Help Shape the Future of the National Archives Catalog
The National Archives Catalog is going through some exciting changes! We need your help to make sure these changes are on the right track.
We are looking for feedback from interested Catalog users of all levels to help us create the Next Generation Catalog. Also we are seeking users and developers for input on the new Catalog application programming interface (API). If you choose to sign up, we may contact you in the future to optionally participate in activities like focus groups, usability tests, and more. It’s an exciting way to shape the future of the National Archives Catalog!
Interested in participating? Please complete our survey to share your experiences with the Catalog and to be placed on a list to learn more about upcoming user research opportunities.
There is no obligation to participate, and you can request to be removed from the list at any time. The survey will be open until February 28, 2022. Thank you for helping us better serve our online researchers. We look forward to hearing from you.
As one of the primary sources for African American historical documents, the National Archives provides access to tools and other resources that can be used while conducting research relating to African American History at the National Archives, including the Guide to Black History and the African American Heritage web page.
While awaiting assignment after arriving in Australia, nurses try bicycle riding near their quarters in Camp Columbia, Wacol, Brisbane. Left to Right: 2nd Lt. Beulah Baldwin (Cleveland, Ohio), 2nd Lt. Alberta S. Smith (Kansas City, MO), and 2nd Lt. Joan S. Hamilton (Kansas City, MO), all attached to the 268th Station Hospital. National Archives Identifier 178140880
Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr., member Tuskegee Airmen, signs a canopy modeled after his P51 D Mustang during a reception following unveiling ceremonies, 5/18/1996. National Archives Identifier 6497047
NARA’s Rediscovering Black History Blog discusses and showcases records in our holdings relating to the African American experience.
Additionally, the National Archives News site has a special topics page showcasing educational resources, published articles, featured holdings, and public programs related to African American history.
The National Archives is proud to safeguard and make available documents that demonstrate the contributions of African Americans to our nation’s history and democracy. A few highlights include:
African American Jazz Band with 15th New York. Lieutenant James Reese Europe who for four years was New York Society's favorite orchestra leader returned with his regiment the 369th Infantry. National Archives Identifier 533506
First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Venus Williams while her sister Serena Williams looks on at left after Serena won a tennis preliminary match at Wimbledon during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, July 28, 2012. National Archives Identifier 178713348
Join us as a Citizen Archivist and help make records more searchable and findable in the Catalog!
American Civil War Military Service Records, “United States Colored Troops”
In celebration of African American History Month, we invite you to help transcribe records related to the “United States Colored Troops". These records include the military service records of Union volunteer soldiers who served during the American Civil War. Records include jackets (folders) containing cards on which information relating to individuals, companies, and regiments of the Volunteer Service of the United States during the Civil War have been copied from original records such as muster rolls, returns, descriptive books, and morning reports.
On May 22, 1863, the War Department issued General Order 143, establishing a “Bureau of Colored Troops” in the Adjutant General’s Office to recruit and organize African American soldiers to fight for the Union Army. With this order, all African American regiments were designated as “United States Colored Troops (USCT)”. Learn more about the digitization of these records on the Pieces of History blog.
Every word you transcribe helps to make these records more searchable and accessible online. Get started transcribing!
Auxiliaries Ruth Wade and Lucille Mayo service trucks as taught them during the processing period at Fort Des Moines and put into practice at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, 12/8/1942. National Archives Identifier 531153
The Famous 369th Arrive in New York City. Members of the 369th Infantry, formerly 15th New York Regulars. Back to little old New York. National Archives Identifier 533496
Citizen Archivist Contribution Tips
Are you trying to find a record to help transcribe? We always have thousands of pages available for transcription on our Missions page. The quickest way to tell if a record has been transcribed is to open up the individual record and look at the thumbnail pages beneath the viewer. If you see a blue tag on the thumbnail image, that means there is a contribution on that page.
If the record has multiple pages, each page with a contribution will have a blue tag. Look for a page without this tag. But just because a page has a blue tag does not mean the transcription is complete. You can always open up the page to see if the transcription is complete or needs revision.
You may also have to load all the pages of a record to find a page that hasn't been transcribed. Here's how you do it:
Slide the bar in the thumbnail section all the way down
Click Load All
If you are working on records found in our Missions, try skipping 10,15, 20 or more pages in the list or navigate to the end of the list of records and work backwards. Often people work on records from the first to the last, you'll have good luck finding records that haven't been worked on by starting at the end.
Searching for information on the Civil Rights Movement, Buffalo Soldiers, the Freedmen's Bureau, or records of enslaved people? Bring all your questions for Black History Month to History Hub's African American Records Community. Have a question? Find your answer on History Hub!
Make History Hub your first stop! You can ask—or answer—questions on History Hub, or see if your question has already been answered.
COVID-19 Update
The National Archives is committed to the health and safety of our visitors and staff. We are closely monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19, and we are working with public health officials and our counterpart agencies to monitor and respond to the evolving conditions and following CDC guidelines.
