An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.
I plugged the name of my great grandfather into Google one day many years ago, and received several links to something called "Hallingen." All items were written in Norwegian, and I couldn't translate. However, I could pick out my ancestor's name, and knew I would find a way to have it translated some day.
Hallingen is a Norwegian magazine published in America for people with connections to the Hallingdal area of Norway.
At the time, I carried membership in the Norwegian Genealogy Society, and felt at ease contacting the Director for assistance. He referred me to a lady who had been doing translations for the Society for many years.
I sent her my package of printouts, with sticky-notes telling her what parts I needed translated.
I waited for what seemed like forever, but finally, a package arrived.
Imagine my surprise when I opened it and started to read her translation. Page 1: Maybe a few lines from an old Halling would be meaningful... Page 2: It was 38 years since I saw the place of my birth...
These pages were written in his own words! He had written articles for the magazine, and they had been published.
They were beautifully translated by hand, on lined paper. They had not been typed, either on a typewriter, or on a computer.
Now, my job seems to be to transcribe these treasures into the Internet so they will be available to anyone who wants them.
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