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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!

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.

Jewish Claims

Help us transcribe records that include correspondence, memorandums, and custody receipts about claims for Jewish cultural objects.

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.

Records of the Committee on Fair Employment Practice

Cultural Resource Management Records, 1955–2014

Help us transcribe National Park Service cultural resource program management records relating to historic, architectural, archaeological, environmental and other aspects of national parks, military parks, historic structures, and historic sites.

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.
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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

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

Franklin D. Roosevelt to Cordell Hull Transcribe this record.
Air Force Award Cards [Commendation Medal]: Miller, Jean - Moore, Owen Transcribe this record.
Report, Foreign Radio Reactions to the 29 December Address of John Foster Dulles Transcribe this record.
Millennium Evening - Women in the 20th Century 3/15/99 Transcribe this record.
National Poison Prevention Week [1988] Transcribe this record.
Public Law 80-625: An Act to Establish the Women's Army Corps in the Regular Army, to Authorize the Enlistment and Appointment of Women in the Regular Air Force, Regular Navy, and Marine Corps, and in the Reserve Components of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, and for Other Purposes Transcribe this record.
Millennium Evening - Women in the 20th Century 3/15/99 Transcribe this record.
Cable Number 1978, General Headquarters, A.E.F France, 14 December 1918 Transcribe this record.
Cable Number 2451, General Headquarters, A. E. F., 23 April 1919 Transcribe this record.
Ethicon, Inc. et al. v. United States Surgical Corporation 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.
White House Luncheon and Dinner Menu 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.
Immigration and Nationality Act - Persons Born in Hawaii 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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