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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 and view the video How to Transcribe in the National Archives Catalog

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!

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.

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.

Records Relating to Women in World War I, 1918 - 1919

Transcribe correspondence, memoranda, reports and other materials relating to women workers in war production during World War I. It includes correspondence with the Committee on Hazardous Occupations, the Council on National Defense, the Council on Women in War Production, the Navy Department, the War Department, other government agencies, and more.

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.

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.

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

Donald Parish, Fred Dakota, Jake McCullough, Willis Jackson, Jr., Fred Boyd, and John Muse, for themselves and representing Indians of Michigan as a class vs. The University of Michigan and Michigan Archaeological Society, a Michigan Corporation

Help us transcribe the civil case where the plaintiffs claimed that their right to religious freedom under the Fifth Amendment and right to equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment were violated by the defendants.

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

Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Reports and Estimates Report, Number 47, The Current Situation in Italy Transcribe this record.
Government Agencies: State Department, April 1964 Transcribe this record.
Report, Foreign Radio Reactions to Truman's and Acheson's ASNE [American Society of Newspaper Editors] Speeches Transcribe this record.
National Disabled Americans Week [1988] Transcribe this record.
Churchill to FDR - August-October 1942 Transcribe this record.
Memorandum of Conversation Transcribe this record.
Cable Number 1968, General Headquarters, A.E.F, 10 December 1918 Transcribe this record.
Special Subject Files - Churchill-Stalin Conference - October 9-16, 1944 Transcribe this record.
McGovern, George Transcribe this record.
Captive Nations Week Transcribe this record.
Cable Number 1935, General Headquarters, A. E. F., France, 29 November 1918 Transcribe this record.
Air Force Award Cards [Commendation Medal]: Farren, Leo - Foglietta, Harry Transcribe this record.
Report, Foreign Radio Comments Related to the Situation in Korea Transcribe this record.
Kennedy, Edward Transcribe this record.
Report, Mao Tse-Tung Report to the CCP Central Committee with Attached Note from Sidney Souers to 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

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