Citizen Archivist Dashboard
Citizen Archivist Have Your Say

We value your comments, ideas, and suggestions. Whether you’re a researcher, a citizen archivist, an expert in your field, or just generally interested in the National Archives, we want you to have your say. Please explore the following opportunities for public participation.

Open Government Idea Forum

Open Government Logo

What: Help us strengthen transparency, participation, and collaboration at the National Archives. Share your ideas, comment, and vote for open government.

Where: http://naraopengov.ideascale.com

When: February 22 through March 21, 2012

Topics: open government, transparency, participation, collaboration, records management, Federal Register, declassification, and freedom of information

Managing Government Records

What: Help us develop a 21st-century framework for managing government records. Share your ideas, comment, and vote for improving records management.

Where: http://govrecordmanagement.ideascale.com/

When: February 16 - March 27, 2012

Topics: records management, government-wide framework, enabling agencies to fulfill missions, accountability through documentation, open government and access, agency compliance support, transitioning to digital

Know Your Records Program 2009 - 2011

NARA Know Your Records Program logo

What: During 2009-2011, the National Archives hosted more than 370 "Know Your Records" presentations. The public was encouraged to vote on 62 topics to help us determine which presentations we should make available online first.

When: January 3 - January 29, 2012

Results: During three weeks of voting, 158 individuals registered and cast 1,834 votes.

Top 10 Topics:

  1. Access to Archival Databases (AAD) for Genealogists
  2. Passport Applications 1795-1925
  3. The Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company: A Gold Mine for Black and White Genealogists
  4. Navigating the Archival Research Catalog (ARC)
  5. National Archives Records on Ancestry.com
  6. Alien Files (A-Files) for Genealogy Research
  7. Civil War Pension Files at Footnote.com
  8. Veterans records at Ancestry.com
  9. Documenting Death in the Civil War
  10. World War II Finding Aids
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