NPS Revolutionary War Pension Project

The National Park Service and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) are collaborating on a special project to transcribe the pension records of more than 80,000 of America’s first veterans and their widows. The project will make a permanent contribution to the historical record for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This builds on the strengths of both agencies, using the power of the NPS brand to recruit transcribers​ while making primary source material accessible to the public.

Some might ask why focus on this project? Currently, there are more than 80,000 untranscribed American Revolution pension records submitted by soldiers and widows, totaling more than 2 million records to be transcribed. Through this collaborative effort throughout NPS sites across the country, there are countless untold stories to be unveiled for the first time in over 200 years. Interested in learning more or volunteering as a citizen archivist? Whether you want to transcribe 10 records or 100, click here to get started!