AI is not always able to interpret the often problematic paperwork that their volunteers handle. They have sometimes been crumpled, smeared, damaged, or dog-eared.
Widows often brought handwritten family tree pages ripped from the family Bible when applying for pensions during the Revolutionary War because they had to provide proof of marriage.
Not to mention plainly bad handwriting. According to Christine Ritter, a 70-year-old volunteer from Fairless Hills,
Pennsylvania, “some of the Justices of the Peace have terrible handwriting.” Cross-outs, bleed-through text from the other side,
Inusual and creative spellings, outdated letter forms (a double S was formerly written as a “long s” and seemed to be a F), and even kid-made drawings on top are all there.
Additionally, there are a lot of legalese and out-of-date jargon that might confuse even the most knowledgeable readers. It’s similar to figuring out a puzzle.
