The following is a press release written by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration;

Applications Due for NARA’s Voluntary Internship Program Students and recent graduates, have you applied for the National Archives' Voluntary Internship Program yet? Explore opportunities and submit your applications for the fall 2025 semester by tomorrow, Friday, July 18, 2025. Opportunities are available at facilities across the country. Picture This! Stop by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, AR, tomorrow, Friday, July 18, 2025, at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. CT, for "Picture This!" our next "Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator" event. In celebration of our new exhibition, "Portraits from a Presidency," we will showcase gifts presented to the Clinton Family during his administration.    The "Ask an Archivist and Converse with a Curator" program takes place on the third Friday of every month at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. While admission to the library is required, the program itself is free of charge. Desegregation at Little Rock Central High School In 1954, in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were "inherently unequal". The next year in Brown II, the high court found that segregation in public schools must end "with all deliberate speed."  In response to these rulings, in 1957, the Little Rock school board unanimously voted in favor of a plan to integrate the Little Rock schools beginning with the high school. However, the Arkansas governor had other plans and sent the National Guard to prevent entry of the African-American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, into Little Rock Central High School.  Desegregation at Little Rock Central High School, an online exhibit from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, tells the full story of this crucial moment in the struggle for civil rights in America. Check it out today! Executive Order 10730, which was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on September 23, 1957, addressed the Little Rock Crisis. NAID: 17366749

The following announcement was written by the Irish Genealogical Research Society:

The Society is launching a new database created from a card index compiled several decades ago by the now late Patrick Smythe-Wood. It notes biographical information from Irish, and a small number of Canadian, newspapers. 

Although the range of newspapers covers all of Ireland, the data tends to mainly represent the nine northern counties which form the province of Ulster: Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Derry/Londonderry, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Tyrone,

There are approximately 11,600 index records, referencing about 20,000 individuals. The earliest dates from 1772 and the latest 1900, though the majority fall into the period 1800 to 1860.  Patrick’s interest in the history of members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, military personnel, and other uniformed services (customs and excise officers for instance), is widely represented in this database.

Ian Alastair Patrick Smythe-Wood (1914-1997). was a distinguished genealogist who was elected a Fellow of the IGRS in 1993, just four years before his death. His father's family came from Bushmills in Co. Antrim. Patrick was known for his extensive work on parochial records, monumental inscriptions, Canadian families of Irish descent, Irish links with the Isle of Man, and Irish and Canadian newspapers. He went on to donate the results of most of his work to the Society and this latest launch by the IGRS represents the fruit of some of his work.

Non-members can access this database for free to check for the prevalence of particular fist name and surname combinations by clicking HERE. Logged-in members can access the full database through the UNIQUE RESOURCES page.

A typical entry in the database might note as much as an individual's name, address, spouse, parent(s), date/year of birth, death or marriage, religious denomination, and names of other family members and relations. 

Link to online news item: https://www.irishancestors.ie/smythe-wood-newspaper-database  

 

Family history website Ancestry has said it will add a major new collection of nearly 5.8 million records from Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.

The website has published 2,731,356 1538-1812 baptism, marriage and burial records; 1,091,738 1754-1940 banns and marriage records; and 413,911 1813-1996 burial records. A set of 1,544,406 1813-1924 baptism records will be added in the near future. The records are taken from Cambridgeshire Libraries and Archives and also cover the historical county of Huntingdonshire.

Before the introduction of civil registration of births, marriages and deaths, religious baptism, marriage and burial records are the main way to trace key events in our ancestors’ lives. The new collection marks a major step forward for tracing Cambridgeshire ancestry online. The records include the baptism record of Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of Britain from 1653 to 1658. The record shows that he was born on 25 April 1599 and baptised four days later at the church of St John’s, Huntingdon. His parents were Robert and Elizabeth Cromwell.

 His Majesty's Government has commissioned the Office for National Statistics to conduct a mandatory, questionnaire-based, whole-population census of England and Wales in 2031. 

This follows the UK Statistics Authority's recommendation to Government last month for a census as part of system of population and migration statistics which combines the power of data collection and builds on the use of administrative data.  a Census Taskforce which has started scoping plans for 2031. The Taskforce will focus on delivering a census that builds on the successes of Census 2021, working with devolved governments to support coherent UK outputs and maximising the benefits from our work with administrative data to date.    

A public consultation will be launched later this autumn. This consultation will gather views on topics that users need from a system of population statistics and inform the development of the census questionnaire. 

For any questions please contact outreach.engagement.comms@ons.gov.uk 

To read the announcement go to:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/3e967fc

HM Government commissions census in 2031

The following was wriiten by the North of Ireland Family History Society:

Join us at the FHF Really Useful Family History Show 2025 for a fun and informative day exploring your ancestors!

More than 15 exhibitors attending, this show is organised by the North of Ireland Family History Society and sponsored by the Family History Federation and the Public Record Office (PRONI), where it is being held.

Come along and discover more about researching your family tree.

Entry will be free and no need to book.

Don't miss this!!

Don't miss the presentations!!

A presentation from the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland who have just released The Population Portal, which brings together tens of thousands of names, and detailed census reports, from Ireland between the 17th and 19th centuries, allowing you to search them as one collection. Come along and find out what it is all about.

12.00 pm Prize Draw

Some wonderful prizes – be there before midday to go in the draw.

12.30 The Incredibly Useful Introduction to PRONI’s Family History Records

Discover some of the records that are available at PRONI and how to access them.

2pm We know who you are, John Linehan!!

John is a Belfast actor and comedian and absolute icon, having appeared in panto for over 30 years as May McFettridge. He is our latest celebrity to agree to have his DNA tested and to allow the North of Ireland Family History Society to analyse it and create his family tree. He has not been given any access to the information so come along and see what happens when we reveal everything to him for the first time.

The following annoiuncement was written by Vivid-Pix:

View in browser VIVID-PIX, NIDE, & POCKETRN PARTNER TO SUPPORT DEMENTIA PATIENTS THROUGH GUIDE photo Reminiscence Therapy Included in PocketRN’s National Launch at No Cost for Medicare Patients Release: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11TeNBxyaP8eEysrfH8dRWvR6362bvHk_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108034730091211394530&rtpof=true&sd=true July 16, 2025, Savannah, GA – The National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE), Vivid-Pix, and PocketRN announced today that they are partnering to support dementia patients through PocketRN and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, which is no-cost for qualifying Medicare beneficiaries.  With the fast-growing population of aging baby boomers and rise in dementia, the need for affordable, non-pharmacological AgeTech to assist the aging and their caregivers is more important than ever. PocketRN announced they will use NIDE’s interactive prescribed dementia procedures and Vivid-Pix Education and Memory Station Software to enhance care. Nurses will employ photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) through photos, household items, and music to reminisce, connect, and share memories.  PocketRN provides no-cost dementia care for Medicare members and their families in conjunction with the CMS GUIDE program. PocketRN offers virtual nursing support 24/7 in coordination with in-home care that proactively engages and builds trusted, high-touch, one-on-one relationships with patients and families. The GUIDE program focuses on comprehensive, coordinated dementia care to improve the quality of life for people with dementia. GUIDE is also designed to reduce the strain on family caregivers and help keep patients in their homes and communities longer. The program covers care coordination, care management, caregiver education and support, and respite care for qualifying families. Vivid-Pix works with NIDE and healthcare facilities to research and create education for families and professionals through pRT, utilizing photos, mementos, and cognitive memories to create a connection with dementia patients through conversation, resulting in profound improvements in socialization, reducing isolation, loneliness, depression, and agitation. Learn more about PocketRN offerings at: https://www.pocketrn.com/ and receive free education and secure family stories at: https://www.vivid-pix.com/pocketrn/. Further information regarding Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS.gov, and GUIDE is available at: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide.  About Vivid-Pix Vivid-Pix invents and harnesses technologies, making it simple for individuals, families, and organizations to relive memories. Their motto, “Don't Let Your Memories Fade™,” describes the importance of photos and activities that nurture brain health, improve cognition, assist family historians and caregivers, and create connections. Vivid-Pix integrates their photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) research and family history activities into products and services for simple operation, to have fun, and age well. Vivid-Pix software has sold in over 120 countries, improving faded photos and documents and securing memories. Vivid-Pix CEO Rick Voight has been involved in memory industries for four decades. For more info, see http://www.vivid-pix.com, https://www.vivid-pix.com/pocketrn/, https://vivid-pix.com/reminisce, https://vivid-pix.com/education, and https://vivid-pix.com/memorystation. About National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE)’s Standards of Excellence Council The National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE)’s Standards of Excellence Council is led by Dr. Joshua Freitas, the Chief Education Officer and Chair of the Board. The Council focuses on bridging the gap between research, education, and advocacy to improve the quality of life for those with dementia. NIDE works with organizations to share industry trends and enhance quality care, advocating for quality education and resources for those living with dementia and their families. The council comprises industry professionals, researchers, advocates, and practitioners. To learn more, visit nid. education.                                                    About PocketRN PocketRN gives patients, families, and caregivers a Nurse for Life. Its mission is to close the gap between home and healthcare by enabling nurses to care proactively and continuously at the top of their license, enabling caregivers with peace of mind and the confidence to support others, and enabling patients to access whole-person, trusted, empathetic care when and where they want it. PocketRN is the glue that holds together fragmented experiences in care so that partners, clinicians, patients, and families get back more of what they need: quality time. For more information,  visit www.pocketrn.com or engage with PocketRN on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Cumberland County Archivist, Joyce Rorabaugh, and Assistant Archivist, Lori Bowers, cheered loudly Friday afternoon during the ribbon cutting and grand reopening of the Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center.

The Archives at 95 E. First St., hosted a celebration for the much ballyhooed county project that has been underway for many years.

The archives staff and many volunteers have worked for the past two months to get the facility ready to reopen.

“Today is a proud day for Cumberland County. After years of discussions, planning, and more than a few detours along the way, we officially open the doors to our newly renovated county archives facility … Along the way, there were disagreements about location, design, and funding, but what matters most is that through it all, we never stopped working together. Even in debate, we remained neighbors. Even in disagreement, we remained friends … This building stands as more than just a home for records. It is a symbol of perseverance, of compromise, and of a community that values its heritage enough to invest in its future …,” Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster said.
Foster also recognized former 3rd District Cumberland County Commissioner Rebecca Stone for her years of dedicated effort to starting and improving the archives facility.

Foster also recognized and thanked former Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill, who attended the ceremony, for his early role in working out the details for the county to purchase the former church building.

A portion of the structure was in the rear that had been added to the original building was demolished due to it being beyond repair. It was replaced with a 6,000 square-foot new building attached to the rear of the original structure.
The original structure was also renovated and updated with several upgrades.
The new vault also features rolling rack system and a dumbwaiter elevator for hauling and lifting documents from one level to the next at the Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center.

“You are standing on history here,” Rorabaugh said. “This is a day we have worked hard for and have waited for a long time.”

Refreshments were served, courtesy of the Crab Orchard Daughters of the American Revolution.

A time capsule containing letters and photos from local organizations, businesses and governmental officials was also sealed and placed during the event.

Several people attended the celebration including county commissioners; Kevin Chamberlin, architect with Upland Design Group; and early volunteers such as Ron Pulley, who played a critical role in establishing the genealogy portion of the facility. Tennessee State Librarian and Archivist James Ritter and Assistant State Archivist Jami Awalt also attended the event.

The Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center also offers hundreds of books, microfilm and computer files on county history and genealogy research. The facility offers free classes and seminars throughout the year.

The county, under state law, is required to keep certain inactive county records for years. The county clerk’s office, circuit court clerk and clerk and master’s offices and several other departments have brought inactive records to the archives facility for storage.

During the renovation, the archives had been relocated to the library during construction of the addition and renovation of the existing building.

Prior to the establishment of the Cumberland County Archives facility, many of the county records were stored in boxes in the basement beneath the Milo Lemert Building — and many were damaged when the basement was flooded.
Although the building opened a few years prior, the Cumberland County Commission officially established the Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center in July 2011.

For more about the Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center, visit them at 95 E. First St., call 931-456-2006, or email archives@artcirclelibrary.info. The hours of operation are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The following is. a press release written by Hearst Networks UK:

London, 15 July 2025: Hearst Networks UK have announced a new sponsorship partnership for Sky HISTORYand Sky HISTORY2 with Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics. As a previous client of the brand, this renewed collaboration between the two iconic brands will once again blend the power of storytelling to inspire audiences to explore their heritage and uncover their personal histories.  

As part of this new partnership, Ancestry will be the channel sponsor for Sky HISTORY and Sky HISTORY2, enriching the experience of both brands’ audiences by connecting historical events featured in our programming to their very own family stories. This collaboration will create a deeper connection to history, inspiring curiosity and exploration into personal legacies.  

The sponsorship will include elements across both linear and VOD platforms, and targeted digital activity designed to deepen audience engagement, which will amplify Ancestry’s presence among UK audiences who are enthusiastic about history, heritage, and human stories. 

"We are delighted to partner with Ancestry, a brand that shares our passion for history and storytelling," said Marianna Kritikos, VP Commercial Advertising and Partnerships at Hearst Networks EMEA. "Together, we aim to bridge the gap between historical narratives and personal discovery, empowering individuals with insights into their past."  

“We’re delighted to renew our previously successful partnership with Sky HISTORY,” said Russell James, UK Country Director at Ancestry. “There is an obvious and powerful connection between our brands, and this represents a great opportunity to tell an engaged audience about the personal stories Ancestry can reveal.”

The partnership was developed in collaboration with Sky Media, reflecting the strong relationship and shared commitment to impactful brand integrations across the Hearst Network portfolio. The campaign will launch from July 2025, and run till the end of the year, across Sky HISTORY’s linear and on-demand platforms, with extended reach via Hearst’s powerful digital and social ecosystems.

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Registration is open for the 18th New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC), “New Englanders – Here, There, and Everywhere,” which will be held Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Manchester.

Presented by the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, the biennial conference is designed for researchers at all experience levels, from beginners to professionals. The four-day program includes more than 70 educational sessions, workshops, expert consultations and networking opportunities.

NERGC 2025 will feature presentations on a wide range of topics, including DNA, immigration, military and land records, social history, artificial intelligence in genealogy, and ethnic research, with sessions focused on Irish, French-Canadian, African American and Jewish ancestry.

Three nationally recognized speakers will headline the conference:

• Annette Burke Lyttle, CG, specializing in Quaker research and ancestral migrations;
• Diahan Southard, a pioneer in genetic genealogy education; and
• Cari Taplin, CG, who focuses on Midwestern and Great Lakes research.

In addition to the main conference, a full day of pre-conference activities will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29. These include two bus tours to genealogical research centers and historical institutions in Manchester and Concord, and four themed research tracks led by expert instructors. Pre-conference programming also includes five hands-on workshops on topics such as genealogical methodology and writing, photo identification, and mapping family history using Google’s My Maps. Participants may register for these activities without registering for the full conference.

Early registration is encouraged, particularly for those requesting accessibility accommodations or planning to reserve rooms at the conference hotel.

For full conference details, pricing, and registration, visit www.nergc.org. 

 After more than three decades, investigators have identified “Baby Hope” and her parents.

The newborn was found stabbed to death in a trash can at Franklin, Indiana’s Temple Park around 5 p.m. on April 13, 1994. Two boys who were gathering recyclables came across her remains and called police.

An autopsy found the baby died from multiple stab wounds; the coroner ruled her death a homicide. Police and the community named the unknown infant “Baby Hope” and donations ensured she received a proper burial and a headstone. Investigators preserved her DNA in hopes that it would one day provide some answers.

For 31 years, no one knew the baby’s true identity or the identities of her parents. In 2025, thanks to advances in DNA technology and the dogged pursuit of investigators, the public finally has some answers.

Police identified the baby’s mother as Cheryl D. Larson. Her husband, however, was not the baby’s father.

Testing and genealogy determined that Paul R. Shepherd was the baby’s biological father.

Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran and other investigators revealed the information during a news conference on Monday at Greenlawn Cemetery, where Baby Hope has been laid to rest for the last three decades.

According to police, Shepherd was unaware he was the girl’s father. He decided to name her Hope Shepherd, taking inspiration from the name the community gave his daughter. Police said Shepherd has cooperated with the investigation and submitted a DNA sample.

Cochran said the case was reopened in 2019 so detectives could go through the investigation with a fresh set of eyes. Information from public DNA databases—not private and commercial ones like 23andMe—helped them identify Baby Hope’s biological parents.

“Only data from the users who had given permission for law enforcement matching was used, ensuring respect for their privacy and consent,” said Lt. Chris Tennell, investigations commander for Franklin PD. “No private or restricted genetic database was accessed.”

While that mystery has been solved, several questions remain unanswered and may remain that way. The baby’s mother died in 2018 and could not be interviewed.

Investigators were unable to determine her level of involvement in Baby Hope’s death. For now, there are no criminal charges being brought in the case. That could change if new information comes to light.

“This is not a closed case,” Tennell said. “But we needed to share this information with the community. While we remain deeply saddened by the tragic and unjust loss of Baby Hope, we are grateful to finally achieve some degree of closure after 31 years.”

Johnson County Coroner Mike Pruitt said DNA is a significant piece of the puzzle. However, there are still things about the case investigators don’t know or understand.

“We still have open questions,” Pruitt said. “DNA is not going to answer those questions for us. If this stimulates any information, any thoughts that you can bring to law enforcement to help us bring complete closure to this case, that would be the biggest closing point.”

Tennell, Pruitt and Cochran credited the tireless work of investigators and advances in DNA and forensic technology for Monday’s significant update. 

“I know these are not 100% the answers we wanted,” Cochran said. “But we are here today with some closure for the community.”