Volunteer Hours

Thank You for Supporting DeKalb County History

Every hour you volunteer helps preserve the rich history and heritage of DeKalb County for future generations.

Whether you are researching local families, assisting with events, helping maintain historic properties, cataloging artifacts, documenting records, supporting educational programs, serving on committees, or contributing behind the scenes, your time makes a meaningful impact.

We track volunteer hours because they are a valuable contribution to our organization and play an important role in securing grants and other funding opportunities. Many grant programs require matching support from the community through a combination of financial contributions, donated services, and volunteer hours. By recording your time, you help strengthen our applications and increase the resources available to preserve and share our local history.

Please take a moment to record all volunteer activities, no matter how large or small. Every hour contributes to our mission and helps demonstrate the community’s commitment to protecting DeKalb County’s historical legacy.

Thank you for helping us preserve the stories, places, records, and traditions that define our community.

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Collection & Digitization

Here are some opportunities, if you have another project you’d like be involved in, even if not listed, let us know and we will be happy to include it.

Project Area	Volunteer Tasks
Document Scanning	Scan photographs, letters, diaries, newspapers, maps, and records
Photo Digitization	Digitize family photographs and local history collections
Metadata Entry	Add names, dates, locations, and descriptions to digital records
Quality Control	Review scanned images for accuracy and completeness
File Organization	Organize digital files and folder structures
Digital Preservation	Assist with backups and long-term digital storage projects
Cemetery Documentation	Photograph headstones and transcribe inscriptions
Artifact Photography	Photograph historical objects for online collections

Research & Records

Project Area	Volunteer Tasks
Genealogy Research	Research local families and community connections
Obituary Collection	Gather and index obituaries from newspapers
Newspaper Indexing	Create searchable indexes of historical newspapers
Census Research	Extract local residents from census records
Military Records Research	Document local veterans and military history
Property History Research	Research historic homes, farms, and businesses
Historical Timeline Projects	Build timelines of local events and milestones

Oral Histories & Story Collection

Project Area	Volunteer Tasks
Oral History Interviews	Conduct interviews with community members
Audio Recording	Record interviews and presentations
Video Interviews	Film local history stories and memories
Interview Scheduling	Coordinate interview appointments
Story Collection	Gather written memories and family stories
Interview Transcription	Convert audio recordings into text
Fact Checking	Verify historical details from interviews

Writing & Content Creation

Project Area	Volunteer Tasks
Article Writing	Write historical articles and profiles
Biography Projects	Research and write biographies of local residents
Newsletter Production	Create content for society newsletters
Exhibit Text Writing	Prepare descriptions for displays and exhibits
Social Media Content	Share historical photos and stories online
Blog Writing	Develop website content and historical features

Cemeteries & Burial Grounds

Project Area Volunteer Tasks

Cemetery Documentation Photograph headstones, monuments, markers, and cemetery features for preservation and online access.

Headstone Transcription Record names, dates, inscriptions, and epitaphs from grave markers.

Cemetery Mapping Create maps and plot locations of graves, markers, and cemetery sections.

Identification of Unmarked Graves Research historical records, death certificates, obituaries, and family histories to identify unmarked burial locations.

Cemetery Research Research individuals buried in local cemeteries and document their life stories.

Headstone Cleaning Clean gravestones using approved preservation methods and materials.

Monument Restoration Assist with resetting, repairing, and preserving damaged markers under proper restoration guidelines.

Cemetery Maintenance Remove debris, clear vegetation, and improve access to historic cemeteries.

Veteran Grave Identification Locate, document, and research military veterans buried within local cemeteries.

One-Place Cemetery Studies Document every burial in a cemetery and connect individuals to families, communities, and local history.

GIS & GPS Mapping Record precise grave locations using GPS and mapping technology.

Online Memorial Projects Contribute photographs and research to online cemetery and memorial databases.

Burial Record Digitization Digitize cemetery records, plot books, burial permits, and church burial registers.

Community Preservation Events Participate in cemetery cleanup days, preservation workshops, and educational events.

Military History & Veterans Projects

Project Area Volunteer Tasks

United States Colored Troops (USCT) Research Identify local men who served in United States Colored Troops regiments during the Civil War and document their military service.

Pension File Identification Research veterans to determine which soldiers have surviving pension files and create indexes for future researchers.

Veterans Without Military Markers Identify veterans buried in local cemeteries who do not have military tombstones or veteran markers.

Military Tombstone Applications Research eligibility and assist families and cemeteries with applications for government-issued veteran markers.

Civil War Soldier Research Document local soldiers who served in Union and Confederate units and preserve their service histories.

Veterans Cemetery Documentation Locate, photograph, map, and document graves of military veterans in local cemeteries.

Military Service Record Research Research compiled military service records and other military documents for local veterans.

World War I & World War II Projects Identify local residents who served during the World Wars and document their service and sacrifices.

Veteran Biography Project Research and write biographies of local veterans for publication and preservation.

Military Photograph Identification Identify individuals, units, locations, and dates in military photographs and collections.

Military Record Digitization Digitize discharge papers, draft registrations, pension records, photographs, and military correspondence.

Veterans Oral History Project Interview veterans and their families to preserve stories of military service.

Military Memorial Documentation Photograph and document local war memorials, monuments, plaques, and honor rolls.

Gold Star Family Research Research local service members who died during military service and document their families and stories.

Military Burial Verification Verify military service claims through official records and connect veterans to burial locations.

County Veteran Database Create and maintain a searchable database of all known veterans connected to the county.

Military Newspaper Research Search local newspapers for enlistments, casualty reports, homecomings, reunions, and veteran activities.

One-Place Military Studies Document every known military veteran from a community, church, cemetery, school, or neighborhood and preserve their stories.

Project Area	Volunteer Tasks
Cemetery Documentation	Photograph headstones, monuments, markers, and cemetery features for preservation and online access.
Headstone Transcription	Record names, dates, inscriptions, and epitaphs from grave markers.
Cemetery Mapping	Create maps and plot locations of graves, markers, and cemetery sections.
Identification of Unmarked Graves	Research historical records, death certificates, obituaries, and family histories to identify unmarked burial locations.
Cemetery Research	Research individuals buried in local cemeteries and document their life stories.
Headstone Cleaning	Clean gravestones using approved preservation methods and materials.
Monument Restoration	Assist with resetting, repairing, and preserving damaged markers under proper restoration guidelines.
Cemetery Maintenance	Remove debris, clear vegetation, and improve access to historic cemeteries.
Veteran Grave Identification	Locate, document, and research military veterans buried within local cemeteries.
One-Place Cemetery Studies	Document every burial in a cemetery and connect individuals to families, communities, and local history.
GIS & GPS Mapping	Record precise grave locations using GPS and mapping technology.
Online Memorial Projects	Contribute photographs and research to online cemetery and memorial databases.
Burial Record Digitization	Digitize cemetery records, plot books, burial permits, and church burial registers.
Community Preservation Events	Participate in cemetery cleanup days, preservation workshops, and educational events.

Project Area	Volunteer Tasks
United States Colored Troops (USCT) Research	Identify local men who served in United States Colored Troops regiments during the Civil War and document their military service.
Pension File Identification	Research veterans to determine which soldiers have surviving pension files and create indexes for future researchers.
Veterans Without Military Markers	Identify veterans buried in local cemeteries who do not have military tombstones or veteran markers.
Military Tombstone Applications	Research eligibility and assist families and cemeteries with applications for government-issued veteran markers.
Civil War Soldier Research	Document local soldiers who served in Union and Confederate units and preserve their service histories.
Veterans Cemetery Documentation	Locate, photograph, map, and document graves of military veterans in local cemeteries.
Military Service Record Research	Research compiled military service records and other military documents for local veterans.
World War I & World War II Projects	Identify local residents who served during the World Wars and document their service and sacrifices.
Veteran Biography Project	Research and write biographies of local veterans for publication and preservation.
Military Photograph Identification	Identify individuals, units, locations, and dates in military photographs and collections.
Military Record Digitization	Digitize discharge papers, draft registrations, pension records, photographs, and military correspondence.
Veterans Oral History Project	Interview veterans and their families to preserve stories of military service.
Military Memorial Documentation	Photograph and document local war memorials, monuments, plaques, and honor rolls.
Gold Star Family Research	Research local service members who died during military service and document their families and stories.
Military Burial Verification	Verify military service claims through official records and connect veterans to burial locations.
County Veteran Database	Create and maintain a searchable database of all known veterans connected to the county.
Military Newspaper Research	Search local newspapers for enlistments, casualty reports, homecomings, reunions, and veteran activities.
One-Place Military Studies	Document every known military veteran from a community, church, cemetery, school, or neighborhood and preserve their stories.