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Shorthand Translator
updated: Mar 06, 2013, 11:47 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

Can anyone out in Edhatland translate shorthand? My 89 y/o father has been reading my mothers daily journals of their world travels over some 20 years, and some of the passages are in shorthand (Gregg we think).

His wife of nearly 60 years passed away 2 years ago. He suspects that she wrote in shorthand some of the more "sensitive" bits not wanting him to be able to read them! He really would love to read ALL the words written by my mother. If anyone out there can help I would be so grateful, I'd love to allow my father to read the mystery passages his beloved wrote about during their travels.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 381938P	2013-03-06 11:53 AM
Sorry can't help with the shorthand but wanted to say what a beautiful thing for her to leave behind for him to remember their travels and such together
LIZBETH	2013-03-06 11:55 AM
try contacting a "secretarial" service, or maybe a court reporting service, they might be able to direct you.
SBJULES	2013-03-06 11:57 AM
I took shorthand before I went to collage because I thought that would help with note taking. I could not read my own short hand!
COMMENT 381961P	2013-03-06 12:40 PM
How about checking with some of our local retirement communities like Val Verde? I bet there are folks who were in secretarial jobs when they were younger.
COMMENT 381965	2013-03-06 12:46 PM
There is a shorthand service on Chapala by South Coast. I am sure they could help.
COMMENT 381979P	2013-03-06 01:11 PM
He should be prepared. There may be a good reason she didn't want him to read these passages. For instance, she may have been complaining about him...
COMMENT 382003	2013-03-06 02:10 PM
I would strongly encourage your father to let sleeping dogs lie. If his memories and the other diary entries are pleasant, then they can content him and warm his heart for the rest of his days. If he dredges something up that tarnishes those memories, it could cause him great suffering in his final years.
COMMENT 382055	2013-03-06 03:51 PM
The reason she probably recorded in shorthand was that she was too busy at that particular entry to write in longhand. Good luck with the translation, that would be something that would be really special for the whole family to share.
COMMENT 382061	2013-03-06 04:07 PM
I can do Pitmans but not Gregg
AQUAHOLIC	2013-03-06 06:10 PM
OP here....thank you all for the good suggestions. I have come to learn that even within the main 3 "styles" of shorthand, there are variations....rrrgghhh! My mother had impeccable handwriting (she was an artist) and I would imagine her shorthand was the same. Will take all the good advice and try to find someone to translate...thanks again!
COMMENT 382129P	2013-03-06 06:41 PM
You're very lucky to have this. While I can't help with the shorthand, I can attest to how wonderful it is to have a family record of this sort. I have the diary my mother started shortly before she began college in 1936; letters my parents wrote to each other in 1946-47 when they were newlyweds and my father was traveling for work; letters my mother wrote to a friend in 1948-52 when she was traveling with my father (again, for work); and journals both my parents wrote while vacationing. While some of the entries were very personal, and even disturbing at times, it's still a part of my family history and a great legacy. Please be sure to preserve the pages in archival quality materials so they can be read by future generations.
OLDLAWOMAN	2013-03-07 07:04 AM
I know I can help. Used Gregg for years on jobs, and stillll use it. I even think using it. Weird, I know. Just ask EdHat to contact me and I'd be pleased to meet with you.
COMMENT 382198	2013-03-07 07:44 AM
Congratulations to OLDLAWOMAN for assisting this family to retain their archive! Skills like this are fading away, and valuable as Aquaholic notes. His mother likely used Gregg shorthand for quick convenience. My mother went to business college and was adept, and at Christmas time confounded her whole family by writing their names in shorthand on gifts, so no one knew whose were whose. I miss her! We'll all follow this saga :)
COMMENT 382241P	2013-03-07 09:21 AM
I used Gregg (was a secretary in a former life) and have been guilty of using it for "sensitive" matters. Doubt I could translate anything competently at this stage.... Good luck (The retirement home idea was a good one.)
COMMENT 382248P	2013-03-07 09:26 AM
I can, but would prefer not, however, contact a community college that teaches it or buy a shorthand book.
AQUAHOLIC	2013-03-07 02:45 PM
*UPDATE* OLDLAWOMAN and I are meeting tomorrow to see if she can translate the mystery passages! Man, I just LOVE edhat...you guys are awesome! After sitting down to parse through the notebook, what I gather is, a rift between my parents and another couple they were traveling through Europe with at the time (1982). My Mother's very best friend and her new husband....hmmmm. Will follow up with any new insights!

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