In this week, we visited the University of Leeds' Special Collections in the library to explore several historical documents. Many of the items were difficult to understand because they were handwritten, which also made it challenging to decipher the contents. Thus, we had to rely on guessing and inference. To understand those collections, I examined the book titles, descriptions, and printed text. Additionally, I used a photo translation app to identify certain words, which helped me extract key terms. Then, I search these words online to know the background information.
Some of the notable objects we viewed included the Quarry Hill unhealthy area, 1900: book of reference, Wages and Employment Records (1853-1921), and the Nurse Training Register: Private Records. Each document provided insight into different aspects of historical records, such as workhouse operations, employment conditions, and training records. Despite the challenges in reading the handwritten texts, this experience improved my ability to analyze historical documents by utilizing different resources and strategies. It also highlighted the importance of primary sources in understanding history. Overall, this visit enhanced my research skills and made me appreciate the value of archival materials.