The Citizen Archivist program, administered by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, invites high school students to contribute to the preservation of America's historical records through remote volunteer work. Participants transcribe historical documents, tag archival photographs, and add comments to improve the discoverability of records in the National Archives Catalog. The program is free, runs year-round with no application deadline, and allows students to contribute at their own pace across a variety of mission types. It is a rare opportunity to work directly with primary sources and make a meaningful, lasting contribution to the nation's historical memory.
Gathering and evaluating information systematically to answer a question.
Evaluating information carefully before drawing a conclusion or making a decision.
Breaking down a challenge and working through it methodically to a solution.
Bringing people together around a shared cause to create real change.
Fully focusing on and understanding what someone else is communicating.
Transcribing and tagging historical documents builds skills in discovering, organizing, and presenting factual information to the public.
Working with the National Archives builds understanding of government records management and civic infrastructure.
Transcribing and analyzing primary historical documents mirrors the research and discovery methods used in academic scholarship.
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