Transcribing Initiative for Revolutionary War Veterans' Pension Documents
The Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription Project, a collaborative effort between the National Archives and various organizations, offers a unique opportunity for individuals to contribute to the preservation and accessibility of historical documents. This project invites volunteers to transcribe handwritten documents from the Revolutionary War era, providing invaluable insights into the lives of soldiers and their experiences during this pivotal period in American history.
The Revolutionary War Pension Files contain a wealth of historical information, including personal details of veterans, their service records, and testimonials from witnesses. These records offer invaluable insights into the experiences of soldiers during the Revolutionary War, providing a window into 18th-century life. The files typically include pension applications, service records, and other documents related to the veterans' claims, featuring handwritten texts, stamps, and various markings that require careful transcription to ensure accuracy.
To participate in this project, volunteers must first register as Citizen Archivists through the National Archives' platform. This allows them to access the transcription tools and begin working on documents. The transcription process involves using a laptop and internet connection to access the documents. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops to training sessions to learn how to use the transcription software. The National Archives provides guidelines for transcription, emphasizing the importance of typing exactly what is seen on the document while following the original order and layout.
Collaboration is a key aspect of this project, with rangers and other volunteers often offering training and support during transcription sessions. The National Park Service and other organizations may also offer online training sessions to teach participants how to transcribe these records effectively.
By participating in this project, volunteers not only contribute to the preservation of historical documents but also enhance the accessibility of these records for future researchers. Thousands of Citizen Archivist volunteers have transcribed the pension files of Revolutionary War veterans since June 2023, uncovering interesting stories that include battlefield stories, sightings of famous generals, glimpses of 18th-century life, and more. These stories can be found on the National Park Service's article Tips and a Guide for the Curious.
For additional questions, volunteers can contact [email protected]. If you come across an interesting story, please fill out the survey to share it. To find a record with pages to transcribe, volunteers are advised to skip to the middle or the end of a list of records in a mission.
To find a specific veteran, volunteers can do a Search Within the series with the name in quotations or by the pension file number. The case files have been organized by location or category, including states like Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, French Patriots, Canadian Patriots, and more.
Thousands of pages are always available for transcription, but it may take some looking to find them. Some digitized pages may be very low contrast or the original page was damaged and may be difficult to transcribe. Users are advised to log in and log out of their Catalog accounts each day for proper functioning. Within these records, volunteers may find copies of marriage or other family records, information pertaining to military activities, letters, diaries, or family trees.
Volunteers from the National Park Service should start their user name with "NPS" to be identified. If you encounter a transcription page with a blank username at the top, please skip this page as the transcription will eventually be restored. The contribution panel has been updated, and volunteers are advised to review Get Started Transcribing for instructions on how to use the undocked contribution panel. If the Publish and Close button is grayed out after transcribing a page, the Catalog is experiencing an error, and developers are working to fix it.
In conclusion, the Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription Project offers a unique opportunity for individuals to contribute to the preservation and accessibility of historical documents. By participating in this project, volunteers not only help to preserve these valuable records but also contribute to a better understanding of the experiences of soldiers during the Revolutionary War.
The Revolutionary War Pension Files, in addition to war-and-conflicts information, also contain personal details and testimonials that offer insights into 18th-century politics and general news. These files, which are accessible to volunteers, provide valuable resources for researchers to explore various aspects of 18th-century life.
Collaboration is a critical component of this project, with volunteers from diverse backgrounds offering training and support to aid each other in transcribing these historical documents. The National Archive encourages such collaboration, as it enhances the project's efficiency and the quality of the transcribed documents.
