The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman. Please do not forward this article on to others without the author’s permission. 

NOTE: This essay contains various personal viewpoints.

I travel frequently and spend a lot of time with the officers and members of various genealogical societies. Almost everywhere I go, I hear stories of cultures diminishing in size, or maybe a few anecdotes about communities trying to keep what they have. Despite all of this "doom and gloom," I've heard a few unusual anecdotes about genealogical societies that are thriving and expanding year after year. Not only are these few societies recruiting new members, but they are also providing more and more services to their members with each passing year. 

Why do the majority of societies fail, while a few succeed?

I hear a variety of "reasons" why societies are diminishing these days. I assume those are not genuine reasons, but rather "shoot from the hip" justifications. Common justifications include "competition from the Internet," "the economy," and "people simply aren't interested anymore." 

To be sure, competition, economic obstacles, and even a lack of motivation are present everywhere. If society members and officers do nothing to counteract these tendencies, inertia takes hold and societies suffer. However, these factors affect all communities. Why do certain genealogy societies thrive and even expand, while others contract?

I believe the answer is a combination of several variables. However, looking back in time reveals some of the causes, and perhaps even some of the answers. Years ago, our forefathers witnessed and possibly contributed to similar issues in other sectors. Indeed, in recent years, even those of us alive today have witnessed similar falls and reversals in a variety of corporate ventures. Perhaps the solution to your genealogical society's future growth can be found by first reviewing the history of comparable difficulties in other fields of effort.

Here is the first question to consider: What happened to all of North America's railroads? 

The railroad industry in the United States expanded rapidly during the 1800s. In several aspects, it resembled today's Internet firms. Consumers couldn't get enough of the railroads' "product:" convenient and easy travel. People traveled to locations they had never been before, even if it was just to see family in another state. Corporations also rushed to ship their products by rail since it was more cost-effective.

Almost every year, inventors developed newer and more efficient locomotives. Steam came first, followed by petrol and diesel. Railroad cars used to transport passengers have also improved. Times were good, and America had a promising rail-based future.

So, what happened? Why isn't North America covered in train lines today? Why doesn't everyone use the railroad to travel to work?  

Railroad firms are now mere shadows of their former selves. Why? Because the automobile (and trucks) came along and ran the railroads down.

Senior managers of railroad corporations appeared to believe that "we are in the railroad business." In truth, they were in the transportation business, but few executives knew it. Over the years, just a few railroads have expanded into bus lines, trucking companies, even aircraft, and other transportation businesses. 

Railway Express serves as an excellent example. This corporation specialized in railroad freight brokerage and delivery, with a focus on smaller products that required far less transit than a full boxcar. Indeed, it was a "railroad company" that was eventually pushed bankrupt by a newer company that viewed the true business as carrying packages (parcels) by whatever means made sense: United Parcel Service. The new corporation, commonly known as "UPS," appears to be doing well ever since. FedEx came along later but added to the woes of railroads. 

The vast majority of railroad companies attempted to stay simply that: railroad companies. Then their executives inquired, "What happened to all the customers?"

The remainder of this article is reserved for Plus Edition subscribers only. If you have a Plus Edition subscription, you may read the full article at: https://eogn.com/(*)-Plus-Edition-News-Articles/13345775. (A Plus Edition password is required to access that article.)

If you are not yet a Plus Edition subscriber, you can learn more about such subscriptions and even upgrade to a Plus Edition subscription immediately at https://eogn.com/page-18077. 

In a 5-2 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that names and addresses contained in a state database of people who died are not subject to disclosure under the state's open records laws.

Justices decided that particular information is protected health info.

Former Columbus Dispatch reporter Randy Ludlow wanted cause-of-death information from the Ohio Department of Health at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The department provided some information but withheld the names and addresses of those who died, saying state law prohibited release of protected health information.

Writing for the majority, Justice Patrick Fischer said the names and addresses combined with other medical information would constitute protected health information.

The court rejected Ludlow's claim that while the law protects privacy for living people, it does not apply to deceased people.

DNA testing firm 23andMe Holding Co.’s shares soared after Chief Executive Officer Anne Wojcicki said she’s considering taking the struggling company private, less than three years after it began selling shares.

Wojcicki told board members she is proposing to acquire the company in a potential go-private transaction, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The stock, which has traded below $1 a share since late last year, rose as much as 33% on Thursday, the biggest jump since August 2022, before paring some of the gain.

23andMe agreed to go public in 2021 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company founded by billionaire Virgin Group founder Richard Branson. At the time, it was valued at $3.5 billion. In just a few years, the stock has lost more than 90% of its value as the personalized DNA revolution the company heralded has been slow to catch on.

In the filing, Wojcicki indicated that she plans to maintain control of the company and “will not be willing to support any alternative transaction.” The filing said she was working with advisers and intended to begin speaking to potential partners and financing sources. The Wednesday filing noted that she had informed members of a special committee of the board of the plan on April 13.

Company representatives declined to comment.

You can read more yahoo.com web site at: https://bit.ly/3Qx1RN5.

Few in government know “paperwork” quite like the staff of the National Archives. 

There, at the cavernous Archives II building on the outskirts of the University of Maryland’s campus in College Park, paper stacks are not something to be feared, but to be revered.

Unlike much of the federal bureaucracy, the National Archives and Records Administration isn’t in the business of eliminating its paper trails so much as making them last. The way to do that is by digitizing many of its 13 billion records with its own staff, equipment and gumption. Currently, only about 275 million, or 2%, is digitally catalogued. 

Much of NARA’s original textual records are available for viewing in-person only, or by requesting reproductions. The way the agency sees it, those invaluable original documents don’t do much good locked away in a temperature-controlled, gray-painted room.

So, by September 2026, NARA is aiming to digitize 500 million pages of records, and even more thereafter. It’s a herculean effort that wouldn’t be possible without the new $20 million, 18,000-square-foot Digitization Center located within a remodeled space in Archives II that is replete with text-scanning equipment, work space, sensitive cameras and upgrades to keep light and humidity damage to a minimum.

“With new high-speed scanners and a dedicated team of digitization staff, this new center is a game changer for the National Archives,” said Colleen Shogan, the 11th archivist of the U.S., on April 12 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It provides us a tenfold increase in our in-house scanning capacity and will help us make millions of original records accessible online for Americans everywhere.”

NARA’s plan fits within the Biden administration’s broader goal to lead a transparent, accessible and modern government. A number of executives ordersand memos have come down from the White House prodding agencies to have a digital presence that makes the public service experience seamless and efficient.For NARA, it’s not just about making the “cool” records searchable; it’s also about maintaining critical military records of past and present conflicts, preserving legal decisions for attorneys and researchers, and storing property records of places long since forgotten.

You can read more in an article by Molly Weisner published in the federaltimes.com web site at: https://bit.ly/3W30lpi.

The following announcement was written by the folks at Findmypast:

With updates to two record sets, it just got easier to enrich your family tree with those rich details that we're all searching for. 

From North Eastern baptisms to browsable images for 207 Royal and Imperial Calendars, there's so much to explore within this week's record release. Here's a full rundown of all that's been added, including an in-depth look at the 240,324 pages we've added to our newspaper collection. 

Britain, Royal and Imperial Calendars 1767-1973 Browse

If you've got ancestors who worked in the civil service or other state institutions between 1767 and 1973, these Calendars may provide you with more information.

You can now browse images of our collection of 207 Royal and Imperial Calendars, which are exclusive to Findmypast. This new browse function allows you to search by year, and access images for each page, including the detailed indexes at the beginning which help you to navigate the book.

Spanning over two centuries, these catalogs provide a detailed snapshot of life in Britain at different points in history. As each book's index indicates, the information detailed includes the members of the Royal Households, the High Commissioners in London, the Cabinet, the Treasury, and the names of all those employed in Public Departments. 

While the details included vary over the years, all of the catalogs list the names of people who worked for state agencies and institutions.

Although this browse-only collection cannot be searched by name, date, or keyword (you can use the Search collection of Calendars for that), filtering by year allows you to really delve into a particular time period. You can understand this rich source in its entirety by viewing the book as a whole, rather than just viewing individual entries.

A quick search for the year 1954 brings us to that year's Calendar book. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the household of the newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II, aged just 28. 

Under the entry for Buckingham Palace is a long list of noble figures, including the Earl of Scarbrough ('Lord Chamberlain'), the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon ('Lord Steward'), and the Duke of Beaufort (who was the 'Master of the Horse'). 

The Queen's Household in the Royal Calendar for 1954. Browse the book for yourself here.

The Queen's private secretaries are listed, in addition to the keepers of the archives and the palace's housekeeper, a Mrs J. M. Ferguson.

You can browse these books for yourself to explore your own family's connections to the Royal household. Although you might not be descended from high places, your ancestors could have played a more important role in Britain's history than you suspect, as royal household staff or state functionaries. 

Durham Baptisms

We've also added 12,656 records to our Durham Baptisms this week. These new records cover 11 parishes in Northumberland and Durham, spanning from 1560 to 1847. 

These parishes are: 

• Barnard Castle, St Mary
• Bothral, St Andrew
• Earsdon, St Alban
• Edlingham, St John the Baptist
• Esh Laude, St Michael RC
• Gainford, St Mary
• Grindon, St Thomas A Beckett
• Newcastle-upon-Tyne, St John the Baptist
• Rochester, Birdhopecraig Presbyterian
• Tynemouth, Christ Church
• Whitburn, St Mary

William Bailes, baptised on 4 November 1638 at Gainford, St Mary.

These transcription-only records contain the kind of key details that are the building blocks of a family tree. As the above record of William Bailes (b. 1638) indicates, you can expect to find the name of the baptised, the baptism date, the parish, and one or both parents' names. 

If you've got roots in the North East of England, the Durham Baptisms collection may well help to resolve some of your unanswered questions.

Discover the world of trotting and much more 

We've added 240,324 new pages to our newspaper collection this week. This includes four all-new titles and updates to an existing 32. 

Among this week's new additions is the Trotting World and Horse Review - a specialist title focused on, you guessed it, all things horse-related. It's a sporting publication, which described itself as a 'Journal devoted to the breeding, training and racing of trotters' upon its establishment in 1902.

Trotting World and Horse Review, 8 November 1930.

As its name suggests, trotting involves harnessed horses, pulling a two-wheeled cart, at trotting gait. Although trotting is less popular today than it was a century ago, it remains popular among select communities. 

Another notable new addition to our newspaper collection is Drakard's Stamford News, which was published by political radical John Drakard between 1809 and 1834. The publication was a platform for Drakard's radically progressive views - he spoke out about the dire living conditions in Britain and also took a stand on corporal punishment in the British Army. 

Drakard's Stamford News, 6 October 1809.

His mission was to tell the public of 'the real situation of the Country in which they live', so that they could 'test... the capacity and integrity of their Rulers'. 

This, of course, made him unpopular with the British elite. In addition to facing numerous libel suits, he served 18 months in prison for his article on corporal punishment. In response to views expressed in Drakard's Stamford News, he was also the victim of a public horsewhipping by Robert Brudenell, the sixth Earl of Cardigan.

Among this week's updated titles is the Manchester Evening News, to which we've added over 36,000 new pages. Over 30,000 pages have also been added to the Welsh edition of the Liverpool Daily Post.

Here is a full rundown of all that we've added.

New titles:

Updated titles:

What has your research uncovered? Whether you've solved a family mystery or managed to track down an elusive ancestor, we'd love to hear about the discoveries you've made. You can now tell us directly using this form.

Family Tree Magazine (familytreemagazine.com) has published a new book, “Genealogist’s Guide to Getting Organized,” a good guide for all of us whether you have decades of genealogy research papers, or just a few.

It’s always important to have best practices in mind.

This 102-page, softcover book starts with “Top Secrets” from professional genealogists sharing how they have stayed organized. Tips include keeping a research log, recording what you find — and also where you did not find anything — using research checklists, and using systems that work for you.

Next comes “Habits to Make,” like citing your sources, making time to keep things organized, and keeping a master family tree, among others.

You can read more in an article by Kenneth H. Thomas Jr published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution web site at: https://bit.ly/3xR7Q8A

A California lawmaker has unveiled plans for a 'Genealogy Office' to decide which residents are genuine descendants of slaves and could get life-changing benefits payouts.

Steven Bradford, a Democratic state Senator for LA County, proposed bill SB 1403 to create a controversial genealogy unit to 'confirm reparations eligibility' of applicants.

The state's first-in-the-nation reparations task force last year decided that some residents should win $1.2 million payouts as compensation for injustices from the slavery era onwards.

But lawmakers have struggled to turn those plans into reality, and have advanced several bills to devise a working reparations scheme amid fears of spiralling costs in a cash-strapped state. 

Bradford's bill, which was amended this month, aims to solve the problem of working out who is in line for a payout.

Its planned genealogy team would 'support potential reparations claimants by providing access to expert genealogical research to confirm reparations eligibility,' says the bill.

It would also offer 'expedited assistance with the reparations claims process.'

You can read more in an article by by James Reinl published in the dailymail.co.uk web site at: http://bit.ly/3Q6ol7e.

On April 8, I published an article telling how to obtain email messages listing all the newly-published articles on this web site. If you would like to read that article again, you can find it at: https://eogn.com/page-18080/13340293.

The new procedure seems to be working well. I have even received a few email messages thanking me for the article and the new service from Blogtrottr. However, is it possible that you would like to receive the email messages in a somewhat different format? Perhaps you would like receive more or fewer email messages per day? (2/4/6/8/12 hourly or daily digests of those email messages are available.) Perhaps you would prefer to have those email messages sent to a different email address? Perhaps you would prefer to read those new email messages in a Firefox feed reader? Perhaps you would prefer to have the option of adding static text or tags to the email subject?

Or perhaps you would prefer to unsubscribe from those messages? (Horrors!) Details for all that may be found at: https://blogtrottr.com/help/.

Or perhaps you would prefer to not see the advertisements in those messages? (That costs a little bit of money.) Instructions may be found at: https://blogtrottr.com/pricing/.

Seen on the back of an automobile today:

“HISTORY BUFF"
“I’d find you to be more interesting if you were dead."

Does anyone know where I can find one of those bumper stickers?  I want one!

The Department of History at the University of Limerick, Ireland is delighted to invite you to an event entitled 'Researching and Studying the History of the Family' on Thursday, 18 April 2024 from 1200-1430 (UTC+1 – Irish Summer Time - for those outside of Ireland click here to see what time this is for you https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Researching+and+Studying+the+History+of+the+Family&iso=20240418T12&p1=1964&ah=2&am=30). This event will appeal to anyone interested in history, including genealogists and family historians.

Part of the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival, this 2.5-hour seminar with staff and students of the MA History of Family will provide you with a sense of what researching and studying the history of family involves. Participants are invited to attend in person at the Special Collections & Archives Training Room (GL0-068), Glucksman Library, University of Limerick or you are welcome to attend online via Microsoft Teams.

View the programme and register to participate in the event.

https://www.ul.ie/artsoc/events/researching-and-studying-the-history-of-the-family

If you have any queries or issues registering, please contact rachela.murphy@ul.ie. We look forward to welcoming you on the day.