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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.

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Looking for a previous mission? Visit Mission History

**Transcribers - If you encounter the This transcription cannot be edited at this time error message, please try this workaround**

Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) Historical Files, 1947 - 1980

To celebrate Sunshine Week, help us transcribe background papers and research materials.

American Civil War Military Service Records, “United States Colored Troops”

In celebration of African American History Month in February, we invite you to help transcribe records related to the “United States Colored Troops". These records include the military service records of Union volunteer soldiers who served during the American Civil War. Records include jackets (folders) containing cards on which information relating to individuals, companies, and regiments of the Volunteer Service of the United States during the Civil War have been copied from original records such as muster rolls, returns, descriptive books, and morning reports.

Bonds and Spirits Index, 1917 - 1940

Transcribe an index showing the names of individuals and businesses charged with violating alcoholic beverage or internal revenue laws. Entries include address, file number, and date for each case. Your transcription does not need to match the format of the card, simply transcribe the text.

General Orders

Transcribe general orders of the government of the Confederate States of America, which were either captured by Union forces, surrendered by Confederate forces or officers, or donated or purchased by the Federal government.

Probate Index, ca. 1908 - 1961

Help us transcribe the name index to the probate records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, from the early 1900s to 1961. The cards list the individual's name and tribe, date of death, an indication if the heirs were determined and if they were notified, the appraised value of the estate, and references to a file number in the central classified files.

Ethicon, Inc. et al. v. United States Surgical Corporation, 7/12/1989 - 8/17/2000

Transcribe this civil action filed by Dr. InBae Yoon and his exclusive licensee, Ethicon, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, against United States Surgical Corporation for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 4,535,773, granted for a safety puncturing surgical instrument and method.

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.

Land Planning Group Files, 1971 - 1979

Help us transcribe National Park Service quarterly reports; studies; technical memorandums; and correspondence.

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.

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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

JFK Assassination Records Collection

Most of the records from the JFK Assassination Records Collection are open for research, and a portion of them are now available for online access in the National Archives Catalog.

Several missions have been created featuring records from this collection. Visit the mission page to get started transcribing.

Join the mission

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

Case Files of Dutch Citizens Proposed for Awards for Assisting American Airmen, van Dronkelaar, Jan Transcribe this record.
Correspondence Relating to Reindeer Herds in Alaska, Vern Wilkins [1940] Transcribe this record.
Letter from Mr. Joyce Hall to Philip Brooks, with Attached Note from Philip Brooks to Former President Harry S. Truman Transcribe this record.
United States of America vs. Stanislaus Mieczyslaw Dunin and Michael Kruzka Transcribe this record.
Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Gemini VII Air-to-Ground Transcript Volume I Transcribe this record.
Reports Regarding Proposed Air Force Academy Site Selection, Wichita, Kansas, 1950 Transcribe this record.
Letter from E. D. Cox to President Harry S. Truman, with a Reply from Matthew Connelly Transcribe this record.
Report, The Road to Tokyo and Beyond, Third Report to the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives by the Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion Transcribe this record.
Records of the Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Case Files, Inmate File of Oral A. Slack Transcribe this record.
World War I File, 1917-1919: Field Orders and Reports: February, 1919, Special Memorandum, Personnel Adjutants, from Captain James A. Brewer Transcribe this record.

Intermediate

Records of the Selective Service System, Statements of United States Citizens of Japanese Ancestry, File Unit: Pinal County Board # 1, Ichiro Ino Transcribe this record.
Records of District Courts of the United States, Petitions for Naturalization Transcribe this record.
Records of the Public Buildings Service, Correspondence with Artists, Glintenkamp, Henry Transcribe this record.
Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Source Files on Project Gemini, Gemini VII Air-to-Ground Transcript Volume II Transcribe this record.
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.
Welch and Johnson: [Olympic Games - Salt Lake City Bid] [Binder] [3] Transcribe this record.
Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006, Central Subject Files, 1919 - 1981, C34 Santa Fe Railway 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.

Advanced

Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Series: General Correspondence, Letter from E. S. Parker to Henry Gregory Transcribe this record.
Records of District Courts of the United States, Series: Law, Equity, and Criminal Case Files, Ruel Daggs v. Elihu Frazier, et. al. Transcribe this record.
Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Series: Narrative Reports, 1982 Butte Sink NWR Transcribe this record.
Bronze Star Medal Recommendations Oct 1944 - June 1945 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.
National Archives Collection of Foreign Records Seized, Personal Papers of Adolf Hitler, Regulation of Adolf Hitler. Transcribe this record. (German language)
1910-1920: Incoming Miscellaneous Executive Bureaus: Fuel Administration, 03/09/1918 To Railroad Administration, 11/15/1919 Transcribe this record.
Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Oaths of Office of Collectors and Other Customs Officers, Oaths of Office for Customhouse Employees, 1806-1869 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.

Questions? Email us at citizenarchivist@nara.gov

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