Join Now and Begin Your Journey
The National Archives Catalog invites you to become a Citizen Archivist and help make historical records more accessible to the public. Here's how you can get started:
1. Create and log in to a Catalog account
To contribute transcriptions, tags, and comments, you'll first need to create and log in to a Catalog account via Login.gov. This secure process includes two-factor authentication and is open to anyone worldwide.
2. Find records to work on
Once logged in, you can find records to work on either by searching the Catalog or by selecting from curated Citizen Archivist Missions that provide themed collections ready for tagging and transcribing.
3. Transcription
Open a record and start typing the text you see in the digital image to create a searchable transcription. The focus is on transcribing sensibly without trying to replicate exact form layouts (e.g., tables should be transcribed for readability rather than exact replica).
4. Tagging
Add descriptive keywords (tags) to a record to improve searchability and discovery. Identify key terms related to the content such as names, places, events, or subjects. Tags should contain special characters such as ! # $ % * / ? ^ { | } ~ ( ) [ ] \ ; : " . ' @ _ ,.
5. Commenting
You may add comments or notes on records, such as observations or contextual information, to assist future researchers and archivists. The comment section is best suited for sharing information or knowledge about the records.
Remember to log in and out daily to ensure your contributions sync properly with system updates. New contributors can find step-by-step instructional videos and downloadable guides on the Citizen Archivist Resources page offered by the National Archives for support.
Your contributions will improve accessibility and help enhance the digital catalog of historical records for public benefit. If you believe a misspelled word may impact the findability of a record, you may add the correct spelling using brackets.
To send feedback or suggestions, email [email protected]. The National Archives Catalog Newsletter is emailed every other Thursday and can be unsubscribed at any time.
Start contributing today by registering for a National Archives Catalog account, logging in, and selecting a Citizen Archivist Mission or searching for records to transcribe or tag. Happy archiving!
Data-and-cloud-computing technology plays a crucial role in the secure two-factor authentication process of creating and logging in to a Catalog account via Login.gov. Additionally, the Catalog offers Citizen Archivist Missions, which are curated collections of records structured through technology, providing themed collections ready for tagging and transcribing.
