Truth and Light

So, this post is a little different. I have found myself in research mode this week with less time for transcription. As much as I would love to continue to gush about my love for transcribing the letter of Margaret Fox, this post is going to focus more on my research looking into Quakers and Protestants and their stances on gender roles. Hopefully giving me some serious insight into the life and times of these women writers.

Near the end I will talk about some of my struggles with my ArcGIS project focusing on Early Modern English women letter writers of the Tudor Age. Let’s just say it’s been a trying week and we are taking things one step at a time.

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It was recommended to me to read “Tender Plants: Quaker Farmers and Children in the Delaware Valley, 1681-1735” and I have to admit I was glad I did. I admit my knowledge of the Quakers and their lifestyle is limited at best and learning about their traditions and beliefs through their own hand has been a blessing. However, without further research I have been a bit lost. It is no surprise then that "Tender Plants" would give me a better perspective when transcribing their letters.

Using information learned from this source as well as a few others (*see sources page*) I have constructed a rudimentary chart to help people see some of the differences between the Quakers I am focusing on currently to the Protestant women I have discussed before.

I will be continuing to find these similarities and differences as well as comparing the structural differences.

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My struggles this week were plentiful. As quickly and easily as I am running though the actual transcription portion of this I am finding myself hitting walls with my StoryMap. It isn't a lack of information I am running into but more of a lack of creativity on how to present the information in a useful and easy way for the audience. I have a tendency to either fill the page with words or fully go the other way and find myself not explaining enough. In order to combat this issue I have already gotten a group together to sit down and talk my way through this both inside and outside of my field in order to make sure it's easily digestible.

In prep for next week I ask...

Who wants to learn some tips and tricks about how to transcribe letters?

Levy, Barry. “‘Tender Plants:’ Quaker Farmers and Children in the Delaware Valley, 1681-

1735.” Journal of Family History 3, no. 2 (1978): 116–35.