Help N.C. State Archives Transcribe Archival Records While Staying At Home

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March 27, 2020

The State Archives of North Carolina needs volunteers to spend time at home helping to transcribe archival records through its “Transcribe NC” project.

Volunteers can help improve access to historic documents by transcribing lists, forms, diaries, letters, and other materials from the collections of the State Archives of North Carolina. Some projects will include current or future additions to the North Carolina Digital Collections, while others focus on indexes to be added to the online catalog

“Transcribe NC” is recruiting volunteers to transcribe World War I letters and diaries, local draft board records from World War I, a collection of letters related to N.C. women’s history, and the travel writings of those North Carolinians fortunate to travel the nation and the world. The travel collection is a group of images, diaries, journals, and scrapbooks. This project will require a word-by-word transcription of those who traveled around the U.S. and abroad for pleasure.

The transcription of draft board records is more straightforward, recording the names of enlisted and drafted soldiers who served in World War I, along with their age, race, and hometown. These elements will be entered into a database searchable online through the State Archives’ website. There are some selected letters and soldiers’ diaries in this collection as well.

“This project is critical to telling North Carolina’s story,” says Randon McCrea, digital archivist for online programming, who is heading this initiative, along with archivist Anna Peitzman, at the State Archives. “Each of these archival collections personalize the human experience and keep this state’s legacy alive, while providing invaluable material for researchers and historians.”

If you would like to take this opportunity to volunteer and add to the state’s knowledge, visit the project’s webpage [u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net] for instructions and tips for transcription, a guide, and an instructional video. You also may send a message to archives.webedit@ncdcr.gov for more information.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
 
NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov [u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net].

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