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
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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.
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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.
Featured Court Case
The United States of America vs. Harry Levine
Transcribe a civil case file in which the defendant, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., was accused of violating the civil rights of the complainant, Nathan F. Leopold. Leopold, of the famous Leopold and Loeb murder trial, accused the defendant of distributing a movie which fictionalized his life and experiences leading up to and including the trial for the murder of Bobby Franks. The movie, "Compulsion," was based on the book of the same title by Meyer Levin.
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
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
- Air Force Award Cards [Commendation Medal]: Randolph, Calvin - Rich, Theodore Transcribe this record.
- [Folder 241] Hawaii - Crew Leader's Guide Transcribe this record.
- 74-3471: William L. Calley, Jr. v. Howard H. Callaway, Etc., et. al. [2 of 16] Transcribe this record.
- 478 Defense of U.S. frontiers - Canadian Invasion Plan Transcribe this record.
- Letter from the Officers of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers Lodge 174 Transcribe this record.
- TWI Weekly Reports, 1/1944 - 3/1944 Transcribe this record.
- 74-3471: William L. Calley, Jr. v. Howard H. Callaway, Etc., et. al. [11 of 16] Transcribe this record.
- Briefing Materials Books for Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman August 26, 1997 Transcribe this record.
- Memorandum Concerning the Second Conference of Ministers of Government / Interior of Central America, Panama, and the United States Transcribe this record.
Intermediate
- Bill from North East Electric Company for Harry S. Truman Transcribe this record.
- Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Athens, Greece, 1837-1906, Despatches: July 1, 1890 - November 28, 1898 Transcribe this record.
- Contract to Employ William Ready as Assistant Ward Master and Hospital Dresser, New Orleans Freedmen's Hospital, March 25, 1868 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.
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Army Service Forces Manual Number M 5, Leadership and the Negro Soldier 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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