The following is a press release written by Railway Ancestors:

The 'Railway Work, Life & Death' project has just released a new dataset, featuring details of around 69,000 English and Welsh railway workers who had accidents between 1855 and 1929. The project looks at accidents to railway staff before 1939, transcribing and summarising details from railway records. With the existing data, the whole database now covers c.117,000 individuals, all transcribed by the project's excellent volunteers. 

The new records were originally kept by railway companies, and are now housed at The National Archives of the UK, with whom the project has been working on this release. The records tell us about what people were doing in their day-to-day work, the accidents they had, and the compensation, if any, they received.

The project is a joint initiative of the University of Portsmouth, the National Railway Museum and the Modern Records Centre at the University of Warwick, working with The National Archives and the RMT Union. It wants to see the information it's making available being used by you, in your research - it's all available free, from the project website. They're also keen to hear from you if you find someone you're researching, so please let them know.

www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk

Twitter: @RWLDproject

Bluesky:  @rwldproject.bsky.social‬

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Railway-Work-Life-Death-108745674380484

State funding shortages will force the Washington State Library in Tumwater and the Seattle-based Washington Talking Book and Braille Library to close public access starting July 1.

The state libraries will cut 12 jobs because of financial constraints.

The secretary of state’s office announced Friday that closing these facilities will restrict access to historical and governmental collections maintained by the state and result in the termination of multiple services and programs.

Many communities throughout our state rely on libraries as foundational institutions for both civic engagement and educational support. According to Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, library closures will threaten the availability of essential information and resources for communities.

The move comes after lawmakers and Gov. The state budget lacked a $6.7 million allocation from Governor Bob Ferguson to address a revenue shortfall from decreased real estate transaction fees.

Library patrons contacting the Tumwater library through Ask A Librarian or the main switchboard or sending emails should anticipate receiving a response that might take up to seven days. The library will stop providing newspaper and genealogy database subscriptions and will significantly reduce the purchase of new materials.

The Talking Book and Braille Library closure to public access will lengthen the voicemail response times. The public library will provide reduced service speeds for both circulation and registration operations.

The library will no longer offer multisensory story time programming together with Low Vision and Touch of Braille workshops. The state's sole accessible library service for blind people and those with disabilities will experience reduced production of braille and audio materials.

According to Washington State Librarian Sara Jones these disruptions threaten equal information access for Washington's most underserved residents who can't read regular print. The current funding shortage impacts our staff and crucial services immediately despite future financial support from a recently enacted bill.

Governor Ferguson signed a bill on May 19 to establish a $50 surcharge on superior court clerk filings with $20 earmarked for the secretary of state’s office to support library operations and state heritage projects. A fiscal analysis projects that this initiative would create up to $6 million during the complete biennium.

The NIH archives for the Human Genome Project could encounter risks because of budget reductions planned by the Trump administration. Concerns about the preservation of these important records have been expressed by a former archivist since they contain documentation of one of the greatest scientific endeavors ever undertaken. In 2003 the Human Genome Project successfully mapped all human genes which established essential groundwork for medical and genetic scientific progress.

The archivist warned that funding cuts will threaten both the preservation and access to these essential documents. The National Human Genome Research Institute of the NIH manages these archives that researchers use to study genetic diseases and to develop treatments. The suggested financial reductions have raised concerns over their potential effects on current research activities and historical records about this significant initiative.

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

The National Archives will open a new, interactive museum on October 23, 2025, and members of the media got a “sneak peek” of what visitors can expect during a hard-hat tour.   The 10,000-square-foot space is undergoing a $40 million renovation—its first in 20 years—and will feature original artifacts, documents, and films, including George Washington’s original copy of the Constitution, annotated in his own handwriting, which has never been publicly displayed at the National Archives.  Franck Cordes, Capital Campaign Project Director at the National Archives Foundation, leads the media on a hard hat tour of The American Story gallery space, June 4, 2025. NARA Photo by Susana Raab The new museum comprises both the exhibition galleries—entitled The American Story—and the interactive Discovery Center for elementary-aged visitors to learn about American civics.  Jim Byron, Senior Advisor to the Acting Archivist of the United States, told those gathered, “This will be the first museum on the National Mall in which visitors can use AI to get a personalized museum experience. This museum is technologically innovative and cutting edge. Two million records will be pre-loaded into digital kiosks and available to visitors throughout the museum." Senior Advisor Jim Byron gives remarks in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, June 4, 2025. NARA Photo by Susana Raab Franck Cordes, Capital Campaign Project Director at the National Archives Foundation, led the group and described how visitors can check in to kiosks as they enter, beginning their AI-assisted journey through the millions of records held in the National Archives. Visitors will then be able to share their collected documents online after they leave the museum.  "We are a nation of many stories, and we're excited to bring these stories of our history to life in the new exhibition," said Cordes. "With state-of-the-art technology, the exhibition provides a personalized experience where each visitor will find their own meaningful connection to our past through National Archives records."  Members of the media photograph historical documents and artifacts that will be on display in “The American Story.” In the foreground (from left to right) are gifts given to President Richard Nixon Reagan, President Bill Clinton, and President Ronald Reagan, June 4, 2025. NARA Photo by Susana Raab. The National Archives Museum renovation is made possible by the U.S. Congress, National Archives Foundation, and generous donors.

The following is a press release written by Family Tree Magazine:

It is our pleasure to release our new 101 Best Websites for Genealogy list, updated and revised for 2025. With more and more genealogy records and tools coming online every day, this annual list highlights the best resources for genealogy enthusiasts to add to their toolkit. This year’s list includes more than 10 websites that are either brand-new or returning to the list after an absence. These include sites for discovering records, researching photos, preserving family heirlooms and much, much more.

This year’s list includes websites of all sizes, from massive subscription websites like Ancestry and MyHeritage, to lesser-known sites powered by volunteers. Readers will encounter websites that make long-lost records accessible again, use AI technology to make it easier to find and extract information, offer expert advice and news, and provide tools for sharing research and building family trees. As always, many of this year’s honorees are completely free to use, or offer select free resources.

The 101 Best Genealogy Websites list is compiled by founding Family Tree Magazine editor David A. Fryxell. It contains a wide variety of websites so that any family historian can find a resource for their own genealogy research. The websites are grouped into categories for easy browsing, and websites that require payment to use are indicated with a dollar sign ($).

You can find the new, updated 101 Best list on our website by visiting https://familytreemagazine.com/best-genealogy-websites/

The list will appear in the July/August 2025 issue of Family Tree Magazine, which has shipped to magazine subscribers and will be available on newsstands in late June.

Press Contact: Katharine Andrew, Digital Editor (KatharineA@Yankeepub.com)

About Family Tree Magazine

Family Tree Magazine is a bimonthly genealogy magazine published by Yankee Publishing, Inc., that has been providing instructional resources, how-to articles and more to family history enthusiasts for 25 years. Family Tree Magazine covers all areas of potential interest to family history enthusiasts including genealogy research, ethnic heritage, DNA testing, family reunions, memoirs, oral history, archival preservation and more. In addition to the print magazine, Family Tree offers a website with a wide variety of articles, a monthly podcast, online genealogy courses and webinars, and both weekly and daily newsletters.

About the 101 Best Genealogy Websites

The 101 Best Genealogy Websites is an annual list created by the editors of Family Tree Magazine to name the best online tools available for hobbyist genealogists to assist in their research. The list is published each year in the magazine as well as maintained online at https://familytreemagazine.com/best-genealogy-websites/

In honor of both Danish Constitution Day and Swedish National Day, MyHeritage is opening up every Danish and Swedish historical record — over 350 million in total — for free, from June 5–8, 2025! This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone with Scandinavian roots to trace their family’s story through rich collections dating back centuries. The Danish records include 31 collections with church books, censuses, newspapers, and more, covering vital events and everyday life since 1787; and the Swedish collections span from the 1600s onward, featuring household examination rolls, birth and death records, military lists, and more. Just last month, we added a collection of Swedish passenger lists documenting the names, birthplaces, residences, and destinations of Swedes who left the country between 1869 and 1951. You can read more at https://blog.myheritage.com/2025/06/enjoy-free-access-to-swedish-and-danish-records-for-a-limited-time/ .

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

June 6, 1944. D-Day: the critical element of the Allied Forces’ strategic efforts to liberate Europe from Nazi tyranny. The success of the Normandy Invasions established a strong foothold in Western Europe for the Allies, which would eventually lead to victory in Europe in WWII. Check out Records Relating to D-Day in NARA’s holdings. American assault troops, with full equipment, move onto Omaha Beach, in Northern France. NAID: 176887734 Eisenhower Podcast Dr. Todd Arrington, Director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, was recently a guest on US History Repeated’s podcast for a chat about Ike’s presidency and enduring legacy. In fact, there was so much to talk about, they ended up recording three whole episodes!   Listen to the episodes online and learn about Ike’s military service, election to America’s top office, and leadership during the nuclear terror of the Cold War. Portrait of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  NAID: 531434 Now on Exhibit Music America: Iconic Objects From America’s Music History is now open at the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum in College Station, TX. With nearly 100 objects representing the best of American music, the exhibit—curated by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music—tells the story of how music has informed, interpreted, and inspired our national identity. Highlights include Bob Dylan’s harmonica, Ella Fitzgerald’s cabaret card, Leonard Bernstein’s outfit and baton, and iconic clothing from Elvis Presley. The temporary exhibit closes on January 5, 2026.

The Indiana Historical Society awarded a Heritage Support Grant to the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

The nearly $5,000 grant will be spent on the preservation of 27 assessor’s plat books dating from 1880 to 1891. The plat books include official land ownership descriptions paired with details about location and land values while featuring hand-drawn maps for each section.

Researchers use these books to track family locations since they specifically display family member locations. These books serve as supplementary copies for county records.

The books became fragile over time causing their pages to separate while both ink and mold deteriorated. Without preservation efforts these documents faced potential damage or complete loss.

The written work and drawn maps faced potential loss because their ink faded after 145 years and will keep fading into the future, according to Teresa Jones from the Kosciusko County Historical Society. Jones expressed their gratitude for being selected as grant recipients by the Indiana Historical Society.

The historical society will receive funds to have their books photographed and rebound using archival-quality materials. The historical society will generate a digital record of these materials. The original materials will receive mold treatment and proper storage and then will be withdrawn from public access.

The Indiana Historical Society distributes Heritage Support Grants through funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Police are crediting the use of investigative genetic genealogy in helping to identify a man whose lifeless body was found nearly 30 years ago.

Toronto Police provided an update on the cold case Wednesday, saying that on Aug. 23, 1996, the body of a man was found in a downtown field near Lake Shore Blvd. and Spadina Ave. He did not have any identification or possessions with him and had been there for some time, police said.

Attempts were made to identify the man by sifting through missing person cases, but police said no match was found.

“In recent years, his DNA was compared to the DNA of relatives in the National DNA Databank, but he remained unidentified,” Toronto Police said in a news release.

In May 2024, with the approval of the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Toronto Police began using investigative genetic genealogy for the case.

“The investigation found distant relatives who traced their heritage to Quebec,” police said. “In November 2024, the investigation focused on a man from Quebec.”

In March, police said the DNA comparison between the deceased and suspected relatives confirmed his identity and Montreal Police notified his family.

The man’s identity is not being released and police said no foul play is suspected.

Toronto Police also credited the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Othram Labs, Centre of Forensic Sciences, National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains, National DNA Databank, Montreal Police, Ottawa Police and the Quebec laboratoire de medicine for their help.

Anyone with further information can contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 or 222tips.com.

Collection Manager & Digital Archivist

Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 2.40pm

• PHOTO MUSEUM IRELAND

Photo Museum Ireland is seeking a Collection Manager and Digital Archivist. The Collection Manager & Digital Archivist is both a strategic and hands-on position. The postholder will manage the development of our collection, overseeing acquisition, cataloguing, digitisation, and public access, including registrar duties for temporary exhibitions. This role will also take the lead on our artist-focused archival initiatives and digitisation projects. These include collaborative archival residencies and projects building on our recent archival digitisation projects.

The role also involves managing major collaborative projects, working closely with institutional and international partners. At the intersection of archival practice, digital innovation, and artist collaboration, this role supports one of the museum’s core strategic priorities of developing the Museum’s Collection.

This is a unique opportunity to shape Ireland’s most ambitious contemporary photography archive, to work directly with artists and estates, and to contribute meaningfully to a dynamic cultural institution that values creativity, inclusivity, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities include:
1. Collection Care
2. Temporary Exhibitions – Registrar Duties
3. Collection Development & Management
4. Digital Archiving
5. Collection Access
6. Collaboration & Capacity Building

Person Specification

Essential
- A professional qualification in conservation, collections care, archiving or similar — or substantial experience in a professional setting using the skills listed below.
- Experience in collection management within a cultural institution.
- Familiarity with collection management systems and digital preservation tools.
- Be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (especially Photoshop and Indesign) and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Strong understanding of the cultural and museum sector.
- Ability to manage a complex workload, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
- A proven ability to work on collaborative projects and to deliver results on time.
- A willingness to engage in continuing professional development.

Desirable
- Expertise in photography, digital archiving, scanning, and printing.
- Have experience with framing, installing, and/or artwork shipping and best practices.
- Experience contributing to museum accreditation processes.
- Knowledge of copyright law as it pertains to photographic works.
- A passion for contemporary visual culture and photography and visual literacy.

What We Offer
- €35,000 salary per annum
- Pension contributions
- 23 holidays per annum, in addition to public holidays
- Professional development
-A collaborative and inclusive work environment.

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role to recruitment@photomuseumireland.ie by 18th July 2025.

Terms
This full-time role is 40 hours (including lunch breaks) per week, working five days in every seven. The role will require working weekends as required for certain activities. Shifts will primarily be during the day, with the occasional evening shift. The appointment is subject to satisfactory Garda (police) vetting and reference checks.

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