Citizen Archivist Dashboard

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

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! Join the tagging mission!

Name Index, ca. 1893 - ca. 1932

Transcribe this index card series that provides file numbers for correspondence of the office of the Commissioner General of Immigration in Washington, DC. Each card also provides information about several files. Extracted text is available for these records. Visit our Resources page for a video tutorial.

Joe and Dillard Perry Cases 1905 - 1907

Transcribe papers filed in proceedings relating to Freedmen who wished to be enrolled as Choctaw or Chickasaw Citizens by Blood. These "Joe and Dillard Perry Cases" generally include the names of all applicants and their attorneys, general genealogical material, a summary of papers filed and proceedings held, the decision of the Commission, actions taken by the Secretary of the Interior, and references to related cases.

Contracts of Employees, 1866 - 1870

Transcribe contracts to employ persons at hospitals or dispensaries operated by the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Files of Charles H. Jennings, 1924 - 1930

Help us transcribe the files of Charles H. Jennings, the Attorney General's representative on the Pueblo Lands Board. The files consist of records relating to the Board's work in investigating title disputes between Native Americans and non - Native Americans on the patented lands of the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico.

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.

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.

Index to Photographs of Personalities in the General Photographic File of the Department of Navy, 1941 - 1945

Help us transcribe a name index to informal and candid individual and group photographs of U.S. Navy service personnel.

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

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.

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

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.
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?

Find answers to your research questions at History Hub

Top