Genealogy News

Genealogy News

National Archives (NARA) Record Movements and Updates

• Facility Relocation Concerns: Genealogists tracked ongoing advocacy and updates via Save Our National Archives regarding the planned movement of roughly 1.73 million cubic feet of records from regional facilities in Chicago, San Bruno, and Seattle. Researchers have raised alarms regarding transparency and public access plans for these original records. [1]

• Leadership and Digital Overhaul: Discussions continued across the community regarding agency administration changes, alongside announcements that the main National Archives website is slated for a major usability overhaul. [1, 2]

Major Database and Collections Updates

• GenealogyBank Additions: GenealogyBank expanded its historical newspaper archives by adding content from 31 distinct titles spanning 14 states and national publications, with 25 titles introduced to the platform for the very first time. [1]

• MyHeritage & Ancestry Updates: MyHeritage released tracking updates showing nearly 30 new and updated searchable record collections throughout August, while Ancestry integrated specialized local historical collections, including mid-19th-century business and immigration files. [1, 2]

Platform Features and Industry Events

• FamilySearch Improvements: FamilySearch rolled out an improved merge experience for its shared Family Tree tool to streamline user corrections. [1]

• Webinars and Education: Legacy Family Tree Webinars officially launched new structured "Learning Paths" to guide ongoing researcher education. [1]

• Deadlines and Conferences: Late August marked registration milestones and early-bird deadlines for upcoming fall events, such as the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) virtual programming. [1]