Some say as many as one in seven Americans have family roots in Brooklyn, and I expect the newly digitized Brooklyn city directories now available through the Internet Archive will get heavy use from genealogists, historians, authors, journalists, students, and even artists to trace connections to the diverse and ever-changing borough.

What is now the Center for Brooklyn History first joined the Internet Archive’s Community Websprogram in 2017 as part of the original cohort. This program gave us the tools and training we needed to save over 2TB of web-based Brooklyn history content, including over 1,000 individual URLs. We also host our digitized high school newspapers and audiovisual material on the Internet Archive.

In addition to helping us preserve this web-based content, Community Webs has now also made it possible to increase access to our physical collections through digitization. As part of the Collaborative Access to Diverse Public Library Local History Collections project, made possible by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, we were able to partner with the Internet Archive to digitize 236 microfiche sheets of Brooklyn city directories. 

You can read more in an article by Anna Trammell published in the Internet Archive Blogs at: https://eogn.com/page-18080/13411081

An excellent collection of pictures of Dr. Schweitzer's life may be found at: https://tinyurl.com/2nu6wyz3.

The 3-day global family history gathering will be March 6-8, 2025, both in person and online.

Details are available at https://tinyurl.com/uuwkhtf3.

Note: I am a fan of Chromebooks and Chromeboxes and have written about them several times. The following is the latest info by Robby Payne about Chromebooks and Chromeboxes:

Well, folks, the day is here and we’re in New York for the semi-annual Chromebook Showcase. If the past two events are anything to go by, there are quite a few things to expect at this event, including new Chromebook hardware and maybe some updates on new features on the way to ChromeOS as well.

The hardware

I’ve said it before, but there are quite a few Chromebooks I’m looking forward to this fall. Most of them are simply hopes – a new HP x360 14c, Lenovo Flex 5i, Lenovo Slim 3i, or maybe even a new ASUS CM34 Flip – but a couple are definitely a reality.

Chief among those we know are on the way are the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus and the new Lenovo Chromebook Duet. Both of these devices have 100% been confirmed and I’d bet good money on the fact that they will be at the event for sure.

The other devices I listed above would be an awesome surprise, but I’m not holding my breath on those. For better or worse, I simply don’t have a lot of proof that any of those devices are actually on the way at this point, so I have very little confidence we’ll see any of them at this event. You never know, though, right?

New software updates

On the software side of things, I’m expecting a few updates to ChromeOS that we’ve been keeping eyes on over the past few months in the Beta and Developer channels. The first I’m expecting is a change to the Gemini app to make it even more a baked-in part of the OS.

With the Galaxy Chromebook Plus clearly having both an Assistant key and a Dictation key, it seems Google and Samsung are working towards a bit deeper of an integration with Gemini on ChromeOS. A few small updates to the Gemini PWA could easily make that happen in a seamless fashion.

I’m also hoping to see a bit more about the latest Google Photos update that specifically made the video editing a bit better. I’ve not yet received that update on my phone, but I know its on the way. With Chromebooks getting some of the initial video editor features first in past updates, I’m hopeful there are some special treats for Chromebook users who leverage the Google Photos app for a bit of simple video creation.

And finally, I’d expect to hear a bit about deeper Gemini integration throughout the OS. I’m not talking about calling up the chat app with Samsung’s Assistant key; I’m talking more about features akin to ‘Help me write’ that slip in a bit of AI smarts where you need it, when you need it.

With the move to the Android kernel, I’m sure we’ll eventually see a time where new AI tricks on Pixel phones hit Chromebooks immediately, but we’re not quite there yet. For now, I’d love to see Chromebooks continue to utilize AI tools right in the OS in helpful ways that many users may not even recognize. Oh, and I’d love to see some new Chromebook Plus wallpapers, too.

The following announcement was written by rootstrust

Chromebooks have become ubiquitous in the last few years. You can buy a very respectable Chromebook with a 14” screen, 4 GB of RAM and a 64 GB SSD or eMMC (solid state drive) for around $200. Let’s call this configuration the minimal Chromebook. Chromebooks run Google’s ChromeOS operating system which is similar enough to Windows, macOS and Linux that an experienced computer user can become proficient at it in a relatively short period of time.

ChromeOS users by default have access to Google Docs, YouTube and Google Drive. Due to the popularity of the Chromebook, more cloud based, ChromeOScompatible applications are becoming available, for example Microsoft Office 365, Spotify, Netflix and VLC.

The minimal Chromebook is so popular due to its reasonable price, however its limited memory and internal storage can be restrictive when it comes to selecting Linux software applications to augment the ChromeOS suite of apps.

Earlier versions of ChromeOS supported an application programming interface for developing native ChromeOS software, however Google took away that capability several years ago. Now if you want to develop your own applications for a Chromebook, you have to turn to Linux. As opposed to cloud base applications, these programs reside on the Chromebook.

If you would like to run Linux applications under ChromeOS, you can turn on the ‘Linux development environment’ in ChromeOS settings which triggers the installation of a skeletal version of Debian Linux that they call Crostini. Crostini is not a complete operating system having no utilities, apps or GUI (graphical user interface) – all you get is a command line interface called Penguin. However, via Penguin you can add utilities, apps and a file manager like nemo which has its own limited GUI desktop.

There are few full-featured genealogy programs available for Linux and fewer still that can adapt to the limited resources of a minimal Chromebook. rootstrust since it appeared on the market in 2013 has always been available preinstalled on a universal flash drive, that is a flash drive that is usable on Windows, macOS and Linux. Recently, ChromeOS/Crostini has been added to that list. When rootstrust runs from a universal flash drive, it uses only the processor and the internal memory (RAM) of the host computer but none of its internal storage (SSD/eMMC). This is especially significant for a minimal Chromebook, since rootstrust database and its associated File Cabinets (its collection of linked document and multimedia files) can take up as much as 28 GB if storage space for a database of 10,000 persons.

The rootstrust icons on the nemo desktop running under ChromeOS/Crostini

Most Chromebooks are equipped with either an SD or a microSD card reader slot.

rootstrust is also available preinstalled on a universal SDXC or microSDXC memory cards that function the same way as the universal flash drives. Using one of these cards on a Chromebook frees up the USB port that would be otherwise housing the universal rootstrust flash drive. Each universal memory card comes with a memory card to USB adapter that has a USB-A plug at one end and a USB-C plug at the other end. When either an SD card or microSD card has been inserted into the adapter, it can function as a pseudo flash drive. Why do you need a flash drive if you are running rootstrust from a memory card? Answer: In case you would like to run rootstrust on a different computer that has no card reader.

If you want to either install rootstrust on ChromeOS/Crostini or run it from a flash drive or memory card, you will have to do the following:

1. Turn on Linux Development Environment.

2. Install the nemo file manager or a different one of your choice.

3. Install a text editor and the necessary apps for displaying/editing word processing files, PDFs, image files and video files.

rootstrust.com has detailed, step-by-step instructions with multiple screenshots forthese operations in a downloadable PDF file. In addition, the website has a collection of ten YouTube videos covering the same material.

rootstrust running from a microSDXC card on a minimal Chromebook

Screen capture of the above ChromeOS/Crostini session

As the 2024 election cycle ramps up, at least 26 states have passed or are considering bills regulating the use of generative AI in election-related communications, a new analysis by Axios shows.

Why it matters: The review lays bare a messy patchwork of rules around the use of genAI in politics, as experts increasingly sound the alarm on the evolving technology's power to sway or disenfranchise voters. 

• There have already been instances of generative AI being "used to confuse — and even suppress — voters," Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) told Axios in an email.
• "I don't think genAI developers or platforms are taking the misuse potential serious enough," added Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Catch up quick: In January, a spate of fake robocalls in New Hampshire used an AI-generated impersonation of Biden's voice to urge Democrats not to vote in the state's primary.

• In another high-profile incident, last July a super PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP primary used AI to imitate Trump's voice in an ad attacking him. The Trump campaign slammed the ad as a "desperate attempt" to "deceive the American public."

The big picture: There are few federal guardrails in place to regulate the use of AI — even President Biden's AI executive order is largely voluntary, with little enforcement power.

• Senators have introduced two bills to regulate genAI in election campaigns, but they've yet to pass — even as many Americans fear the technology will hurt elections.

• You can read more at: https://www.axios.com/2024/09/22/ai-regulation-election-laws-map

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton are some of the most prominent figures in pop culture, and the fact that Dolly is Miley's godmother is truly the gift that keeps giving. Case in point: Dolly's stint on Hannah Montana, Miley introducing Dolly's fan-favorite track "Jolene" to a whole new generation, and the pair joining forces to host a New Year's Eve special and perform "Wrecking Ball" in 2023. Oh, and of course, we can't forget that they both appeared on Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter earlier this year. TL;DR: Miley and Dolly are part of a legendary family—and aside from being an iconic godmother-goddaughter duo, they're actually related.

According to a new report from Ancestry.com, Miley and Dolly are seventh cousins, once removed, meaning their cowboy boots and southern roots go waaay back. Here's the breakdown: in the 1700s, Dolly's 6th great-grandfather and Miley's 7th great-grandfather, John Brickey, lived within a 20-mile radius from what we currently know and love as Dollywood in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains. Per the report, Brickey was born in Virginia and later moved to Blount County, Tennessee with his wife and children.

Details may be found at: https://tinyurl.com/44es7z9u.

Qiagen announced “that Bode Technology, the largest private U.S. forensics laboratory company with a growing presence in other regions, would become the exclusive global commercial partner for the GEDmatch PRO genealogy database, which is used to assist police and forensic teams with investigative comparisons of genetic data.” The multi-year agreement between QIAGEN’s subsidiary Verogen and Bode extends the long-standing partnership of two leading companies in forensic investigative genetic genealogy or FIGG, to further accelerate the use of GEDmatch PRO in law enforcement and identification of human remains. QIAGEN has been providing GEDmatch PRO to customers since the early 2023 acquisition of its subsidiary Verogen, a proven leader in equipping forensic science laboratories and criminal investigators to use next-generation sequencing,NGS, to gain deeper insights…As part of the partnership, Bode will manage all commercial transactions for GEDmatch PRO globally, while QIAGEN will continue to develop new features with input from Bode’s genealogy experts. Bode will maintain the highest level of data security as GEDmatch PRO users will continue to own their case data and no additional identifying information will be shared with Bode. QIAGEN’s subsidiary will continue to have sole responsibility and manage the separate GEDmatch consumer database and its free DNA comparison-and-analysis website, which are not affected by this partnership.

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

Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan has announced that the National Archives will add the 19th Amendment - which removed restrictions for women to vote - to the permanent display of the Charters of Freedom in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, in March 2026. 

“The 19th Amendment enabled the largest enfranchisement in the history of the United States, removing voting restrictions for more than half of all Americans. We are adding it, and the Emancipation Proclamation, to the Charters of Freedom in the National Archives Rotunda to share a more complete story of our nation's ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union,” Shogan said. “I am thrilled we are adding these documents as we celebrate 250 years of the United States of America. I look forward to welcoming all Americans to experience first-hand this engaging history on display.” 

Enlarge

Joint Resolution of Congress proposing a constitutional amendment that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” June 4, 1919. National Archives Identifier 596314.

View in National Archives Catalog

Passed by Congress on June 4, 1919; ratified on August 18, 1920; and certified on August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment is celebrated as the culmination of over eight decades of advocacy by the woman suffrage movement. To learn more about this milestone document, visit the National Archives Catalog. Visit the National Archives DocsTeach site to read the transcript and find educational resources about the 19th Amendment.

New encasements will be added to the Rotunda of the National Archives Building to permanently house the 19th Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation alongside the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. Shogan previously announcedthat the Emancipation Proclamation will be added to the Rotunda in January 2026. 

The National Archives Foundation, the nonprofit partner of the National Archives, is generously supporting the creation of the new encasements and related programs to support the displays. Visit archivesfoundation.orgfor more information.

These additions to the Rotunda will be celebrated as part of the nation’s semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026. The National Archives is hosting a nationwide, multi-year celebration in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Known as Declaration250, the celebration includes activities around the country and online. For more information on how you can join the celebration, go to Declaration250.gov.

The National Archives Building in Washington, DC, is located at 701 Constitution Avenue, NW. The Rotunda and exhibit spaces are open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily with free admission. Metro: Yellow or Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial station. Plan your visit at visit.archives.gov.

About the National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our government so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries and online at www.archives.gov. 

About the National Archives Foundation
The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at www.archivesfoundation.org.

The National Archives has been in the news lately, not so much for what is in its collection, but for what was missing. After former President Donald Trump and then-Vice President Biden held on to records when they left office that should have been sent to the Archives… we wanted to know more… about the small federal agency in charge of safeguarding America's past.

After a few months inside, we came to appreciate that the Archives are the country's safety deposit box, reading room, and paper shredder rolled into one.

At the heart of the institution are the documents that have been at the heart of the nation, for nearly 250 years.

Colleen Shogan: (footsteps) There's 39 steps here that lead up to the entrance. And that's 39 framers who signed the Constitution.

Norah O'Donnell: Oh, wow. Look at this.

Colleen Shogan, the archivist of the United States, is responsible for America's records. The main attractions are in a building in Washington that was inspired by ancient Rome, and built to be a temple to history.

Each year, more than a million people make the trip to see these national treasures in person.

Norah O'Donnell: This building, the Rotunda, was built as a shrine for many of these documents. But they didn't arrive until later.

Colleen Shogan: That's correct. The building was completed in 1937. But the Declaration and the Constitution did not arrive till 1952. 

They were in the possession of the Library of Congress, which refused to turn them over, until President Truman got involved...and they were delivered from Capitol Hill by the U.S. military.

You can read a lot more in an article by Norah O’Donnell published in the 60 minutes web site at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-archives-history-60-minutes-transcript/.