Transcribing Documents for the National Archives

Anyone here teach keyboarding? Or have a good relationship with the business teacher?

The National Archives is working with volunteers to transcribe the millions of digitized records in its catalog to improve search results and increase accessibility. There missions What a great way to engage with historical documents (and practice reading cursive!). The Archives has created various transcription missions, including Native American Records, Exploring Space, African American history, and documents from the House on Un-American Activities. I poked around and saw in need of transcription "Letter from Captain John S. Poland to the Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of Dakota in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Which Gives an Account from Seven Sioux Indians of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer's Defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876" and "U.S. v. Sale of Negro Man, Woman, and Two Children." Below is the National Archives call to action.

Improve Your Transcription Skills

Help us transcribe the millions of digitized pages of records in the National Archives Catalog. Transcription helps us improve search results and increase accessibility to our historical records. New to transcribing? Our newly designed Transcription Tips webpage shows you how to get started with transcription, and includes some helpful examples of documents so you can see transcription in action.

Teachers can download and print a PDF version for use in their classrooms. By transcribing, you are helping unlock history and discover hidden details of records and the stories they contain. Check out our transcription missions! We’ve curated groups of records on particular subjects to help you get started transcribing. Take a look at our missions page to start transcribing documents related to exploring space, African American history, and more! If this is your first time participating - read the Transcription Tips and begin with the getting started instructions. Happy transcribing!