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Citizen Archivist Missions

Ready to start tagging and transcribing? We've curated these topical missions to help you jump in and contribute! Click on a topic that interests you, and it will bring you right to those historical records in our Catalog. Tagging and transcribing makes these records more accessible to everyone. New missions are added and updated regularly, so check back often to see what’s new.

New to our Citizen Archivist program? Learn how to register and get started.

Looking for a previous mission? Visit Mission History

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Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription Mission

The stories of over 80,000 men and women who lived through the American Revolution are waiting to be told. Will you help us tell them?

Join the transcription mission!

Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)

Help us transcribe records about Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) from the U.S. Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration. Records include civilian and military eyewitness reports, case files, transcripts and interviews.

Closure Files, 1957 - 1983

Transcribe materials loosely related to the closure of Mount Edgecumbe Boarding School at Sitka, Alaska in 1983. There is correspondence related to the closure as well as general correspondence having to do with physical property needs, personnel management, recreation supplies and other administrative matters.

African American Patriots

While their pension files may not mention race, through extensive research the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) have identified many African American Revolutionary War Veterans. Help us transcribe the pension files of these patriots.

Subject Files Maintained by Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Graham De Burgh

Transcribe letters, memorandums, reports, cables, instructions, and other records maintained by the commanding officer of the Allied Screening Commission.

Records of the Committee on Fair Employment Practice

Help us transcribe case files involving complaints of discrimination based upon race, religion, country of origin against private employers and labor unions.

Inmate Case Files

Help us transcribe individual inmate case files. The files vary from inmate to inmate, nearly all include a "Record Sheet" that gives the inmate's name; registration number; alias; crime; sentence in years, months, and days; court fines and costs; and more. Most files include a "mug shot" photograph of the inmate with front and profile views.

Records Relating to Camps, Posts, and Forts, 1917 - 1925

Help us transcribe written examinations, regulations, reports and more from Record Group 407: Records of the Adjutant General's Office.

World War II Oral Histories, Interviews and Statements, ca. 4/1942 - ca. 12/1946

Help us transcribe transcripts of recorded interviews, lectures and speeches of U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and some Army Air Force personnel, mostly officers, who participated in significant actions of the Second World War. A small number of British, Australian and New Zealander officers and a few civilians are also included.

Don't Leave Us Hanging

Help us complete these records that have not been fully transcribed.

Questions? Email us at citizenarchivist@nara.gov

Outside the Box Missions

Up for a challenge or something different? We often have records that require special work in order to make them more accessible.

New to our Citizen Archivist program? Learn how to register and get started.
Already have an account? Login here.

Chinese Heritage

Help us transcribe and tag records related to the Chinese Exclusion Era. We need your help transcribing these immigration records and tagging very specific details that will help provide greater access to these records. Please read the instructions on the mission page carefully and begin contributing.

Join the mission

Featured Court Case

Arnold Damen, Michael Lawler, and John Verden, Trustees, and the St. Ignatius College vs. Edgar H. Perry and Others

Help transcribe a chancery (civil) case involving a land dispute that was heard in the U.S. Circuit Court, Chicago between Father Arnold Damen, Saint Ignatius College, and other individuals associated with the college, and former land owners that included, among others, Edgar H. Perry. The case file includes briefs, decrees, exhibits, motions, notices, orders, petitions, and pleadings. The case file includes a small plat map depicting the disputed land.

Start transcribing now

Transcriber Task Force

Seeking expert transcribers! We’ve gathered records that have tricky elements for our expert transcribers. You may find only a few pages that are difficult or the whole record. If you’d like to join our Transcriber Task Force and get emails for special projects, send us an email citizenarchivist@nara.gov

Get started transcribing!

1950 Census Transcription Projects

The 1950 Census is here! We're looking for help transcribing the initial name index for the 1950 Census. While you can transcribe any name or any page within the 1950 Census, we've identified several specific areas where we'd like your help transcribing.

Help refine the 1950 Census name index!

Featured Records

Jump in and help us transcribe these individual records. Documenting events throughout United States history, transcribers of all skill levels are sure to find something new and interesting in these featured records!

Beginner

[Classification of Vascular Plants], [Fern & Fern Allies, n.d.] Transcribe this record.
Cable Number 2646, General Headquarters. A.E.F., 25 May 1919 Transcribe this record.
Cable Number 2639, General Headquarters. A.E.F., 24 May 1919 Transcribe this record.
Air Force Award Cards [Air Medal]: Mouat, John - Mullin, William Transcribe this record.
Air Force Award Cards [Commendation Medal]: Howard, Adrian - Irvine, William Transcribe this record.
Cable Number 2614, General Headquarters. A.E.F., 20 May 1919 Transcribe this record.
Health Resource Papers Transcribe this record.
Special Subject Files - Control Commissions, Allied Control Comm. For Italy; European Advisory Commission - August 24, 1943-November 17, 1944 Transcribe this record.
Public Law 87-259: An Act to Amend the Law Relating to Gambling in the District of Columbia Transcribe this record.

Intermediate

Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II, Lists of American Escapees and Evaders Transcribe this record.
Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Athens, Greece, 1837-1906, Despatches: July 1, 1890 - November 28, 1898 Transcribe this record.
Series: Card Index to U.S. Navy General Court Martial Files, Pl Transcribe this record.
M179 - Miscellaneous Letters of the Department of State, 1789-1906, January 3, 1806 - December 31, 1807 Transcribe this record.
Despatches from U.S. Ministers to the Italian States, 1832-1906, Italy: Apr. 15-Dec, 27, 1899 Transcribe this record.
U.S. v. Volney Davis Transcribe this record.
Card Index to U.S. Navy General Court Martial Files: Ple Transcribe this record.

Advanced

USCG Sherman, 11/01/1970 - 11/30/1970 Transcribe this record.
General Records of the Department of State, 1763 - 2002, Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Liverpool, England, 1790-1906, Despatches: July 1 - December 23, 1863 Transcribe this record.
1910-1920: Incoming Miscellaneous Executive Bureaus: Fuel Administration, 03/09/1918 To Railroad Administration, 11/15/1919 Transcribe this record.
General Index to Appointments, 7/1932 - 6/1935, General Index Book 1 Transcribe this record.
Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Athens, Greece, 1837-1906, Despatches: January 16, 1898 - June 30, 1904 Transcribe this record.
Records of Hospital Supplies Transcribe this record.
Journal of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon Transcribe this record.
Case No. 2 Dall. 1; 2 Dall. 19 - Miller v. The Ship Resolution - Pennsylvania , 1781 Transcribe this record.

Questions? Email us at citizenarchivist@nara.gov

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