Scrivener

For other uses, see Scrivener (disambiguation).

Telling a problem to a public scrivener. Istanbul, 1878.

A historic reenactment of a 15th century scrivener recording the will of a man-at-arms

A scrivener (or scribe) was traditionally a person who could read and write. This usually indicated secretarial and administrative duties such as dictation and keeping business, judicial, and history records for kings, nobles, temples, and cities. Scriveners later developed into public servants, accountants, lawyers and petition writers, etc.

Current role

Scriveners remain a common sight in countries where literacy rates remain low; they read letters for illiterate customers, as well as write letters or fill out forms for a fee. Many now use portable typewriters to prepare letters for their clients.

Etymology

The word comes from Middle English scriveiner, an alteration of obsolete scrivein, from Anglo-French escrivein, ultimately from Vulgate Latin *scriban-, scriba, alteration of Latin scriba (as scribe).

In Japan, the word "scrivener" (書士, shoshi) is used to refer to legal professions such as judicial scriveners and administrative scriveners.

In the Irish language a "scríbhneoir" is a writer, or a person who writes. It has nearly exactly the same pronunciation as the English word "scrivener".

In ancient times, a scrivener was also called a calligraphus (pl. calligraphi).

In literature

A famous work of fiction featuring scriveners is the short story "Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville, first published in 1853.

Scrivener notaries

Scrivener notary tasks generally may include:

• Authentication and drafting of legal documents for use overseas
• Ballots (new issues); stock and bond redemption
• Bills of exchange
• Business start-up and corporate administration
• Construction project tendering
• Exchange control and foreign investment formalities
• Inheritance
• Legalization of documents
• Purchase and sale of overseas real property
• Shipping law
• Trademarks and patents
• Translation or certification of translation
• Wills and trusts
• Work and residence permits