What a treat to read your memories from the 70s of the escribanos in Mexico City. My husband informed me they could still be found in the Plaza de Santo Domingo, so with a little research I found that though they are in danger of extinction, there are still six escribanos, using their old typewriters, refusing to go digital! Still writing documents and love letters, but I doubt any as good as yours, Ros!
yes Susan, it's true, there a very few left over and why not? even if people can now read and write maybe they like to be helped by someone who knows how to write these sorts of letters, maybe it's something I should do, haha!
Fascinating, Rosalind. I love that idea of the communal secretary, waiting in the square to type letters on request. But of course the reason behind it - illiteracy - not so much.
This is wonderful. I had forgotten about the escríbanos. I don’t remember the love letter but I do their being outside of government offices to do the forms. The last time wrote a letter was probably to a friend in Guadalajara back in the early 1990s. He didn’t have email so I had to post a physical letter with stamps! Although the letter was done on word and printed.
Gosh you can remember the last letter you wrote, that’s amazing! And yes, the escribanos were everywhere, not just in the zocalo, but their job was very much needed. Thank, Tim, for your comment.
Love this! Some of us are keeping letter-writing alive. I have an American penpal (who shares my name, it's a long story) - we've been writing actual letters to each other for 25 years. We're very regular - a letter arrived from him on Tuesday. There's also an Instagram account that celebrates all things letter @letterappsoc
What a treat to read your memories from the 70s of the escribanos in Mexico City. My husband informed me they could still be found in the Plaza de Santo Domingo, so with a little research I found that though they are in danger of extinction, there are still six escribanos, using their old typewriters, refusing to go digital! Still writing documents and love letters, but I doubt any as good as yours, Ros!
yes Susan, it's true, there a very few left over and why not? even if people can now read and write maybe they like to be helped by someone who knows how to write these sorts of letters, maybe it's something I should do, haha!
You would be very good at it, I’m sure!
Fascinating, Rosalind. I love that idea of the communal secretary, waiting in the square to type letters on request. But of course the reason behind it - illiteracy - not so much.
Thanks Wendy and yes, but then back then (in the 70s) the situation was different from nowadays and these writers filled a need.
Thank you for your comment (surely very middle of the night in the UK??)
It was! I watched Race Across the World after I got in from choir and it turned into a late night.
This is wonderful. I had forgotten about the escríbanos. I don’t remember the love letter but I do their being outside of government offices to do the forms. The last time wrote a letter was probably to a friend in Guadalajara back in the early 1990s. He didn’t have email so I had to post a physical letter with stamps! Although the letter was done on word and printed.
Gosh you can remember the last letter you wrote, that’s amazing! And yes, the escribanos were everywhere, not just in the zocalo, but their job was very much needed. Thank, Tim, for your comment.
Love this! Some of us are keeping letter-writing alive. I have an American penpal (who shares my name, it's a long story) - we've been writing actual letters to each other for 25 years. We're very regular - a letter arrived from him on Tuesday. There's also an Instagram account that celebrates all things letter @letterappsoc
thehandwrittenletterappreciationsociety.org
x
thank you Steven, so glad you are still writing letters, fantastic.
thanks for the link to the hand written letter appreciation society, I'll take a look
This is wonderful. The secrets and passions they must have captured and conveyed. You describe it so clearly.
thank you, Mike, yes, I wish I'd seen some of the letters but no chance now. We can only imagine!
It is amazing. And a need was most certainly filled!
thank you Jeanine, and yes, it was most certainly needed and in fact the tradition goes back centuries, although I didn't investigate too much.
A heartwarming piece, dear Rosalind. 🥺🤍
You are so kind Wifa! thank you for commenting