I just want to be better able to transcribe documents. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![franziska.schubert](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/talk.arolsen-archives.org/franziska.schubert/32/56_2.png) [@franziska.schubert](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/u/franziska.schubert)\ **Post date:** [2. Mai 2023 um 07:22 UTC](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/t/unfamiliar-handwriting-is-so-difficult/4603/2 "2023-05-02T07:22:29Z")
Thank you for your participation and your question. Handwritten documents are indeed often difficult to read. The clothing storage room cards come from different concentration camps, so they were filled out by different people. Unfortunately, there are no standard examples. However, you can view and compare most of the documents in our online archive. For example, the clothing storage room cards from the Auschwitz concentration camp. [https://collections.arolsen-archives.org/de/archive/1-1-2-1\_8002000](https://collections.arolsen-archives.org/de/archive/1-1-2-1_8002000) You can find information about the subcollections under „Info“ in the data entry tool. I hope I was able to help you. Please feel free to contact me or the helpful users in the forum if you have any further questions. All the best, Franziska ---
**Author:** ![einfach-schoen](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/talk.arolsen-archives.org/einfach-schoen/32/376_2.png) [@einfach-schoen](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/u/einfach-schoen)\ **Post date:** [2. Mai 2023 um 15:16 UTC](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/t/unfamiliar-handwriting-is-so-difficult/4603/3 "2023-05-02T15:16:08Z")
You can also check the archive to see if there is a card of the prisoner in block letters. And maybe this translation will help you : [Teaching script - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaching_script) ---
**Author:** ![christiane.kolbus](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/talk.arolsen-archives.org/christiane.kolbus/32/60_2.png) [@christiane.kolbus](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/u/christiane.kolbus)\ **Post date:** [2. Mai 2023 um 16:25 UTC](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/t/unfamiliar-handwriting-is-so-difficult/4603/4 "2023-05-02T16:25:12Z")
There is a glossary in the „info“ section (abbreviations and symbols) at the bottom of the input screen which also shows examples of standard Sütterlin letters. Maybe this helps a bit. However, the handwriting will always remain a challenge. Sometimes I help myself by searching the Arolsen Archive for the prisoner number. It is easier to decipher the handwriting if there are other recorded documents in block letters for the prisoner there. Regards, Christiane > **[Glossary\_ITS.pdf](https://eguide.arolsen-archives.org/fileadmin/eguide-website/downloads/Glossary_ITS.pdf)** > > 4.95 MB ---
**Author:** ![moewenzahn](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/talk.arolsen-archives.org/moewenzahn/32/21622_2.png) [@moewenzahn](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/u/moewenzahn)\ **Post date:** [12. September 2023 um 21:20 UTC](https://talk.arolsen-archives.org/t/unfamiliar-handwriting-is-so-difficult/4603/5 "2023-09-12T21:20:01Z")
Maybe some documents are written in Sütterlin script, an ancient German writing style, here is a transcription: > **[Sütterlinschrift](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%BCtterlinschrift)** > > Die Sütterlinschrift, meist einfach Sütterlin genannt, ist eine im Jahr 1911 im Auftrag des preußischen Kultur- und Schulministeriums von Ludwig Sütterlin entwickelte Ausgangsschrift für das Erlernen von Schreibschrift in der Schule. > Die deutsche Sütterlinschrift ist eine spezielle Form der deutschen Kurrentschrift für Schreibanfänger. Daneben entwickelte Ludwig Sütterlin auch eine stilistisch entsprechende lateinische Ausgangsschrift, die jedoch nicht als Sütterlinschrift bezeichnet wird. > Es w... > **[Sütterlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%BCtterlin)** > > Sütterlinschrift (German pronunciation: \[ˈzʏtɐliːnˌʃʁɪft\], "Sütterlin script") is the last widely used form of Kurrent, the historical form of German handwriting that evolved alongside German blackletter (most notably Fraktur) typefaces. Graphic artist Ludwig Sütterlin was commissioned by the Prussian Ministry of Science, Art and Culture (Preußisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Kunst und Volksbildung) to create a modern handwriting script in 1911. His handwriting scheme gradually replaced the o... Sometimes you may also find entries written in a mixture of Latin and Sütterlin characters.