# Help. Can you read this image? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-can-you-read-this-image/626345 "2012-06-26T14:07:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-can-you-read-this-image/626345/1 "2012-06-26T14:07:05Z")
After reading the thread on the availability of the 1940 Census, I volunteered to help index a batch of record. I have one I can’t make out what it says, and thought I’d appeal to the masses. What do you think this first name is? [https://picasaweb.google.com/101817705789498489422/FamilySearchIndexingProject?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMKuzdfljs2rdQ&feat=directlink](https://picasaweb.google.com/101817705789498489422/FamilySearchIndexingProject?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMKuzdfljs2rdQ&feat=directlink) The 3rd name down that looks like it ends with …asence. Note, the two vertical lines at the bottom belong to the letter H of the name below. Thanks, enright3 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-can-you-read-this-image/626345/2 "2012-06-26T14:11:09Z")
Clarence? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-can-you-read-this-image/626345/3 "2012-06-26T14:12:27Z")
Thomas G. Teague Clarence? ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-can-you-read-this-image/626345/4 "2012-06-26T14:38:15Z")
Clarence is the best guess I can come up with, too, but I have misgivings about the l/c L at second position. For it to be Clarence, we need to see the loop in the cap C as the l/c L, but look at the letter E following. The flourish is repeated there, leading me to think that there is no “l” in the C but rather just a flourish. This probably is not helpful…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-can-you-read-this-image/626345/5 "2012-06-27T14:38:35Z")
I agree that it’s Clarence. However, I don’t think the “L” is in the C - I agree with you that that just looks like a flourish - but it rather looks to me like there’s a really slight shadowy loop above the wiggle next to the “C” (it looks rather like a lower-case “r” in the cursive script). It looks to me like you can just see a shadowy extender raising above the top of that little hill that goes almost up to the “Zs” in “Lizzy.” I think that it’s just faded, much like the extender at the top of the second “z” in “Lizzy” above. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-can-you-read-this-image/626345/6 "2012-06-27T14:41:05Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > I agree that it’s Clarence. However, I don’t think the “L” is in the C - I agree with you that that just looks like a flourish - but it rather looks to me like there’s a really slight shadowy loop above the wiggle next to the “C” (it looks rather like a lower-case “r” in the cursive script). It looks to me like you can just see a shadowy extender raising above the top of that little hill that goes almost up to the “Zs” in “Lizzy.” > > I think that it’s just faded, much like the extender at the top of the second “z” in “Lizzy” above. Ah, yes. I see what you’re talking about and I believe you’ve got it. I feel completely sure about Clarence now. Thanks!