The National Archives at Philadelphia

Volunteer Opportunities

Philadelphia - Archives (Center City Facility)

We are not accepting volunteer applications to our Archival Program located in Center City Philadelphia at this time. Please check back for information for the fall / winter 2010.

The Volunteer program at the National Archives began following the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations. Increased interest in the records of the National Archives led to the formation of a volunteer corps which gave tours of the Washington, DC facility. Today volunteers serve at NARA facilities through out the country.

Enthusiasm, flexibility, and an interest in acquiring and sharing an appreciation for our American heritage are equally important. If you are fascinated by history, enjoy working with the public, and want a challenging and meaningful volunteer job you too can be an Archives Volunteer!

Profiles of Volunteers

Volunteers work in the following positions:

  • Genealogical Staff Aides assist genealogical researchers, provide information about records and about genealogy search processes, help researchers use equipment, give tours, perform research and respond to written inquiries.

  • Archival Staff Aides assist with information and administrative services and with specific archival or exhibit projects. Work includes creating indexes of records; unfolding, flattening, and foldering records; arranging and describing records; holdings maintenance; giving tours, helping the curator with exhibits, and other archival projects.

Types of Projects

Volunteer projects have included:

  • Helping genealogy researchers in the Research Room
  • Answering written reference inquiries
  • Indexing the Western District of Pennsylvania Naturalization records from 1820-1906
  • Helping with the opening of the 1930 Census
  • Indexing correspondence series from the Immigration and Naturalization Service
  • Performing holdings maintenance on the records of the Confederate States of America court at Wytheville, Virginia
  • Flattening and placing in folders beneficiary case files from the U.S. Naval Home
  • Working on exhibits
  • Indexing Declarations of Intention filed in the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia
  • Foldering and indexing Alien's Applications for Permission to Depart (Philadelphia)

How to Apply

Fill out and mail in the Volunteer Application Form

To find out more, call, email, or write us:

National Archives, Mid-Atlantic Region
Attn: Leslie Simon
900 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Phone: (215) 606-0101
E-mail: leslie.simon@nara.gov

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