Kathryn Baird
@kathryn11baird.bsky.social
Transcribes Pitman Shorthand on postcards, in diaries, anywhere. Family history, Lancashire, typewriters, books, art, music, random things. Quite fond of an Oxford comma.
A quiet start to Bank Holiday Monday. #Northamptonshire
August 25, 2025 at 7:07 AM
A quiet start to Bank Holiday Monday. #Northamptonshire
Act of remembrance today at Oundle and Ashton war memorial in the centre of Oundle, Northamptonshire.
August 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Act of remembrance today at Oundle and Ashton war memorial in the centre of Oundle, Northamptonshire.
Memorial in St Andrew's Church, Cotterstock to Lieut Kenneth Robert Dundas, who died #OTD 1915 at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli. 'This tablet is placed here in remembrance of all Kenneth's love and glorious fearlessness by his devoted wife Claudia 1919'
August 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Memorial in St Andrew's Church, Cotterstock to Lieut Kenneth Robert Dundas, who died #OTD 1915 at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli. 'This tablet is placed here in remembrance of all Kenneth's love and glorious fearlessness by his devoted wife Claudia 1919'
I’m encouraging the use of autograph books for summer 2025. Here’s mine, featuring Iris Murdoch’s autograph from 1969 when she came to my school, and Rev Richard Coles’ from 2017. In the background - a few drawings in a vintage autograph book.
July 22, 2025 at 7:47 AM
I’m encouraging the use of autograph books for summer 2025. Here’s mine, featuring Iris Murdoch’s autograph from 1969 when she came to my school, and Rev Richard Coles’ from 2017. In the background - a few drawings in a vintage autograph book.
Harriet: Oh, ain’t it just lovely!
Bystander: I beg pardon, but I painted that picture, and I am truly pleased to find that it appeals to the people.
Harriet: I don’t mean the picture - it’s the frame as my young man here made!
Pitman’s Shorthand Weekly 1892
Bystander: I beg pardon, but I painted that picture, and I am truly pleased to find that it appeals to the people.
Harriet: I don’t mean the picture - it’s the frame as my young man here made!
Pitman’s Shorthand Weekly 1892
July 20, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Harriet: Oh, ain’t it just lovely!
Bystander: I beg pardon, but I painted that picture, and I am truly pleased to find that it appeals to the people.
Harriet: I don’t mean the picture - it’s the frame as my young man here made!
Pitman’s Shorthand Weekly 1892
Bystander: I beg pardon, but I painted that picture, and I am truly pleased to find that it appeals to the people.
Harriet: I don’t mean the picture - it’s the frame as my young man here made!
Pitman’s Shorthand Weekly 1892
Happy #PostboxSaturday from Blatherwycke in Northamptonshire.
July 19, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Happy #PostboxSaturday from Blatherwycke in Northamptonshire.
‘Dear Martha. Just a few lines to ask you or perhaps to formally invite you to meet the other members of the proposed “speed class” in my study on Monday evening at 7 o’clock precisely’ #postcard #PitmanShorthand #50MysteriousPostcards
July 11, 2025 at 11:02 AM
‘Dear Martha. Just a few lines to ask you or perhaps to formally invite you to meet the other members of the proposed “speed class” in my study on Monday evening at 7 o’clock precisely’ #postcard #PitmanShorthand #50MysteriousPostcards
My 1st postcard with message in Pitman Shorthand. It features in my book 50 Mysterious Postcards: Pitman Shorthand Messages from the Golden Age of the Postcard. ‘I am writing this in shorthand because they always read what is on postcards at the post office here.’
July 9, 2025 at 7:52 AM
My 1st postcard with message in Pitman Shorthand. It features in my book 50 Mysterious Postcards: Pitman Shorthand Messages from the Golden Age of the Postcard. ‘I am writing this in shorthand because they always read what is on postcards at the post office here.’
'I hope you are keeping up your Shorthand. How did you enjoy the holiday at Gorleston on Sea.’ Official Sir Isaac Pitman postcard, sent 1904. #PitmanShorthand
July 7, 2025 at 8:05 AM
'I hope you are keeping up your Shorthand. How did you enjoy the holiday at Gorleston on Sea.’ Official Sir Isaac Pitman postcard, sent 1904. #PitmanShorthand
I keep the 50 postcards which feature in my book in this album. Since publication in September 2022, I've collected more postcards with messages in Pitman Shorthand and now have about 500. Fifty Mysterious Postcards: Pitman Shorthand Messages from the Golden Age of the Postcard.
July 6, 2025 at 7:55 AM
I keep the 50 postcards which feature in my book in this album. Since publication in September 2022, I've collected more postcards with messages in Pitman Shorthand and now have about 500. Fifty Mysterious Postcards: Pitman Shorthand Messages from the Golden Age of the Postcard.
Marion’s diary #OTD 1943 ‘I stayed in all day. I didn’t go to work. My boil was very bad. Nothing happened.’ #PitmanShorthand
June 21, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Marion’s diary #OTD 1943 ‘I stayed in all day. I didn’t go to work. My boil was very bad. Nothing happened.’ #PitmanShorthand
'There are four cases of smallpox in Macclesfield. I hope you don't get it.' Postcard of Kingsway, Cleethorpes with message in Pitman Shorthand. 'How are you getting on with your camera? I have only took three snaps up to now.'
June 20, 2025 at 7:28 AM
'There are four cases of smallpox in Macclesfield. I hope you don't get it.' Postcard of Kingsway, Cleethorpes with message in Pitman Shorthand. 'How are you getting on with your camera? I have only took three snaps up to now.'
Preparing for a talk on Fifty Mysterious Postcards in a couple of weeks. There’ll be secrets, confessions, loans re-paid, German measles and Eric (‘He is the best ever!’) #PitmanShorthand #postcards
June 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Preparing for a talk on Fifty Mysterious Postcards in a couple of weeks. There’ll be secrets, confessions, loans re-paid, German measles and Eric (‘He is the best ever!’) #PitmanShorthand #postcards
'Everything is going on well just now with us here and the above youngster makes the house livelier than ever.' Real photographic postcard of 'The biggest rogue in North London' with message in Pitman Shorthand.
June 18, 2025 at 9:07 AM
'Everything is going on well just now with us here and the above youngster makes the house livelier than ever.' Real photographic postcard of 'The biggest rogue in North London' with message in Pitman Shorthand.
'The man in the boat lives at the Ferry Cottage which you will have heard about before.' Postcard of Corby Bridge, near Carlisle, with message in Pitman Shorthand, posted 1905.
June 17, 2025 at 6:35 AM
'The man in the boat lives at the Ferry Cottage which you will have heard about before.' Postcard of Corby Bridge, near Carlisle, with message in Pitman Shorthand, posted 1905.
Wallace and Gromit postcard, with message in Pitman Shorthand, on its way this morning.
June 14, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Wallace and Gromit postcard, with message in Pitman Shorthand, on its way this morning.
Postcards (and other things) on my wall.
June 13, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Postcards (and other things) on my wall.
Postcards with messages written in Pitman Shorthand, secret diaries, and my book Fifty Mysterious Postcards: Pitman Shorthand Messages from the Golden Age of the Postcard.
April 22, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Postcards with messages written in Pitman Shorthand, secret diaries, and my book Fifty Mysterious Postcards: Pitman Shorthand Messages from the Golden Age of the Postcard.
At the Andy Warhol exhibition in Milton Keynes today. Where IS everyone? This is the place to be
March 15, 2025 at 7:32 PM
At the Andy Warhol exhibition in Milton Keynes today. Where IS everyone? This is the place to be
With this chap, admiring The Longest Yarn exhibition, at Peterborough Cathedral today.
March 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
With this chap, admiring The Longest Yarn exhibition, at Peterborough Cathedral today.
On the top shelf at Oundle Bookshop - Fifty Mysterious Postcards.
February 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
On the top shelf at Oundle Bookshop - Fifty Mysterious Postcards.
Postcard of Gorleston Harbour from Cliffs, sent 1905, with message in #PitmanShorthand ‘I spoke to Mr Adams about you when he was resting in the garden. He says we should keep a draughtsman but the trade is not good enough to allow him to pay one now.’
February 4, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Postcard of Gorleston Harbour from Cliffs, sent 1905, with message in #PitmanShorthand ‘I spoke to Mr Adams about you when he was resting in the garden. He says we should keep a draughtsman but the trade is not good enough to allow him to pay one now.’
‘Thanks for sarcastic letter.’ Postcard of Lambeth Palace, London, with message in Pitman Shorthand to Ethel.
January 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
‘Thanks for sarcastic letter.’ Postcard of Lambeth Palace, London, with message in Pitman Shorthand to Ethel.
Not sure whether I need this toilet roll holder with anti-slip mat for my mobile phone.
January 27, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Not sure whether I need this toilet roll holder with anti-slip mat for my mobile phone.