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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.

New to our Citizen Archivist program? Learn how to register and get started.

Looking for a previous mission? Visit Mission History

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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!

Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)

Help us transcribe records about Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) from the U.S. Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration. Records include civilian and military eyewitness reports, case files, transcripts and interviews.

Closure Files, 1957 - 1983

Transcribe materials loosely related to the closure of Mount Edgecumbe Boarding School at Sitka, Alaska in 1983. There is correspondence related to the closure as well as general correspondence having to do with physical property needs, personnel management, recreation supplies and other administrative matters.

African American Patriots

While their pension files may not mention race, through extensive research the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) have identified many African American Revolutionary War Veterans. Help us transcribe the pension files of these patriots.

Subject Files Maintained by Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Graham De Burgh

Transcribe letters, memorandums, reports, cables, instructions, and other records maintained by the commanding officer of the Allied Screening Commission.

Records of the Committee on Fair Employment Practice

Help us transcribe case files involving complaints of discrimination based upon race, religion, country of origin against private employers and labor unions.

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.

State Constitutions and Papers Relating to Admission of States, 1859 - 1911

Transcribe certified copies of the constitutions of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington; copies of election ordinances, certificates of election returns, opinions of the U.S. Attorney General, and more.

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

Frank Collin and the National Socialist Party of America vs. Albert Smith, president of the Village of Skokie, Illinois; John N. Matzer, Jr., Village Manager of the Village of Skokie, Illinois; Harvey Schwartz, Corporation Counsel of the Village of Skokie, Illinois; and the Village of Skokie, Illinois, a municipal corporation

Transcribe civil case concerning Frank Collin and the National Socialist Party of America (Illinois Nazi party) requested a permit to hold a rally in Skokie, Illinois, a suburban Chicago town with a large Jewish population. Skokie denied their permit and the case was brought before the federal court system for violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

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

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. [13 of 16] Transcribe this record.
Jackson County, Missouri County Court Judge Election Advertisement Transcribe this record.
Election of Widow in the Matter of the Estate of William W. Noland, Deceased Transcribe this record.
Brief of National Lawyers Guild as Amicus Curiae Transcribe this record.
Memorandum, British and European Report Transcribe this record.
Transcript of Princeton Seminar Discussion, Reel 3 Transcribe this record.
Letter from George Huff to President Harry S. Truman, with a Reply from William D. Hassett Transcribe this record.

Intermediate

Bill from A. J. Bundschu 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 Abram Nelson as a Whitewasher, Freedmen's Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 1, 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.
Civil Rights – Miscellaneous 1965 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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