Editorial Policies
Digitization
Most of the digitization was done manually during the transcription of the documents into a word processor, and then to plain text. Some of the printed materials were scanned (at 600 dpi) using OCR (optical character recognition) software ( ScanSoft TextBridge), and then converted to word processor documents, and then to plain text.
Presentation
The documents are presented in plain (ASCII) text (.txt) to ensure portability and longevity. To aid in reading and printing, each line is limited to seventy characters.
Markup
This edition is presented without any kind of markup (SGML, XML,
etc.). While we agree that such markup schemes greatly aid in accurately
describing a document, it also greatly adds to the workload, and thus would
severely reduce the already slow pace at which we are progressing. Thus,
we present the documents in clean, plain text. We hope that emerging
technologies will, at some later date, allow us to more efficiently markup these
documents in accordance to the guidelines set forth by the Model Editions
Partnership.
Transcription
As accuracy of the texts is paramount, transcription of the documents is as literal as possible within the constraints of plain text.
General Rules
All
antiquated or incorrect spellings are retained with two exceptions: the
elongated "s" is modernized; and the thorn ("y" for
"th") is expanded. The umlaut is eliminated and the
conjoined "a" and "e" is printed as "ae", and both
are footnoted. Centering and right justification are eliminated and the
text brought to the left margin (if the justification is crucial to the text, it
is footnoted). Punctuation, capitalization are left
as written (this also applies to sentences ending with a long space, or a
dash, which is rendered as two hyphens). When names are omitted in
the text (i.e., Mr. T____ or Mr. T------), the missing portion is rendered as three
hyphens. Contractions and abbreviations are left as written
("Yr Most Obt & Humble Servt"). If expansion is needed for
clear understanding, it appears in square brackets. Superscript letters
are lowered (Philr to Philr). Brackets
used by the author are rendered as parentheses. The presentation of charts
and similar objects is standardized to meet the requirements of plain text,
while still maintaining some degree of formatting. Any other
needed changes to the texts not list here are explained in footnotes.
Rules Regarding Manuscripts
Emphasis placed on text by the author (underlining,
italics, etc.) is described in a footnote. Crossed-out text is noted and, if legible, reproduced in a footnote.
Illegible, incomplete, or mutilated words or dates are indicated by angle brackets <gap>. If the missing text,
or portions of it, have been determined, it appears in square brackets.
Super- and sub-script texts, and marginal texts are printed in-line where
appropriate. If the intended location cannot be determined, the text appears in a footnote.
Sketches or drawings are described in a footnote. In cases where
multiple copies of a document exist, the editors have printed what is deemed the
most authentic text, and discrepancies are annotated.
Rules Regarding Printed Matter
Obvious printer’s errors are silently emended. Page numbers are
retained and printed on the left margin, at the beginning of the page. As
each chapter is presented as a separate document, the same page number is
repeated if a new chapter begins on the same page the previous one ends. Small capitals used for emphasis
are rendered as regular capitals. When letters are reproduced, the
datelines, salutations, signatures, etc. are brought to the left margin.
Italics used in datelines or in other parts of a reproduced letter that are
clearly not being used for emphasis are eliminated and not footnoted. The
various devices used to separate sections of text are rendered as five
hyphens.
Annotation
As our goal is primarily to get these documents online and accessible, annotation only appears to alert the reader of some textual matter, such as to indicate marginal or deleted text. Footnotes are referred to by a number in square brackets (ex. [1]) and the notes appear at the end of the document.
The document type is noted at the end of the document. Information regarding the transcription, digitization, etc. of the document is also be noted at the end of each document.
Once all of the documents are online, more contextual information may be added in the form of concise annotation.