Join the Mission: Help Us Decode Historical Treasures at the US National Archives!

As we move further into a digital world, fewer people can read cursive writing. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is on the lookout for those who can. They are gearing up for a big event: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. To prepare, they want to gather and organize important documents.

Many of these records tell the stories of veterans who served in the early days of the nation. NARA aims to share these stories with everyone. They have a wide range of materials to transcribe, including personal tales and vital historical documents.

According to Nancy Sullivan and Suzanne Isaacs, community managers at NARA, “We really hope to bring to light these stories of America’s first veterans, who interrupted their lives and went off and fought.” These veterans had no idea that their experiences would someday be digitized and accessible to people worldwide.

Anyone can lend a hand as a volunteer and join the over 5,000 people already helping. In total, NARA has 300 million items that need transcribing. You don’t need to register to join the effort. Just create an account and start transcribing right away.

For more details about how to contribute, you can find useful information on the [NARA website](https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/register-and-get-started).