Recently, while reviewing research materials in our archives, we came across a fascinating notebook filled with notes on the agricultural history of West Boca. The pages reference familiar names and places connected to Boca Raton’s early dairy industry but much of the writing isn’t in traditional longhand. Instead, it appears to be written in Gregg shorthand.
Developed by John Robert Gregg in 1888, Gregg shorthand was once a widely used system of rapid handwriting. Before laptops, voice recorders, and smartphones, secretaries, journalists, and business professionals relied on shorthand to quickly capture conversations, interviews, and meeting notes. At its peak, millions of people learned Gregg shorthand in schools and business programs across the country.
Today, however, the skill has largely faded from everyday use.
These newly rediscovered notes may hold valuable insights into West Boca’s agricultural past, including information about early dairies, farming families, and the people who helped shape our community. To unlock their stories, we need your help.
Can you read Gregg shorthand? Or do you know someone who can?
If so, we’d love to hear from you. Your expertise could help us preserve and better understand an important piece of Boca Raton’s history.
Please contact us at research@bocahistory.org if you’re interested in assisting with this unique transcription project.
Sometimes, preserving history means uncovering the stories hidden in plain sight—one symbol, one word, and one notebook page at a time.
