#citizen archivist

[usnatarchives]

Is reading cursive your superpower? ✒️

🎉 It's #NationalVolunteerWeek! Thank you to our 23,454 Citizen Archivists (as of March 31, 2025) who have contributed to the National Archives Catalog by transcribing 1,147,019 pages. We invite everyone to volunteer as a #CitizenArchivist and help bring history to life.

One of the projects you can sign up for is the Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription Mission—a special collaboration between the National Archives and the National Park Service as our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence.

These pension files contain firsthand accounts from over 80,000 men and women who lived through the American Revolution. By transcribing and tagging these #RevWarVets documents, you make them more accessible to researchers, educators, and history enthusiasts worldwide.

Volunteers have uncovered fascinating stories, including battlefield experiences, sightings of famous generals, and glimpses of 18th century life. Your contributions help preserve these narratives for the future.

If you can read cursive, get started: https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/missions/revolutionary-war-pension-files

[todaysdocument]

Pension Affidavit of Cato Greene

Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans AffairsSeries: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War ServiceFile Unit: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application File S-38753 for Cato Greene (or Green) (Colored) of Continental Troops from Rhode Island

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT.

District Court, June sixth Special Term, A.D. 1820.

On this sixth day of June 1820, personally appeared in

open Court, being a Court of Record within and for said district

Cato Green (a man of Colour) aged 80 years, residing in the town of Cranston

in said District and County - who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his

oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: That he served

in Colo Green's and Colo Olneys Regiments of the Rhode Island

line more than five years

that he made a previous declaration on the third day of April

1818, and that he has received a certification for a pension, being No. 1924 - And I do

solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day

of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not since that time,

by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain person engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen: that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts of debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.

Cato [his X mark] Green

A SCHEDULE of Property and Income (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of

Cato Green, one acre of land in Cranston, and a very

old house thereon, 4 chairs very old some knives & forks

and 1 table, - and this declarent saith that he was a native

of Guinea and brought to this country and sold as a slave.

That during the war he enlisted to obtain his freedom, thus

he is now so old, as to be unable to work and must depend on

charity if his pension is discontinued. That he has had two wives but has lost them

both by death, that at this time he has no family-

Sworn to and declared in open court on the sixth day of June 1820 before David Howell District Judge

RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT.

Clerk's Office of the District Court, A. D. 1820

I, Benjamin Cowell clerk of Said Court- do hereby

certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is----

one hundred -- dollars and --- cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this Twentieth day of July 1820

Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court.

[knightofhylia]

Citizen Archivist

One day all of our records will be online. You can help make it happen. You can become a citizen archivist — just click one of the options b

National Archives is looking for volunteers to help read and tag Revolutionary War Pensions!

[riversidearchives]

Photograph of a Woman Holding a Baby Among Produce Grown at Rincon 

Now available online! 

Photographs, 1936-1942, compiled by the Mission Indian Agency in the mid-1930s. Today, enjoy this image taken on the Rincon Indian Reservation in southern California.  Community members! Please join our Citizen Archivist Mission and tell us about the people and places in these images.

#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth  

[phillyarchives]

Looking for something to work on? Become a Citizen Archivist! Citizen Archivists are virtual volunteers who tag and transcribe records in the National Archives catalog. The work of Citizen Archivists helps the National Archives catalog to become an even more useful resource for the public, as it helps to make our digitized records more discoverable. Anyone can contribute to the National Archives Catalog as a Citizen Archivist by creating a free user account. Check out this webpage to learn more about getting started: https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/registerandgetstarted. 

A series from our holdings, Recommendations for Employment at the Schuylkill Arsenal, is featured as a Citizen Archivist Mission this week. These records consist of correspondence concerning employment at the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia. Most of the records are letters of recommendation by various politicians and other notable citizens for individuals seeking jobs at the Arsenal, primarily during the Civil War. The majority of the applicants are women who had relatives in the Union Army. Learn more on the Citizen Archivist Mission page at: https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/missions

[hagleyvault]

Ready to help the Hagley Library solve a #MondayMystery? We’re currently hard at work digitizing the last of our glass plate negative collections that were flagged as potentially containing photographs by the famed Philadelphia photographer William H. Rau (1855-1920).

The collection, an assorted assemblage acquired from a dealer in the late 1960s, has yielded a few treasures so far, including works by Rau, more glass plate negatives from James Zellner (1836-1897), and dozens and dozens of images of railroad photography that’s sure to please all the trainspotters and railfans in our constituency.

This motley little collection of 200+ glass negatives has also offered up a number of images that should be theoretically identifiable, but so far remain a mystery to us. Some of the most notable of them have been included here in this post. We know that they were likely captured between around 1885 and 1930, as that’s when most of the identifiable photographs in this collection were created (though there are outliers). And we know that they were probably, but not definitely, taken in Pennsylvania, or, at the very least, a neighboring state. But that’s about it!

If any of you can help us solve these little mysteries for us, please get in touch! We can reward you with HagleyPoints™, which are redeemable for absolutely nothing at all except the satisfaction of a job well done. For those of you that are similarly flummoxed, but looking forward to finding out if we solve our mysteries, or those of you that are just eager to see our new digital collection, keep an eye on our Digital Archive! We’re hoping to get this collection online before the week is out.

[ourpresidents]

Betty Ford * First Momma * 1970s * First Lady * What tags do you see?

We’re continuing our celebration of Betty Ford’s Centennial by tagging photos of her in the National Archives Catalog. Tagging photos is a fun and easy way to help make records more searchable and discoverable. By adding keywords, terms, and labels to photographs, you help identify and categorize records of Betty Ford based on different topics about her life. New to the National Archives Citizen Archivist program? It's easy to register and get started. Check out our Resources page where you can learn How to Tag and Transcribe Records, and What Makes A Good Tag. Already have a National Archives Catalog account? Start Tagging! http://bit.ly/BettyFordTagging

Image:  On a Campaign Trip in Texas First Lady Betty Ford, aka “First Momma,” Greets the Crowd Gathered at San Jacinto Battlefield Park for a Bicentennial Celebration, 4/21/1976. @fordlibrarymuseum

[usnatarchives]

“I was in Monmouth battle and many others and received a wound in my face from a ball, the scar of which is still visible.” – Robert Green, veteran

Robert Green gave this testimony at the age of 65 when applying for a federal pension for his service. Green’s story embodies the courage and resilience of African American patriots during the Revolutionary War. Wounded at the Battle of Monmouth, Green’s journey is a testament to the sacrifices made for the liberties we cherish today.

We invite you to be a part of a monumental effort to bring these stories to light. By joining our Revolutionary War Veterans Transcription Project, you’re not just transcribing documents; you’re helping to preserve and honor the legacy of African American soldiers.

You can ensure their stories, their sacrifice, and their dreams are not forgotten. Dive into history, transcribe with us, and help make the legacy of heroes like Robert Green accessible for generations to come.

Visit https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/missions/revolutionary-war-pension-files for details!