Welcome to the Pictou County Roots Society
Upcoming presentation on May 13, 2026:
How to read old handwriting: a talk and workshop
Do you read old documents? Do you need some tips when reading old handwriting?
Join us in the New Glasgow library Community Room on May 13, 2026 (Wednesday) at 2 p.m. for a talk and workshop on paleography: the study of old handwriting.
This presentation will be led by Dr. James Lees, curator of the Pictou County History Museum and the owner of Dominion Historical Consulting Ltd. In the first part of the presentation, James will give an overview of historic handwriting, and for the second part James will conduct a workshop to help people read different handwriting samples (with a focus on the 1700s, the 1800s, and the early 20th century).
Everyone is encouraged to bring examples of handwriting that they would like James to examine (and, with careful attention to detail, decipher).
In order to have a handwriting sample projected on the screen for James's review, please email a digital file (or files) directly to James at dominionhistoricalconsulting [at] gmail . com . And, if you wish to see some handwriting samples in preparation for the workshop, you can view them here.
This will be a fascinating event! Admitance is free: all are welcome to attend.
About the Pictou County Roots Society
Pictou County Roots Society is a registered non-profit organization. The society held its first monthly meeting on November 11, 1998 for the purpose of assisting the public in genealogical research and preserving historical records so that they may be available for public use.
To further these aims, the society has formed working partnerships with the New Glasgow Branch of the Pictou Antigonish Regional Library, the town of New Glasgow and the Pictou County Historical Society.
Monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the New Glasgow library (currently located at the back corner of the Aberdeen Business Centre, 610 East River Road, New Glasgow). Members and guests are always welcome.
We also have an office to house our resources in the Heritage Room of the New Glasgow Library and have regular open hours from Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Volunteers and staff are available to assist the public.