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 and view the video How to Transcribe in the National Archives Catalog
Looking for a previous mission? Visit Mission History
ATTENTION:
- We've made changes to the contribution panel, check out Get Started Transcribing and how-to videos on the Resources page if you need instructions.
- Users need to log in and log out of their Catalog accounts each day so that if so if our developers make any code changes to the Catalog overnight, your account and Citizen Archivist experience will work properly.
Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription and Tagging Missions
Join the transcription mission! Join the tagging mission!
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
![Chinese Heritage](/files/citizen-archivist/images/7803737-052.jpg)
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.
Featured Court Case
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The United States vs. Napoleon B. Latta, John Watson, and William H. Watson
Transcribe the criminal case against Napoleon B. Latta, John Watson, and William H. Watson who were indicted on counterfeiting.
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
1950 Census Transcription Projects
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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.
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
- Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson Transcribe this record.
- Government Agencies: State Department, April 1964 Transcribe this record.
- Winston Churchill to Franklin D. Roosevelt Transcribe this record.
- Report, "American Press on Divergencies Between the Members of the North Atlantic Treaty," Full Text of 27 November Pravda Article Broadcast by Radio Moscow Transcribe this record.
- National Older Americans Abuse Prevention Week [1988] Transcribe this record.
- Memorandum of Conversation Transcribe this record.
- 9-12-17; Division of Territories and Island Possessions; Equatorial Islands; Reports; Field Representative; 18th Expedition; March 4, 1940 to March 23, 1940 Transcribe this record.
- White House Luncheon and Dinner Menu Transcribe this record.
- Memorandum Transcribe this record.
- Statement by President Harry S. Truman Transcribe this record.
Intermediate
- Chinese Steamship Crews Transcribe this record.
- Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Athens, Greece, 1837-1906, Despatches: July 1, 1890 - November 28, 1898 Transcribe this record.
- Records of the 1976 Campaign Committee to Elect Jimmy Carter: Muskie, Edmund 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.
- Operation Holly 1970 Transcribe this record.
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Transmittal of Information 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
What are other Citizen Archivists talking about on History Hub?
- non legible words
- I have yet to transcribe a record because I am new and don't know where to go to find what needs to be transcribed. Can you tell me, please?
- Leaving and coming back to
- Do we correct mispelled words when transcribing?
- Is it acceptable to use [sic] when the document mispells words or place names?