The fanciest tool I use is Turboscan in the archives.
Printed documents, file folders and Word.
Printed documents, file folders and Word.
July 31, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The fanciest tool I use is Turboscan in the archives.
Printed documents, file folders and Word.
Printed documents, file folders and Word.
I use an app called TurboScan to take archival photos. Adjusts the perspective for copies that look like they were scanned on a copier, compiles them into PDFs you can easily upload to Dropbox or whatever. Highly recommended.
March 30, 2026 at 12:46 PM
I use an app called TurboScan to take archival photos. Adjusts the perspective for copies that look like they were scanned on a copier, compiles them into PDFs you can easily upload to Dropbox or whatever. Highly recommended.
I use the TurboScan app on my phone and it’s phenomenal for documents, good on photos except glossies
April 5, 2024 at 12:10 AM
I use the TurboScan app on my phone and it’s phenomenal for documents, good on photos except glossies
crowdsourcing for my MA students: do you have a scanning app you like for archives? I used turboscan and save documents as pdfs within box/folder folder system in dropbox that mirrors the archive's system--but is there something newer/better that you do and that works?
February 17, 2026 at 4:11 PM
crowdsourcing for my MA students: do you have a scanning app you like for archives? I used turboscan and save documents as pdfs within box/folder folder system in dropbox that mirrors the archive's system--but is there something newer/better that you do and that works?
I do all my own archival work and the Doar papers were ENORMOUS.
But I use TurboScan on my phone — takes great images, adjusts the perspective so you get straight copies like they were flat on a xerox, and lets you link multiple together as a single PDF *and* you can email/upload as you go.
But I use TurboScan on my phone — takes great images, adjusts the perspective so you get straight copies like they were flat on a xerox, and lets you link multiple together as a single PDF *and* you can email/upload as you go.
December 12, 2025 at 1:39 AM
I do all my own archival work and the Doar papers were ENORMOUS.
But I use TurboScan on my phone — takes great images, adjusts the perspective so you get straight copies like they were flat on a xerox, and lets you link multiple together as a single PDF *and* you can email/upload as you go.
But I use TurboScan on my phone — takes great images, adjusts the perspective so you get straight copies like they were flat on a xerox, and lets you link multiple together as a single PDF *and* you can email/upload as you go.
I use TurboScan for various projects as well. It’s good.
December 12, 2025 at 2:59 AM
I use TurboScan for various projects as well. It’s good.
wait I thought of one: TurboScan Pro. Inexpensive, rock-solid, works perfect, no bullshit updates, just raw simple no nonsense performance 🙏
December 2, 2025 at 12:58 PM
wait I thought of one: TurboScan Pro. Inexpensive, rock-solid, works perfect, no bullshit updates, just raw simple no nonsense performance 🙏
But yes, TurboScan with overhead tripod/phone mount is great and FAST
December 12, 2025 at 2:16 AM
But yes, TurboScan with overhead tripod/phone mount is great and FAST
i use turboscan to scan docs with my iphone and it is indistinguishable from a regular scanner, produces PDFs and jpegs
it’s good enough to use for legal and mortgage paperwork (and i have)
it’s good enough to use for legal and mortgage paperwork (and i have)
November 5, 2024 at 3:04 AM
i use turboscan to scan docs with my iphone and it is indistinguishable from a regular scanner, produces PDFs and jpegs
it’s good enough to use for legal and mortgage paperwork (and i have)
it’s good enough to use for legal and mortgage paperwork (and i have)
I also use TurboScan and love it! Handles different types of documents very well, and great options for uploading to cloud drives as you go. Very handy with a tall phone tripod.
December 12, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I also use TurboScan and love it! Handles different types of documents very well, and great options for uploading to cloud drives as you go. Very handy with a tall phone tripod.
I’ve been using the Turboscan app for years. I’m headed to the archives tomorrow and will use it. Recommend!
July 9, 2024 at 3:13 AM
I’ve been using the Turboscan app for years. I’m headed to the archives tomorrow and will use it. Recommend!
Dunno man that's why you download a scanning app to your phone. (I use TurboScan).
November 20, 2024 at 1:48 AM
Dunno man that's why you download a scanning app to your phone. (I use TurboScan).
I went through the exact same process. I’ve also discovered that when it comes to scanning, I wind up doing 99.9% of the scanning I need to do with the TurboScan app, which uses your phone camera and turns documents immediately into PDFs. (The .1% is scanning photos, which I almost never do.)
February 3, 2024 at 2:34 PM
I went through the exact same process. I’ve also discovered that when it comes to scanning, I wind up doing 99.9% of the scanning I need to do with the TurboScan app, which uses your phone camera and turns documents immediately into PDFs. (The .1% is scanning photos, which I almost never do.)
turboscan on the iphone is a great app for document scanning
i bet there are a million little rig options that you could use
i bet there are a million little rig options that you could use
April 15, 2026 at 1:07 AM
turboscan on the iphone is a great app for document scanning
i bet there are a million little rig options that you could use
i bet there are a million little rig options that you could use
I got very fast just using TurboScan on my phone, which would let you save each volume as its own pdf.
December 12, 2025 at 1:43 AM
I got very fast just using TurboScan on my phone, which would let you save each volume as its own pdf.
Putting the TurboScan app on my phone really solved a lot of my scanner rage. It can be time consuming, but you get total control.
May 6, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Putting the TurboScan app on my phone really solved a lot of my scanner rage. It can be time consuming, but you get total control.
I only ever see ppl using phones in the archives. I use the TurboScan app. But I would like to know what others tell you!
May 17, 2026 at 10:45 PM
I only ever see ppl using phones in the archives. I use the TurboScan app. But I would like to know what others tell you!
Thanks everyone for your replies — @zacharyschrag.bsky.social has helpfully compiled it for his extremely useful blog site: historyprofessor.org/methodology/...
I would also recommend his @princetonupress.bsky.social book for anyone teaching or doing research: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
I would also recommend his @princetonupress.bsky.social book for anyone teaching or doing research: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
February 22, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Thanks everyone for your replies — @zacharyschrag.bsky.social has helpfully compiled it for his extremely useful blog site: historyprofessor.org/methodology/...
I would also recommend his @princetonupress.bsky.social book for anyone teaching or doing research: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
I would also recommend his @princetonupress.bsky.social book for anyone teaching or doing research: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
ScanSnap! Haven't heard that name in a while. I'd have pegged you for a TurboScan user (which, btw, is terrific, fast, and right there on your phone.) apps.apple.com/us/app/turbo...
TurboScan™: document scanner App - App Store
Download TurboScan™: document scanner by Piksoft Inc. on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more games like TurboScan™:…
apps.apple.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:32 AM
ScanSnap! Haven't heard that name in a while. I'd have pegged you for a TurboScan user (which, btw, is terrific, fast, and right there on your phone.) apps.apple.com/us/app/turbo...
Can second turboscan, have used for legal docs and it looks like a proper scan, it's very good. First... 4? Scans free. Some number.
November 5, 2024 at 3:08 AM
Can second turboscan, have used for legal docs and it looks like a proper scan, it's very good. First... 4? Scans free. Some number.
Seconded. TurboScan is pretty solid.
February 14, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Seconded. TurboScan is pretty solid.
TurboScan is the way to go.
December 12, 2025 at 2:26 AM
TurboScan is the way to go.
(I learned about TurboScan and TurboFax at an event hosted by an expert on navigating the system, where they were presented with a heavy sigh and an apologetic sense of, "You're gonna need these.")
February 3, 2024 at 2:53 PM
(I learned about TurboScan and TurboFax at an event hosted by an expert on navigating the system, where they were presented with a heavy sigh and an apologetic sense of, "You're gonna need these.")
There’s also an app called TurboScan that’s pretty easy to use!
February 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
There’s also an app called TurboScan that’s pretty easy to use!
I use TurboScan on my phone--creates pdfs that I airdrop to my laptop and the cloud. I have a stand that attaches to (some) tables, but also often end up holding it. Works best when there is clear contrast between doc and background (say white paper and dark desk), but you can adjust the frame.
April 27, 2026 at 6:42 PM
I use TurboScan on my phone--creates pdfs that I airdrop to my laptop and the cloud. I have a stand that attaches to (some) tables, but also often end up holding it. Works best when there is clear contrast between doc and background (say white paper and dark desk), but you can adjust the frame.