Jena, May 29, 2026 – Anyone in possession of old family letters, diaries, or certificates often faces a barrier: historical German handwriting is barely legible to untrained eyes. A new course at the Volkshochschule (vhs) Jena provides a remedy and teaches the basics of decoding historical documents.
- What: Course “Reading Handwriting from Great-Grandmother’s Time”
- When: Starting Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM (3 evenings)
- Where: Volkshochschule Jena, Grietgasse (Directions via Google Maps)
- Contact & Registration: Phone 03641 498200, Email volkshochschule@jena.de or online at www.vhs-jena.de
Practical Value for Genealogy
Historical documents such as birth and death certificates, wills, or personal letters are often the only remaining testimonies of previous generations. For one’s own family and ancestral research (genealogy), the ability to read these texts independently is of invaluable worth. The course systematically teaches the structure and characteristic features of old scripts, so that participants learn to decipher the often flourished and closely written lines step by step themselves.
Dates and Registration Service
The instruction is practical and takes place over three consecutive course evenings. An overview of the most important data for interested citizens:
- Start Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM each evening
- Venue: Classrooms of the Volkshochschule Jena in the Grietgasse
- Registration: Prior registration is mandatory as the number of participants is limited. Registration can be done by phone, email, or directly via the vhs Jena website.
📜 History & Paleography: Kurrent and Sütterlin
German Kurrent script was the standard cursive in the German-speaking world from the 16th century until the mid-20th century. It is characterized by sharp angles and slanted forms, which is why it is colloquially known as “Spitzschrift” (pointed script).
In 1911, the graphic artist Ludwig Sütterlin developed a modernized version on behalf of the Prussian Ministry of Culture. This “Sütterlin script” featured wider curves, larger loops, and more upright lines to make it easier for children to learn to write. From 1915, it was introduced nationwide in schools. However, its era was short: as early as 1941, the National Socialists banned the use of German scripts in official correspondence and schools with the so-called “Normal Script Decree” and replaced them with Latin script.
Source:
Learning to read old handwriting
Transparency Note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.