Discover the stories of the month

Each month since 1 July 2021, we are highlighting several stories in various languages, selected around a certain theme, ranging from war diaries, family correspondence to love letters and theater play manuscripts.

By transcribing the story of your choice, you are automatically taking part in the Stories of the Month Run.

You can also make your own choice and work on other documents of your interest that are related to the theme. In that case we especially encourage you to work on documents that people have started to work on but have not yet been completed. All contributions count.

The results are in!
The online run "Stories of the Month" concluded on August 31, 2024. We would like to extend our gratitude to all participants. Our champion transcriber, Wolfgang Dekeyser, secured first place by transcribing 130,767 characters, adding 349 enrichments, and running 731 miles. Congratulations to Wolfgang and runners-up Sophie Jouglard and Torsten Salzer! All stories from the run will remain available for transcription indefinitely. However, from now on, all achievements will only be added to your personal statistics and Europeana Transcribe's overall progress.

Stories of the Month for August 2024

August 2024: Helping AI

Join AI in the quest of bringing forth these stories. Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) technology was created by READ-COOP and later integrated into Transcribathon as a part of EnrichEuropeana+ project. It enables the automatic recognition of handwritten text, saving volunteers time and allowing them to concentrate on such tasks as reviewing the job done by HTR, editing the layouts, geolocating, and annotating. Visit our Tutorial to learn how to edit HTR results. To understand how to work with the layout editor, go to Transcribus Help Center or watch this video tutorial.

 
 
 
 

Brief von Hans Kotzbauer an seine Eltern

2 Items

Letter from stretcher bearer Hans Kotzbauer (dated 1 February 1917) from the front to his parents in Vilseck/Upper Palatinate. Kotzbauer describes his work as a stretcher bearer and the problems of providing care.

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[Autograph letter signed by Sophie Arnould in Alleaume, 5 October 1778] (autograph manuscript) || [Lettre autographe signée de Sophie Arnould à Alleaume, 5 octobre 1778] (manuscrit autographe)

3 Items

Letter signed by Sophie Arnould (1740-1802), a French soprano opera singer. She was the first to play the role of Eurydice in Gluck's "Orpheus and Eurydice".

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Attestazione della 76° Compagnia Mitragliatrici 1907 F.

1 Item

Certificate of merits of the Mantova Brigade, commanded by Pasquale Alberto Arenaprimo

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„Opisanie Krzesła słuzącego do obserwacji Astronomicznych“

1 Item

Description of the chair used in astronomical observations sent to Martynas Počobutas (1728-1810) in Warsaw.

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Progress

Stories of the month run

463

Started Items

260,505

Total Characters

52

Started Stories

688

Added Enrichments

441

Added Locations

83

Described Items

1,103

Miles Run

21

Users Participating

TOP TRANSCRIBERS IN 2024

1

Wolfgang Dekeyser

307 Miles in this campaign

67,891 Characters | 196 Enrichments | 214 Locations

2

rita petrelli

91 Miles in this campaign

24,030 Characters | 9 Enrichments | 31 Locations

3

Nadja N

13 Miles in this campaign

3,935 Characters | 0 Enrichments | 0 Locations

4

Mika Aleskerova

11 Miles in this campaign

2,117 Characters | 15 Enrichments | 2 Locations

5

Torsten Salzer

10 Miles in this campaign

2,834 Characters | 0 Enrichments | 0 Locations

OF 4

TOP TRANSCRIBERS

1

Wolfgang Dekeyser

586 Miles in this campaign

130,767 Characters | 349 Enrichments | 420 Locations

2

Sophie Jouglard

386 Miles in this campaign

95,873 Characters | 269 Enrichments | 8 Locations

3

Torsten Salzer

32 Miles in this campaign

9,555 Characters | 0 Enrichments | 0 Locations

4

Aleksandra Zawadzka

29 Miles in this campaign

8,462 Characters | 0 Enrichments | 0 Locations

5

Daniele Iamunno

20 Miles in this campaign

5,486 Characters | 2 Enrichments | 4 Locations

OF 5

Previous Stories of the Month

July 2024: Hidden Gems. Part 4

Once more, we offer you to uncover more untold stories and get a unique look into the lives and experiences of those who lived through the Great War. Don't miss out — visit Europeana 1914-1918.

 
 
 
 

Briefje gesneuvelde Jos Verheyde

32 Items

Documents and photographs belonging to stretcher bearer Jan De Koninck. For the rest of his life, he kept a note in his wallet that reported on the death of his friend Jos Verheyde, killed on June 11, 1915.

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Zeichnungen vom Leutnant der Reserve Ernst Hartung

41 Items

40 drawings from 1915 to 1918, by Ernst Hartung. For the most part, the drawings are dated and located. They are presented here in chronological order.

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David Ferguson Hunter | one of The Seven Heroes of Moeovres Tales of the V.C.

8 Items

During a German attack north of Moeovres on 17th September 1918 Corporal D. Hunter and six other men held out for two days while surrounded. The attached account of their actions was written by James Price Lloyd of the Welsh Regiment, who served with Military Intelligence.

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Correspondance de Jean SPAGNOL

18 Items

10 postcards and letters addressed by Jean Spagnol to his sister Jeanne and his parents.

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June 2024: Hidden Gems. Part 3

This month's stories are unrevealed gems from Transcribathon's rich 1914-1918 collection. Visit Europeana 1914-1918 to discover more.

 
 
 
 

Selbstgezeichnete humoristische Postkarten von Reinhold Moser aus Schorndorf

18 Items

Self-drawn humorous postcards by Reinhold Moser from Schorndorf. He drew, wrote the texts and even composed poems on all of the postcards that were sent out.

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Letters Home to Dublin | from World War I | Written by Denis T. Hayes to His Brother Pat Hayes br

24 Items

Letters home to Dublin, written by Denis T. Hayes to his brother Pat Hayes in the summer of 1918.

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FRAD022 - René HORVAIS

65 Items

Postcards and an illustrated memory notebook of René Horvais, written between 1923 and 1978.

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FRAM - Gustave COEURDEVACHE

6 Items

Letters from Gustave Coeurdevache dated 1918. The letters are rich in information on the liberation of Alsace, on the feelings of the soldiers concerning their leave, their living conditions and the high cost of living.

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May 2024: Hidden Gems. Part 2

We've unearthed several new hidden gems awaiting transcription. Their potential to shine is in your hands!

 
 
 
 

FRBNSA-084 Gaston Charoy | 6e régiment génie territorial

78 Items

War diary of Gaston Charoy, who, after being taken as a prisoner at Fort Orff in Ingolstadt in September 1914, spent four years in Amberg, Bavaria.

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Modesta

44 Items

The original theater drama "Modesta" by José Guilherme dos Santos. Manuscript from the archives of Teatro Nacional D. Maria II.

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Photographs from the collection of Karol and Wanda Młodnicki || Fotografie ze zbiorów Karola i Wandy Młodnickich

101 Items

Photographs and autographs from the collection of Karol Młodnicki, a Polish artist, and his wife Wanda, a writer and translator.

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FRAD062_036 - Gustave Deneuville | 1910-1960

299 Items

A large collection of postcards written by and addressed to Gustave Deneuville, who served in and survived the First World War.

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April 2024: Up into Space

On April 12, 1961, the first human journey into space took place. This month, we are celebrating the spirit of exploration and the limitless possibilities of space by presenting to you our Astronomy-themed collection. Start your own celestial journey through time with our historical documents!

 
 
 
 

Manuscrits de la bibliothèque Carré d'art de Nîmes. Mélanges d'astronomie et d'histoire naturelle. Lettre à Séguier.

2 Items

Letter from Lodovico Zucconi (1706-1783), an author of 'De heliometri structura et usu' (1760) to Jean-François Séguier (1703-1784), a French astronomer, about his observation of a comet.

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Astronomical observations and correspondences of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. || Observations et correspondances astronomiques des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles.

190 Items

Among others are observations made in Beijing by the French Jesuits in 1694 and 1695 and an observation of the lunar eclipse, in 1776, by Le Monnier.

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Astronomia pisana przez Michała Pełkę Polińskiego w czasie Lekcyy dawanych przez W[ielebne]go Jgnacego Reszkę Professora Astronomii w Jmperatorskim Wilenskim Uniwersytecie z Roku 1804 na 1805; z Roku 1805 na 1806; z R[ok]u 1807 na 1808 /

182 Items

The course of Ignotas Reška's astronomy lectures (1804, 1805, 1807), given at the Vilnius Imperial University, and written down by his student M. Pelkas-Polinskis. Included are astronomical calculations, formulas, and drawings.

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„Wielmozny Mosci Dobrodzieiu Z nieskonczonym utesknieniem czekam od WUM Pana Dia listu, bos mi...“

1 Item

Martynas Počobutas (1728-1810), a Polish–Lithuanian astronomer and mathematician, reports that he observed Mercury moving across the Sun.

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„Monsieur et très cher ami. Prawda, że czas nam przerwać tak długie milczenie...“

1 Item

After a long time since their last correspondence, Martynas Počobutas (1728-1810) writes a letter to the addressee about his life, work and observations.

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„Opisanie Krzesła słuzącego do obserwacji Astronomicznych“

1 Item

Description of the chair used in astronomical observations sent to Martynas Počobutas (1728-1810) in Warsaw.

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Sir, the expence of the instruments which You desire... : [laiškas].

1 Item

Nevil Maskelyne (1732-1811), a prominent British astronomer, responds to Norvaiša's letter by providing him with information regarding the prices of the ordered devices and providing recommendations on alternative manufacturers capable of producing the necessary devices.

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March 2024: Women in History

Let's celebrate this Women's History Month by delving into the inspiring historical documents penned by and addressed to remarkable women! Find more stories in our ongoing Women's History Run.

 
 
 
 

Papiers de Pauline Viardot.XIXe-XXe s. III Lettres adressées à Louis Viardot.

266 Items

Letters addressed to Pauline Viardot (1821-1910), French soprano, pedagogue and composer, by other renowned personalities of the 19th century.

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Listy Heleny Modrzejewskiej do rodziny i przyjaciół

90 Items

Helena Modrzejewska (1840-1909), known also by her stage name Helena Modjeska, was a Polish actress, a diva of the Polish national theatre. The story includes her correspondence with relatives and friends.

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Notatnik Narcyzy Żmichowskiej - wspomnienia o ludziach i zdarzeniach 1875

194 Items

Diary of Narcyza Żmichowska (1819-1876), a Polish novelist and poet, who left a great impact on feminist literature of the 19th century.

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Nurse Ella Brigid McCarthy

7 Items

Photographs and letters of Ella Brigid McCarthy, who was born on 21 May 1886 in Ireland. She went to England and qualified as a nurse at a young age. In 1915 she volunteered for Red Cross work and was sent in May to Egypt.

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[81 lettres de Pauline Viardot aux éditeurs Heugel, 1878-19.] (manuscrit autographe)

223 Items

Letters by Pauline Viardot (1821-1910), French soprano, pedagogue and composer, to her publishers Heugel.

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February 2024: Anthropology

February is a proud host to the World Anthropology Day, which takes place on the third Thursday of the month each year. In anticipation of the 15th of February, let's explore and embrace the incredible diversity of human culture.

 
 
 
 

On the Beginnings of Human Speech and Civilisation || O początkach mowy ludzkiej i cywilizacji

176 Items

"On the beginnings of human speech and civilization", by Stefan Pawlicki (1839-1916). Excerpt from the script "Sociology and Psychology of Nations"(Kraków, 1888), with corrections and changes made by the author. The basis of the script were Pawlicki’s lectures at the Faculty of Theology of the Jagiellonian University, delivered in 1893/1894.

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Metody etnologii

7 Items

"Methods of ethnology" - handwritten notes of a Polish anthropologist, Stanisław Poniatowski (1884-1945).

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“Review of Mr Ramsay’s speech on mythology,” by Claude CAPPERONNIER. || « Examen du discours de M. Ramsay sur la mythologie, » par Claude CAPPERONNIER.

22 Items

"Examination of Mr. Ramsay's speech on mythology" by Claude Capperonnier. With an autograph letter from Ramsay, in response to the previous examination, dated Paris, January 14, 1728.

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Ο γάμος στην παλαιά εποχή - Παραδόσεις, Τοπωνύμια εκ Ερμιονίδος, της επαρχίας Ναυπλίας του νομού Αργολίδος.

39 Items

"Marriage in ancient times - Traditions, Toponyms from Ermionis, in the district of Nafplio, in the prefecture of Argolis." By Maria Georg Zepou, 1968.

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