Exploring Handwritten Text Recognition for Manuscript Studies with 2025-2026 SIMS Fellows

This discussion, presented to MedRen and Global Medieval and Renaissance Studies, will introduce the work of two 2025-2026 Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies (SIMS) Graduate Student Fellows, Ellie Webb and Priya Nambrath, who have been spending this year exploring Handwritten Text Recognition technologies for use on a variety of historic and archival documents. This conversation will highlight the challenges and opportunities for using automated tools manuscript transcriptions in an informal setting, with discussion focusing on the benefits and limitations of some tools and techniques currently extant. This event will be of interest to medievalists of all levels who have heard about Handwritten Text Recognition and are curious about how it works, and how it might be useful for their own work.

Registration is not required. We hope to see you there!