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enlightenment

(8,830 posts)
Sat Jun 20, 2015, 01:30 PM Jun 2015

Freedman's Bureau Records indexing: volunteers needed

The National Archives, in cooperation with the LDS Church (Family Search) has digitized the entire collection of Freedman's Bureau records.

They have not been indexed, though - so they need help to make these vitally important records accessible to researchers and genealogists.

If you are interested in lending a hand and spending some time opening another door to our past, please consider volunteering here:

https://familysearch.org/indexing/projects#/list-view?query=Freed

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Freedman's Bureau Records indexing: volunteers needed (Original Post) enlightenment Jun 2015 OP
How does it work, do you know? bravenak Jun 2015 #1
Just data entry. enlightenment Jun 2015 #2
Thank you. bravenak Jun 2015 #3
My pleasure - enlightenment Jun 2015 #4
Lol! I'm doing it for the same reason. I like to look at stuff from the past. :) bravenak Jun 2015 #5
Ah - another happily enlightenment Jun 2015 #6
 

bravenak

(34,648 posts)
1. How does it work, do you know?
Sat Jun 20, 2015, 03:33 PM
Jun 2015

I have a few hours a week to spare if it's something not too difficult. If it's jus data entry and maybe transcribing the records to text, I could help.

enlightenment

(8,830 posts)
2. Just data entry.
Sat Jun 20, 2015, 03:47 PM
Jun 2015

Most of the documents are hand-written, which can be a bit of a challenge. Names and dates (for the most part) - each category (court documents, medical, education, etc) is slightly different in terms of the information they seek. All in all, very simple stuff to do - the hardest part would be deciphering some of the handwriting.

Every record is arbitrated before it passes into public record, so if you aren't sure about something, make a guess. Someone (or ones) will be looking at the same record and giving it their best guess, also.

An example of what they want for a property record, here: https://familysearch.org/indexing/projects/USFreeBureauLandandProperRecord18651872

Each category has a "view details" link, which will tell you exactly what they would like you to identify.

enlightenment

(8,830 posts)
4. My pleasure -
Sat Jun 20, 2015, 04:10 PM
Jun 2015

and thank you for volunteering. I admit to being a research junkie and spend quite a bit of time volunteering just for the pleasure of getting to read the records.

Have fun!

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