Manuscripts are transcribed and edited for publication as follows:
1. The manuscripts are transcribed and annotated by volunteers from scans of the original documents, and these are then given to other volunteers to check and edit. These are the ‘level 1’ transcripts.
2. The level 1 transcripts are then checked by the Archivist (Charlotte) to make sure that the formatting instructions and conventions in the Transciption Protocol have been followed. Charlotte does not check all the text against the scans of the original documents – she only checks text which looks problematic.
3. The level 1 transcripts and endnotes are then carefully checked and edited by the Editors (Helen, Michael & Paula). These become the 'level 2' transcripts.
4. The level 2 transcripts are then checked by Charlotte to make sure that the formatting is OK.
5. The level 2 transcripts are then given to the Senior Editor (George) who carefully reads through them, checking any ‘suspect’ text against the original scans. George also edits the endnotes and adds additional ones if necessary. These are the level 3 transcripts.
6. The level 3 transcripts are then formatted for publication in The Correspondence of Alfred Russel Wallace. The formatting process involves adding metadata, replacing the full reference citations in the endnotes with author and date citations, and standardising the endnote biographies.