Cracking Cursive and Giving Back

At Springwell Senior Living, history is coming to life — one elegant loop of cursive at a time.

This summer, our community joined a unique nationwide initiative in partnership with the National Archives to help “translate” handwritten historical documents, many dating back to the Revolutionary War, into searchable digital text. These records, from pension applications and immigration logs to census reports and personal letters, are vital to preserving America’s story. But there’s a catch: most are written incursive, a once-common skill that’s now fading from use.

Fortunately, many of our residents grew up fluent in cursive and are now using that knowledge in a new way. With a growing group of enthusiastic participants and the support of two local high school volunteers, the Springwell team is diving into the past — and loving every minute of it.

Says one of the teen volunteers, “I really enjoy being a part of this project, helping preserve history and connect with the residents. It's been a meaningful experience that’s allowed me to learn and give back at the same time.”

This collaboration offers more than just a chance to give back — it’s sparking multigenerational learning and meaningful connection. Our student volunteers are gaining an appreciation for historical research and the art of handwriting, while residents are sharing their knowledge and helping shape a more accessible national record.

The second volunteer shares, “I like finding out about the 19th century transactions and the difference in the cost of things. The deciphering is sometimes challenging, mostly due to the handwriting, but it’s interesting to see how grammar has changed.”

The National Archives’ CitizenArchivist program, which engages over 5,000 volunteers, has already digitized and made available over 300 million historical records. As impressive as that number is, the human touch is still essential. Even with the help of artificial intelligence, documents written in flowing 18th- and 19th-century script still need a human eye to finalize the transcription.

That’s where our residents shine.As one resident-volunteer puts it, "I feel that I am helping the country.”

Whether it’s decoding the field notes of the Mason-Dixon Line or reviewing pension records from the early1800s, their efforts are helping ensure these stories aren't lost to time — or technology.

We’re proud to be part of this important mission, and even prouder of the community it’s building right hereat Spring well.

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