English-speaking researchers working with a Spanish-language document face two hurdles--understanding the handwriting and vocabulary, and grasping the record's institutional, historic, social, and cultural context. This book fills both needs. With images, charts, transcribed documents and in-depth commentary, this guide addresses handwriting concepts and challenges relevant to Spanish-language documents. The book also examines the format and procedures underlying ecclesiastical and legal record types, giving the context for a document's vocabulary and format.