Do you ever have problems deciphering the intricate handwriting of historical documents? Don't we all! There are lots of online resources to help, and we've checked them out so you can find the right one for you. Some are MOOCS (massive open online courses) offered through universities; others are web-based self-paced tutorials. If none of these work for you, you should also check out the classic instructional guides (aka "books") on paleography we recommended in our earlier post.
Online Tutorials
English Handwriting 1500-1700: An Online Course, University of Cambridge, ongoing
This resource has been designed for students and scholars of early modern English letters, history, theology, and philosophy--for anyone whose research will embrace original English manuscript sources in this period. Drawing on the rich manuscript holdings of some of the older Cambridge colleges, it presents an extensive archive of manuscript images unparalleled in printed guides and introductions. Joined to this you will find a range of pedagogical materials--transcription conventions, tips on dating, a bibliography and list of links--suitable for beginners, but convenient also for continuing reference.
vHMML School (virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library), ongoing
The School teaches about scripts and manuscripts, introducing learners to the sciences of paleography and codicology.
Follow the development of scripts through the centuries. Lessons include simple exercises to help you grasp important concepts. Lessons on Latin Scripts do not necessarily require a knowledge of Latin.
Transcribing Manuscripts offers a chance to practice reading the scripts covered in the Scripts and Manuscripts lessons. Each transcription exercise includes an answer key. The lessons in Transcribing Latin or Syriac Manuscripts assume a knowledge of Latin or Syriac respectively.
Digital Resource and Database for Palaeography, Manuscript Studies and Diplomatic, King's College, London, ongoing
The project aims to bring digital technology to bear on scholarly discussion in new and innovative ways. It combines digital photographs of medieval handwriting with detailed descriptions and characterisations of the writing, as well as the text in which it is found, and the content and structure of the manuscript or document as a whole. It incorporates different ways of exploring and manipulating the information, such as annotated images, along with well as more conventional text-based browse and search. It therefore allows scholars to apply new developments in palaeographical method which have been discussed in theory but which have proven difficult or impossible to implement in practice.
Scottish Handwriting, Scottish Archive Network, ongoing
Online tuition in palaeography for historians, genealogists and other researchers who have problems reading manuscript historical records written in Scotland in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
The emphasis of the website is on practical help to improve the palaeographical skills, rather than on the academic study of Scottish handwriting.
Spanish Paleography Digital Teaching and Learning Tool, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, ongoing
The Spanish Paleography Digital Teaching and Learning Tool is an online interactive resource to assist users in the learning of the deciphering and reading of manuscripts written in Spanish during the early modern period, roughly from the late 15th to the 18th century.
French Renaissance Paleography, Newberry Library, ongoing
Paleography is the history and study of handwriting. Old scripts can be very beautiful, but sometimes difficult to read. This site presents over 100 carefully selected French manuscripts written between 1300 and 1700, with tools for deciphering them and learning about their social, cultural, and institutional settings.
Current and Upcoming Courses
Palaeography and Diplomatic, Institute of Historical Research, University of London's School of Advanced Study, ongoing
The course is designed to help students to work with medieval and early modern manuscripts (see See here). It is tailored as far as possible to individual needs within the group. Besides practical training (transcription, editing, the physical aspects of manuscripts and documents including illumination), the course introduces the history of script and its intellectual context from Roman times to c.1650. Full use will be made of the outstanding manuscript and facsimile resources of the Palaeography Collection, Senate House Library. At least one visit will be to the British Library. In the second term English documents and manuscripts c. 1400 to c. 1650 will be studied. There is a final expedition in May.
The course runs weekly on Tuesdays from 11.00 to 1.00 in the first two terms and with two or three classes in the third term. It takes place in the seminar room attached to the 4th floor palaeography collection in Senate House Library, Those who are free in any week are invited to stay on for a quick lunch in the IHR Common Room (bring your own or buy something).
If you're ready to try your hand at deciphering old handwriting, the collections on FromThePage are always looking for transcribers.
If you know of any that aren't listed here--especially if you've taken them and can recommend them--please let us know in the comments!
This post was updated November 2026. Check each course page for dates and applicable registration fees.
Save
If you’re German speaking, you can give http://palaeographie-online.de/ a try.