Library of Congress launches America 250-era transcription campaigns, including Early American copyright ledgers and atlases

Abby Shelton, a By the People community manager at the Library of Congress, used the webinar to highlight a series of themed campaigns tied to America's 250th anniversary and new Rare Book Division projects.

Shelton described a set of thematic projects grouped under the topic "American Revolution in Context," including the Women of the Early Republic campaign that brings together letters, diaries and commonplace books by four women offering firsthand reflections on the Revolutionary era. "This is a manuscript or handwritten, mostly handwritten documents campaign," Shelton said, noting these sources illuminate both major events and everyday life in the colonies.

From the Rare Book Division, Shelton spotlighted early American books and cookbooks — including material related to Amelia Simmons, who is credited with authoring what is considered the first cookbook published in America — and Early American Copyright Ledgers, which record registrations of sheet music, dramatic compositions and books and serve as a record of what was published even when the works themselves have not survived.

Shelton also previewed an Early American Sheet Music campaign releasing later in the month and said a spring launch will open the Atlantic Neptune atlases for transcription. She said the atlas campaign is notable because it is the first time volunteers will transcribe items from the Library's Geography and Maps Division, a development Shelton described as "exciting" because the atlases contain both maps and text captions that volunteers will transcribe.

Shelton mentioned a community engagement partnership with WETA and PBS tied to Ken Burns' documentary The American Revolution and encouraged volunteers to subscribe to the Library's newsletter for campaign updates and launch notices.