I want to highlight the 10 Million Names project here, for those who have not heard of it. It was launched in 2023 and I first heard of it when it was featured at RootsTech in 2024. I recently looked into it to see how I might volunteer. Here is their mission statement, as found on their website:

“10 Million Names is a collaborative project dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865.

The project seeks to amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to family history questions, and expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans.”

The 10 Million Names project emerged as one of the top websites for African American genealogy in 2024, according to Family Tree Magazine. In addition to resources such as a free online course titled, “Getting Started in African American Family History Research,” there are research guides, free charts and templates, events and videos, links to cultural sites, and resources compiled by FamilySearch. Of note are the searchable databases accessible on the 10 Million Names website hosted by American Ancestors website.

I found it was easy to volunteer with 10 Million Names. They are very organized and respond to inquiries quickly. Here is what the website says about volunteer opportunities:

“Seeking volunteers who will help create content for 10MillionNames.org. Volunteers are needed to digitize images, which is done on-site at the American Ancestors Research Center in Boston, or as contributors to database projects, which can be done either on-site or from home. Volunteers work from handwritten or text documents, extracting information into a spreadsheet, or assist with proofreading the data. 10 Million Names team provides training; however, volunteers must possess a basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel. This is a great, “hands-on” way to learn the process of transferring printed material to the Internet. Students may inquire about internship opportunities.”

Contact: Danielle Rose, 10 Million Names Volunteer Coordinator

I contacted Danielle Rose at the link above, and was given an option to participate in one of four projects. I am currently reading through Missouri deed records in my assigned county and deed book and extracting names of enslaved persons mentioned there, along with other data. I can see how there is a need for many volunteers to join in this worthwhile work, and there are opportunities for researchers of varied experience levels.