Volunteers are needed to help transcribe 18th century store ledgers. This project can be either virtual on your own schedule, or in-person between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on select Tuesdays or Saturdays at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. If interested, please fill out the Volunteer Application and specify that you are interested in the Shopping Stories transcription project. 

Working on a crowd-sourced transcribing platform, volunteers will transcribe the ledgers and journals into the provided template and be able to participate in the review of previous transcriptions. All volunteers will go through an orientation and training, and then will have regular trainings throughout the project. Shopping habits found within the ledger and journal pages are of particular interest to archaeologists because they provide minute details about not only who frequented the stores, but what was purchased, when the purchases were made, and how they were paid for. Imagine being able to identify an artifact excavated in the 21st-century by whom and when it was acquired! This transcribing phase of the project focuses on the Alexandria community and its consumer habits.

All available spots are currently full. Please check back in the fall to see if there are openings. Volunteers work one day per week, between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on either Wednesdays or Thursdays. 

Learn to identify the artifacts found on archaeological sites. Volunteers wash, mark, photograph and catalogue artifacts, as needed, and they may occasionally assist with other areas of collections management. Experienced volunteers are sometimes needed with photographing, cataloging, and other special skills. A lab orientation is required for all volunteers.

Education and Special Events volunteers assist with weekend or evening events. Volunteers need to be comfortable with public speaking or teaching. Training materials are provided ahead of each event.