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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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Name Index to Criminal Cases, 1906 - 1991

Transcribe index cards showing name and alias of defendant, case number, and occasionally, initials of presiding judge

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.
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

Samuel L. Clemens vs. Alexander Belford, James Clarke, and Belford, Clarke & Company

Help us transcribe a civil case heard in the U.S. Circuit Court, Chicago in which Alexander Belford and James Clarke, doing business as Belford, Clarke & Co. were accused of publishing the book "Sketches by Mark Twain" by Samuel L. Clemens without permission.

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

88-1142: Larry Milton, et. al. v. Bill Clinton, et. al. Transcribe this record.
Indictment filed in case of United States v. Columbus C. Nash, et al Transcribe this record.
Presidential Trips - Sextant Conference (Cairo-Teheran), Papers and Minutes of Meetings, Sextant and Eureka Conferences - November-December 1943 Transcribe this record.
Exxon Valdez - Files, August 1989 - September 1990 (2 of 5) Transcribe this record.
[Folder 447] U.S. Virgin Islands - Crew Leader's Guide Transcribe this record.
Air Force Award Cards [Commendation Medal]: Howard, Adrian - Irvine, William Transcribe this record.
Special Subject Files - Italy (1), Sec. 2 - Surrender of Italy - August 16-September 15, 1943 Transcribe this record.
Correspondence - Answered, 8/13/76 Transcribe this record.
Cable Number 979, General Headquarters A.E.F, 23 April 1918 Transcribe this record.
Jackson, Henry [1] 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.
Series: Card Index to U.S. Navy General Court Martial Files, Pit 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.
A Hopi (Moqui) petition signed by all the Chiefs and headmen of the tribe asking the Federal Government to give them title to their lands instead of individually allotting each tribal member. 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.
McWilliams, Julia C. [Julia Child], Employment Action Form Transcribe this record.
Approved Pension File for Terrick T. Compton, Father of Private William Compton, Company H, 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment (WC-230113) Transcribe this record.

Questions? Email us at citizenarchivist@nara.gov

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