Browse Projects
100% Complete
95 Total pages
15 Contributing members
Bailey - New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, August - November 1906
Imagine your ideal work environment, what would it look like? For Chief Field Naturalist, Vernon Orlando Bailey (1864-1942) of the United States Bureau, it was the great outdoors. Bailey kept regular notes of the flora and fauna around him whether on assignment in the field, at home or somewhere in between. On this collecting trip, Bailey's chronological notes capture this data along with more about his interactions with colleagues, the camps he used and daily activities as he worked through New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Join us and a team of volunpeers to transcribe this field book and make it more accessible to researchers around the world.
100% Complete
99 Total pages
23 Contributing members
Bailey - New Mexico, Texas, June 1902 - September 1902
What kind of animal life might you find in the arid mountains of New Mexico? How about the swamps and rice fields of Louisiana and southeast Texas? Naturalist Vernon Orlando Bailey's 1902 field notes cover both environments and more. Working for the Department of Agriculture, Bailey had an interest in the interplay of wildlife management and the economy of early twentieth century America. As a member of the United States Biological Survey, Bailey worked with other naturalists to produce a comprehensive understanding of North America's biodiversity, including Mexico, Canada and what we now refer to as First Nations. Join us and other volunteers in transcribing these Bailey field notes which also include his time with the Mescalero Apaches.
100% Complete
12 Total pages
7 Contributing members
Bailey - North Dakota, June - July 1912
A little trouble with baggage did not keep mammalogist Vernon Orlando Bailey from his work. In the summer of 1912, Bailey stopped at Elk River in Minnesota, and despite issues with luggage, he still managed to trap five specimens and “probably a new species” while searching for Perognathus, a genus of pocket mouse. If you are a volunpeer who can’t get enough of Bailey, then you’ll be interested to explore another, similar project, in which Bailey records his work on the same days, but in another journal. Join in on the fun, and if you have any idea why Bailey may have used two journals, please do fill us in!
100% Complete
93 Total pages
14 Contributing members
Bailey - Texas, May 1901 - August 1901
Can you imagine having a mountain named after you? Naturalist Vernon Bailey's prolific and tireless work in the American Southwest made such an impression that one peak in the Chisos Mountains bears his name today. Vernon Bailey Peak (29.2838° N, 103.3205° W) is found in the middle of Big Bend National Park, Texas. In summer of 1901, Bailey was back in the area, continuing to observe and collect specimens for the United States Biological Survey. Join digital volunteers working to transcribe his field notes and make them more accessible to scholars and scientists alike. To get a sense of his handwriting, check out some other Bailey field books that volunteers have transcribed.
100% Complete
13 Total pages
23 Contributing members
Balloon Locomotive Correspondence [Haenlein]
Paul Haenlein (1835–1905) was a German engineer and flight pioneer. Haenlein studied at Technische Hochschule in Karlsruhe and received his education as a mechanical engineer and pattern maker. While working as a civil engineer for different German factories, he created a dirigible airship which was powered by an internal combustion engine. In 1869, Haenlein contacted Charles Francis Adams, U. S. minister to the Court of St. James's (United Kingdom), asking him to share his balloon locomotive plans with the U. S. government in hopes of selling his invention for military purposes. In 1872 Haenlein obtained a U. S. patent (No. 130 915) "Improvement in Balloon-Locomotives" to use the otherwise wasted gas in the dirigible's engines for propelling power as well as ascending.
Browse projects by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Archives
100% Complete
30 Total pages
51 Contributing members
Ballooning Over the Alps Scrapbook
On February 9--10, 1909, the balloon "Berlin" made one of the first balloon crossings over the Alps. The balloon ascended from St. Moritz, Switzerland and landed 30 hours later near Sárbogárd, Hungary. The pilot of the balloon was Oskar Erbslöh, Julius Zumtanwald was the guide, Friedrich Gruneberg kept the log, and Fritz Reimann was a passenger. Note: Please do not describe the images, photographs, or maps that appear in this project. We are only seeking transcriptions.
Browse projects by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Archives
100% Complete
17 Total pages
30 Contributing members
Barbeque narrative; Miller, Barrs, Crosby, Joiner; Pattman and Harris
The 1980 Folklife Festival included a program about Community Activities and Food Preservation presented by participants from rural Georgia. Throughout rural America, events known as Homecomings served as a way to pull the community together, and food played a central role in such events. Participants demonstrated and educated visitors on such food preservation techniques as canning, pickling, meat smoking, wine making, and "found food" preparation, among other topics. Help transcribe these Festival recordings to learn more about how food can create community and preserve local tradition. Please view the instructions for transcribing audio collections before beginning. If you can identify the speakers, please do so using the format {SPEAKER NAME= "____" } if you cannot identify the speakers, please simply indicate when a different individual is speaking by inserting the "Speaker 1," "Speaker 2," etc. tags. For more information about the programs in these recordings, please look at the audio log sheets describing the content and speakers at each presentation.
Browse projects by Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
100% Complete
2 Total pages
5 Contributing members
Baseball card for Hank Aaron's rookie year
African Americans have had a complicated relationship with baseball, the “national pastime.” This long history has been characterized by exclusion, innovation, the creation of all-black institutions, struggle, and pioneering successes. The Negro Leagues created opportunities for African Americans to play the game professionally in a segregated nation, but many also looked to the sport as a place where the civil rights cause could be advanced. In 1947 Major League Baseball was integrated when Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers, one of the most significant events in the history of African American sport. Help us transcribe this baseball card from Hank Aaron’s rookie year and learn more about the role of African Americans in the history of American baseball.
Browse projects by National Museum of African American History and Culture
100% Complete
2 Total pages
5 Contributing members
Baseball card for rookie Leroy "Satchel" Paige
African Americans have had a complicated relationship with baseball, the “national pastime.” This long history has been characterized by exclusion, innovation, the creation of all-black institutions, struggle, and pioneering successes. The Negro Leagues created opportunities for African Americans to play the game professionally in a segregated nation, but many also looked to the sport as a place where the civil rights cause could be advanced. In 1947 Major League Baseball was integrated when Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers, one of the most significant events in the history of African American sport. Help us transcribe this baseball card for Leroy "Satchel" Paige and learn more about the role of African Americans in the history of American baseball.
Browse projects by National Museum of African American History and Culture
100% Complete
2 Total pages
5 Contributing members
Baseball card for Willie Mays
African Americans have had a complicated relationship with baseball, the “national pastime.” This long history has been characterized by exclusion, innovation, the creation of all-black institutions, struggle, and pioneering successes. The Negro Leagues created opportunities for African Americans to play the game professionally in a segregated nation, but many also looked to the sport as a place where the civil rights cause could be advanced. In 1947 Major League Baseball was integrated when Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers, one of the most significant events in the history of African American sport. Help us transcribe this baseball card from Willie Mays’ second season and learn more about the role of African Americans in the history of American baseball.
Browse projects by National Museum of African American History and Culture
100% Complete
34 Total pages
9 Contributing members
Bat Mitzvah Scrapbook Belonging to Sarah Leavitt
Sarah Leavitt grew up in Madison, Wisconsin where she celebrated her Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth El. Both the boys and girls in her class took on the responsibilities of being a Jewish adult at age 13 Help transcribe this scrapbook as part of the Smithsonian's #BecauseOfHerStory campaign to share and celebrate the diverse stories of American girlhood. Coordination of this and other girlhood history projects in the Transcription Center (including selection, digitization, cataloging, outreach, and educational resources) was funded by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative. Click here to learn more.
100% Complete
230 Total pages
51 Contributing members
Beautifully illustrated French manuscript on artillery
Signed by the Chevalier de Cirfontaine, this lavishly illustrated French manuscript provides detailed explanations alongside finely-colored drawings of French artillery and military machines. The Chevalier de Cirfontaine was likely Amour-Constant de Germay Cirfontaine, an officer in France’s 6e battalion de Royal-Artillerie, regiment Auxonne, created in 1757 under King Louis XV. A treat for the eyes if not for the enemy, this rewarding project already has researchers eager to see transcription results!
