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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.

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Looking for a previous mission? Visit Mission History

***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 Mission

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!

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.

Battle of Bamber Bridge

In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Bamber Bridge on June 24-25, 1943, help us transcribe two Army General Courts-Martial Records. In these two large file units, you will find court proceedings and transcripts of trials.

General Orders

Transcribe general orders of the government of the Confederate States of America, which were either captured by Union forces, surrendered by Confederate forces or officers, or donated or purchased by the Federal government.

Probate Index, ca. 1908 - 1961

Help us transcribe the name index to the probate records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, from the early 1900s to 1961. The cards list the individual's name and tribe, date of death, an indication if the heirs were determined and if they were notified, the appraised value of the estate, and references to a file number in the central classified files.

Ethicon, Inc. et al. v. United States Surgical Corporation, 7/12/1989 - 8/17/2000

Transcribe this civil action filed by Dr. InBae Yoon and his exclusive licensee, Ethicon, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, against United States Surgical Corporation for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 4,535,773, granted for a safety puncturing surgical instrument and method.

Records Relating to Camps, Posts, and Forts, 1917 - 1925

Help us transcribe written examinations, regulations, reports and more from Record Group 407: Records of the Adjutant General's Office.

World War II Oral Histories, Interviews and Statements, ca. 4/1942 - ca. 12/1946

Help us transcribe transcripts of recorded interviews, lectures and speeches of U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and some Army Air Force personnel, mostly officers, who participated in significant actions of the Second World War. A small number of British, Australian and New Zealander officers and a few civilians are also included.

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.
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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.

Join the mission

JFK Assassination Records Collection

Most of the records from the JFK Assassination Records Collection are open for research, and a portion of them are now available for online access in the National Archives Catalog.

Several missions have been created featuring records from this collection. Visit the mission page to get started transcribing.

Join the mission

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

Lieutenant Eduard (Edouard) Isaacs' (Izac's) Report on Imprisonment in Germany and Escape Therefrom Transcribe this record.
Files of Charles H. Jennings, [Memos, Reports, Pamphlets, and Books] Transcribe this record.
Letter from the Office of the Commissioner of Immigration to the Commissioner-General of Immigration Transcribe this record.
Resolution from the Croatian League of Illinois to the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization Transcribe this record.
Circular from Governor William C. C. Claiborne Transcribe this record.

Intermediate

Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II, Lists of American Escapees and Evaders 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 National Park Service, 1785 - 2006, Central Subject Files, 1919 - 1981, C34 Santa Fe Railway 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.

Advanced

Records of District Courts of the United States, Series: Law, Equity, and Criminal Case Files, Ruel Daggs v. Elihu Frazier, et. al. 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.

Questions? Email us at citizenarchivist@nara.gov

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