Yamhill County Genealogical Society

07/30/2026

Something to think about... when resources of our nation's history and people close, what happens to the information? These are two very important buildings housing undigitized documents. What is the plan for access?

TWO NATIONAL ARCHIVES FACILITIES ARE CLOSING AND MOST GENEALOGISTS HAVE NO IDEA.

The National Archives has confirmed that its regional facilities in Chicago and San Bruno, California, will close in the next few years. Records may become inaccessible to the public and be moved very soon.

These are not dusty warehouses full of duplicate paperwork.

They hold permanent federal court, naturalization, immigration, Asian American, Native American, military, prison, and agency records that researchers frequently visit and use and many of these records are NOT fully digitized.

And here’s the part that should make every researcher furious:

We still do not have a complete public plan explaining where every collection will go, how long records may be unavailable, whether local research access will be replaced, or what will happen to the archivists who actually know these collections.

WHERE ARE THE RECORDS GOING?
HOW LONG WILL THEY BE UNAVAILABLE?
WHO WILL STILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEM?

This is bigger than two buildings. This is about public access to our history.

Share this before the records start moving and everyone suddenly asks why nobody warned them.

https://www.saveournationalarchives.org/

05/25/2026

12/22/2025

How is this not everyone's Wish List? 😜

12/16/2025

It is our pleasure to workshop with you this Saturday... our YCGS December Meeting on 20 December 2025 at 9:30 a.m.

If you find family research exciting but are less enthused about writing your family’s history, come learn a process to get you started and keep you going.

Workshop: Writing Your Family History One Photo at a Time

Bring a photo or two (or more) that you have some information about. It can be anything from a candid photo you’ve taken yourself to a historic portrait of an ancestor. We’ll go through a process using the photo to create a family story to preserve and share. Physical photos, or even a few favorites on your phone, works! Choose a holiday, vacation, birthday, every day candid... whatever you'd like!

We will be in-person at the First Federal Community Room, 111 NE Third St., McMinnville. Parking is available on the street, or in the First Federal parking lot (across the street from the Community Room). You may also attend via Zoom (link to be emailed Friday).

PS: This week, we will not be rushed out of the meeting room, so if you'd like to workshop for longer, you're more than welcome to stay until sometime around 2pm.