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.

Award Cards, 1942 - 1963

Help us transcribe index cards for awards that include the Purple Heart, Air Medal Decoration, Commendation Medal, and Distinguished Service Cross. Information included consists of: name, service number, rank, general order number, order date and issuing organization, award type, date awarded and more. Visit the Resources link on the left of this page for the video How to Find Pages to Transcribe to navigate through these records.

Register of Monthly Reports by U.S. Secret Service Agents, December 1864–February 1871

Transcribe registers of agents' monthly reports of operations submitted to the Chief of the Secret Service Division, and abstracts of agents' reports submitted monthly by the Chief to the Solicitor of the Treasury. The records include narrative accounts of agents' activities, records of arrests, descriptions of property confiscated, and references to mail received.

Correspondence Relating to Public Comments and Inquiries, November 30, 1963–September 24, 1964

Transcribe correspondence, newspaper clippings, telegrams, editorials, magazines, publications, pamphlets, annual reports, and other files reflecting public attitudes concerning the work of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, or unofficially the Warren Commission, during its existence.

Index to Case Files, ca. 1806–1981

Transcribe this index to persons, com­panies, organizations, and things involved in cases heard by the District, Circuit, Confederate, and Provisional Courts. The index includes bankruptcy, admiralty, law, equity, civil, criminal, "sundry," and miscel­laneous cases. While these records include extracted text, the order is mixed up.  Please transcribe so that the information is readable and easily understood rather than trying to mimic the layout on the card.

Filmed News Releases, ca. 1951 – ca. 1964

Transcribe the shotlists and other supporting material for motion picture films covering military combat (including the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War), military awards, and military training and education.

U.S. Submarine War Patrol Reports, 1941 - 1945

Help us transcribe narrative reports describing the activities of individual submarines. A typical report consists of a daily narrative summary of the location and activities of the submarine, which is usually followed by additional information relating to topics such as meteorology, the physical and mechanical condition of the submarine, and any attacks made against enemy ships by the submarine.

Carded Service Records of Hospital Attendants, Matrons and Nurses, 1861 - 1865

Help us transcribe forms filled out in cursive, containing employment information for military nurses and matrons during the Civil War.

 

 

San Francisco Branch Evacuee Property Files, 3/18/1942 - 6/30/1946

Help us transcribe correspondence, reports, and case files pertaining to the property of individuals, families, and businesses impacted by involuntary evacuation and relocation because of their foreign national status or Japanese ancestry. Nationalities include, but are not limited to German, Italian, and Japanese.

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

 

William R. Walker and Annie R. Walker vs. Clay Corporation, a California Corporation

 

Help us transcribe documents regarding an injury claim by the plaintiff, who had been a passenger on a flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York to Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. The plaintiff's complaint was dismissed in July, 1991.

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!