What I didn’t realize until I got this email the other day is that the Archives depend on information from ordinary citizens to enhance the knowledge base.
The Archives started a new catalog for 2023 and are requesting that people send in documents relating to these moments of history:
• American Civil War Service Records of “United States Colored Troops”.
• Bonds and Spirits Index 1917-1940: people and businesses charged with bootlegging
• Berlin Conference Files, 1945: Minutes, papers, and correspondence between world leaders at the close of World War II.
More current topics of research for which the Archives needs documentation are listed on the website, National Archives Catalog found at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Here’s their invitation!
Hello, virtual volunteers! It’s a new year; we have a new catalog. Let’s make 2023 count with some new Citizen Archivist missions! We’ve refreshed our dashboard with new missions and more individual featured records, all waiting for you to jump in and transcribe.
Learn how to register and get started, and be sure to check out our step-by-step instructions and tutorials. These instructions, updated for the new Catalog, can all be found in our Resources section on our Citizen Archivist Dashboard.