News

Community Transcription – Sixty-Two Months

June marked the sixty-second month since we opened the War Department archives to community transcription. We continue to receive regular requests for transcriber accounts. Here is a snapshot of transcription activity for the month:

Twenty-six new transcribers signed up last month, and as of June 30, the total number of transcribers was 2,646. These new transcribers come from a variety of backgrounds and included university students, genealogists, independent researchers, and public historians.

The individuals who signed up to transcribe in June mentioned an interest in people and topics such as the Indian wars, Kentucky, slavery in Virginia, Jonathan Grant, Henry Foxall, Mohawk Valley, and Joseph Brant and Molly Brant.

Transcribed documents include documents regarding Anthony Wayne’s campaign strategy, the termination of scouts for protection, financial matters, the settlement of army officers’ accounts, troops ready to march, a request for authorization to dispatch militia and spies, Indian relations and troop status, and deserters, training troops, and supplies.

Our community of transcribers have added 458 transcribed pages to War Department documents, with the total number of saves being 18,578. Overall, we have had 502,115 page views.

We interviewed transcriber Scribe of Poland as part of our fifth anniversary celebration of community transcription. Check out her interview to get an idea of the kinds of documents transcribers come across while volunteering for the PWD.

As we continue to move forward with the project, individuals may still register for a transcription account.