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

Japanese Instrument of Surrender The Japanese Instrument of Surrender ended World War II on September 2, 1945. In the surrender, Japan formally agreed to the terms set forth in the Potsdam Declaration, and ordered a cessation of hostilities of all Japanese forces.  There are additional instruments of surrender that were carried out at other areas under Japanese control, including South Korea, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and other Pacific islands. The Japanese Instrument of Surrender will go on view as a Featured Document Display at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Japanese Instrument of Surrender, page 1, September 2, 1945.  NAID: 1752336 We Can Do It! This iconic poster presents a powerful image of a woman war worker's strength and determination during World War II.  In 1942, the Westinghouse Company's War Production Coordinating Committee hired Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller to create a series of posters for the war effort. His "We Can Do It!" poster was initially used only internally by Westinghouse; it resurfaced decades after the war and soon became associated with the "Rosie the Riveter" moniker. Click here to explore more historical posters and graphic works held by the National Archives. “We can do it!” poster, ca. 1942. NAID: 535413 Pieces of History: USS Indianapolis July 30, 2025, marked the 80th anniversary of the sinking of USS Indianapolis (CA-35), a Portland-class heavy cruiser secretly tasked with delivering parts of the first atomic bomb to the Pacific Island of Tinian during World War II.  With its task completed, on the night of July 30, 1945, two weeks before the end of the war, while sailing from Guam to Leyte, the Indianapolis was torpedoed twice by a Japanese submarine. The crew of 1,199 men ended up in the waters of the Pacific. Accounts of the disaster are preserved in oral histories of those who survived. USS Indianapolis (CA-35) - Cruiser. NAID: 496082659

Michelle Henry, a research historian with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is being recognized by the state’s Genealogical and Biographical Society. The Preservation in Action: The Power of One award honors leaders and trendsetters whose “cutting edge” work inspires, educates and has a lasting impact on the genealogy and family history field.

Michelle Henry began her history career as the director of the Chautauqua County Historical Society in Westfield. In 1996 she was hired by County Clerk Sandra Sopak to organize the historical records maintained by the county. With the help of numerous federal, state, and local grants, a state-of-the-art archival program was established.

Chautauqua County became the first county in the United States to receive an award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society for making historical records available to researchers. In 2000, Henry was named County Historian, a post she held until she retired in 2023.

Henry was the recipient of the Julia Reinstein Awarded for Excellence in the Field of Public History in 2011 and in 2012 she received the Wheeler B. Melius Award for Excellence in Establishing a Records Management Program for the county. Michelle is one of only two historians in Chautauqua County that is a certified Registered Historian. She has served as a consultant for the state’s Museum Collection Assessment Program, working with and advising small museums in Western New York.

The county’s history has been featured in many articles written by Henry, published in state and regional magazines, and she has given talks throughout New York and Pennsylvania on local history and historical records.

Founded in 1869, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) is the oldest and largest genealogical society in New York State.Researchers can search records on the Society’s website at:  www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org

Folklore, true crime, buried treasure and Elvis.

These are among the stories Oxford County residents have recounted as the southwestern Ontario regional municipality celebrates its 175th anniversary. 

To mark the special milestone, Oxford County has launched a new book titled, Growing Stronger Together: A Celebration of Oxford County's Past. The project was born during the COVID pandemic, when the county's archivists started a blog to gather stories of the region's past. As the blog continued to grow, they decided to put it all into a unique local history book. 

CBC's Afternoon Drive guest host Kate Adach spoke to Oxford County archivist Liz Dommasch to learn more about the project. 

The following has been edited for length and clarity: 

Kate Adach: What has it been like to see these stories pour in, and to work on this project?

Liz Dommasch: Honestly, this has been a long time coming and since the pandemic, essentially when we started our blog, we kind of knew we wanted to pull it together into a book. But we also knew that although we're experts of the county's history, I wouldn't say we know everything about it. Hence why we reached out to others to collaborate on this project. 

There were some we knew, there were some that were obviously new to us, which is always exciting because we're always learning new things. And I just think overall it's a great representation of the county as a whole and some of the really unique stories within it.

KA: Can you tell me how it works? People submit a story and then, as an archivist, do you look for documents to kind of verify their story?

LD: We left it up to the contributors. Many were already in the heritage field — local museums or heritage groups — so they kind of already knew what they were doing. And then some of the articles are honestly people's personal recollections of growing up in the county. So we kind of left it to them to provide the accuracy. But we have an inkling about most of the stories, so we knew we were on the right track.

KA: What surprised you the most about what you heard?

LD: There's definitely a lot of really quirky stories, which are kind of neat things that you wouldn't necessarily think about. I mean, we had a supposed pond monster in Ingersoll in the 1800s. We have not one, but two stories of buried treasure. Obviously we have a lot of stories about some of the crimes that happen in the county — some really gruesome — and then some on the funnier side.

And then we also have generic histories of the county itself, so the county's government, buildings like the courthouse and the jail, and famous people, or maybe not-so-famous that will hopefully become famous after people read the book.

KA: You mentioned two stories of buried treasure?

LD: Yes! We have one story of alleged buried gold near Springford, which is in the south part of the county, and then another similar story but up near Beachville. Both claim that there was gold during the War of 1812 that was buried by soldiers. Another one was gold that was stolen sometime during the night when soldiers were supposed to be looking over it.

Over the years, people have claimed to come look for it. We had one gentleman with a story about 1929 who claimed he had psychic abilities and one of the deceased soldiers told him where the treasure was buried if he ever were to find it. I don't know if it's ever been found or if it's still there.

KA: It's funny, on one hand you left the stories up to people to share. But at the same time, I hear you say "alleged," as if the archivist in you wonders about the stories' credibility?

LD: Well, when it comes to the folklore stories, they're great just as stories. But again, a lot of them are kind of up there with the facts. For example, the one we've been teasing with the book is about Elvis. And people often think, what does Elvis have to do with Oxford County? But in our county courthouse, in the tower, there are hundreds of signatures on the wall from people who visited the courthouse over the years. And one of those so-called signatures up there is "Elvis Presley," and it's dated September 1957. 

Now, we know for a fact that he actually was in Canada in 1957, he had a show in Toronto. However, the signature says Elvis Presley September 1957, but he performed in Toronto in April. So, I mean, it's a very far stretch to think that he stopped in Oxford. The fable has gone so far as to say that he came in town in his pink Cadillac, had been arrested for speeding and spent the night in jail. But again, there is no way of knowing, but it's a fun story to share. 

KA: For people who want to check out the book, where can they do that and learn more?

LD: The book is for sale at the archives as well as the Ingersoll and Tillsonburg branches of the Oxford County library, and then it's also on sale at our county administration building.

For the first time in more than 30 years, the Wyoming State Archives is updating its service fees to support the long-term preservation and accessibility of Wyoming’s irreplaceable public records.

The new fee schedule, which takes effect Sept. 1, reflects rising operational costs and decades of technological advancement, according to a news release. Archives officials said the adjustments are modest, carefully considered, and essential to maintaining the high level of service, security, and stewardship the public expects from the state’s official repository.

“While much has changed in how we preserve and share records, our fees have not kept pace,” Wyoming State Archivist Sara Davis said in the release. “These updates allow us to meet today’s needs while planning for tomorrow’s access.”

Since the early 1990s, the State Archives has provided reliable access to essential records, from property deeds and court documents to historical photographs and oral histories, serving researchers, legal professionals, government agencies, and the general public. Over that time, utilities, insurance, technology, and staffing costs have increased significantly, while the State Archives’ fee structure remained largely unchanged.

The updated fees will help sustain critical services such as digitization, research assistance, and document reproduction, all while keeping core offerings affordable and accessible. Self-service copying options, including microfilm reader prints, will remain at 25 cents per page. More specialized services, such as high-resolution digital scans or in-depth research assistance, will see modest increases aligned with peer institutions nationwide.

Under the new schedule, staff-made black and white copies will cost $1.25 per page, digital photograph scans will be $15 per image, and research assistance beyond an initial 30 minutes will be available at $40 per hour. The State Archives emphasized that fees continue to operate at cost-recovery levels and that public funding still covers a large portion of access and preservation efforts, the release states.

Revenue from these updates will help modernize digital preservation systems, improve public access tools, and support staff expertise, ensuring the State Archives can serve Wyoming citizens for decades to come. It will also sustain outreach programs such as the State Archives Speaker Series and the Roving Archivist Program, which help local communities care for their historical collections.

“We’re committed to providing accessible, meaningful connections to Wyoming’s past,” Davis said. “These changes support that mission while keeping our services responsive, sustainable, and rooted in public value.”

The full fee schedule is available online at wyoarchives.wyo.gov/index.php/get-a-copy/copy-prices-and-rules, and State Archives staff will assist patrons during the transition.

The Wyoming State Archives, a division of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, is the permanent repository for state government records and provides access to materials documenting the lives, landscapes, and legacy of Wyoming and its people.

Wyoming State Archives is located at 2301 Central Ave. in the Barrett Building in Cheyenne. For more information, visit wyoarchives.wyo.gov.

The Detre Library and Archives, located at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, will launch a new series of genealogy workshops, with the first scheduled to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12.

The workshops will focus on family histories of blue-collar workers — steel mills, glass factories and beyond.

The first installment will be entitled, Blue-Collar Ancestry: Tracing Your Steelworker Roots. Each segment will explore a specific industry, with a focus on locating key genealogical records to illuminate the working lives of blue-collar ancestors, officials stated. 

The first session will focus on Western Pennsylvania steelworkers and the rich, often underutilized, historical sources that can help reconstruct their lives. Professional genealogist Kate Townsend will guide participants through essential records and research strategies, including how to find employment files, union records, company newsletters, historic photographs and more. Local archivists will deliver lightning talks showcasing lesser-known resources within their collections that hold significant genealogical value related to the steel industry.

The program will highlight the center’s multi-year partnership with Ancestry.com, to digitize more than 100,000 employee files from the Jones and Laughlin Steel Pittsburgh Works. A significant portion of these records is searchable online, offering a rare opportunity to explore the individual experiences of steelworkers across generations. Admission will be $5 for history center members and $10 for non-members.

This will be a hybrid program. Attendees can participate online or in-person.

For information or to purchase tickets, visit heinzhistorycenter.org/events.

Wiltshire folk are rightly proud of their roots – and now residents can find out just how Wiltshire their surname truly is.

A comprehensive new study from UK family history website Findmypast uses millions of digitised local census and parish records dating back to the 1500s.

The study reveals which surnames have the deepest historical roots, which are now rarely seen, and offers insights into jobs and movement over time.

Some surnames go back centuries and appear frequently in parish records from as early as the time of Henry VIII.

Smyth, Whatley, Pinchine (or Pinchin) and Marchant are some of the surnames that have strong links to our county.

Wiltshire’s ancient trades are etched into its names. In the 1500s, surnames like Stone, Baker, Carter, and Cooper reflected occupations that built the region — from masonry and agriculture to food and barrel-making.

The surname Stone, for instance, nods to the long history of quarrying and stonecraft around Salisbury Plain.

By the 19th and 20th centuries, names like Jones, Williams, Thomas, and Davis surged into Wiltshire’s top rankings.

These are classic Welsh surnames, and their increasing presence points to migration from Wales and the border counties — likely drawn by opportunities in railway works, agriculture, and the cloth industry.

Jones, for example, moved from 16th in rank in the 1500s to 2nd most popular by 1911.

Some surnames, such as Tucker, Tompson, Stephens (or Stevens) are sadly in decline, however, due to migration and marriage patterns over time, with more localised names eroding as generations move away to find work.

Yet some surnames have increased in popularity over time in Wiltshire. One striking example of this is Webb – which rose in rank from 19th most popular in the 1500s to become its eighth most prevalent by 1911 and further to 6th by 1921.

Jen Baldwin, research specialist at Findmypast, said: “This research gives us more than just name statistics — it’s a map of cultural change through Wiltshire’s rich and varied past.

“Surnames carry the voices of our ancestors, the geography of forgotten villages, and the legacy of occupations, dialects, and kinship.

“Tracing their rise and fall offers a fresh window into Britain’s evolving identity, as well as unlocking clues in piecing together your own family’s story.

“Now, it’s as easy as typing in your surname on Findmypast to start delving into your roots.”

Explore Your Wiltshire Surname

To see how your surname ranks across time — or where it first appears — visit www.findmypast.co.uk/surname

Simply type in your surname and explore billions of historical records in an instant.

The following is a press release written by the folks at Landon Capital Partners:

The acquisition marks a milestone for iMemories and brings high-quality digitization and subscription-based apps to Ancestry’s 3.7 million subscribers.

Landon Capital Partners (“LCP”), a leading lower-middle-market private equity firm, alongside its partner Greens Farms Capital, announced on July 31, 2025, the sale of iMemories to Ancestry.

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, iMemories has digitized more than 100 million memories for over one million families across the U.S. and is the market leader in this space. Ancestry, based in Lehi, UT, is the world leader in family history and consumer genomics. The acquisition brings together two category-defining platforms with a shared mission: to help families preserve special moments across generations.

Since LCP’s investment in 2022, iMemories has doubled EBITDA, expanded internationally and upgraded its technology, operations and customer reach. LCP added value through its active, strategic advisory role at board level, while iMemories’ best-in-class management team was instrumental in the successful execution of the strategy.

Sundip Murthy, Managing Partner at LCP, said: “We are pleased with our partnership with the iMemories team and the company’s tremendous value creation. This is another successful exit for LCP in a challenging M&A environment, which speaks to the quality of the business and the strength of the management team. Ancestry is an ideal and complementary buyer for iMemories, and we are excited for the future of the combined businesses.”

Mark Rukavina, Founder & CEO of iMemories, said: “We’re grateful to Landon Capital Partners and Greens Farms Capital for their support and strategic guidance. As part of Ancestry, we can now weave every photo, film reel, and videotape we restore into the broader story of where a family comes from – bringing historical discoveries to life in vivid color and motion. By combining iMemories’ AI-enhanced media platform with Ancestry’s unrivaled historical data and DNA insights, we will give millions of families an end-to-end heritage experience that both preserves their memories and brings them powerfully to life for generations to come.”

Michael Kessler, Founder and Managing Partner at Greens Farms Capital, who served as Chairman of iMemories during the investment period, said: “Since Landon Capital Partners’ and Greens Farms Capital’s investment, the exceptional team at iMemories – led by Mark Rukavina and Steve Krell – made strategic investments in infrastructure, international expansion, and AI-focused product innovation to scale the business and elevate the consumer experience. The results have been impressive, with the company exceeding its planned growth objectives while continuing to build momentum for the future. It has been a privilege to work alongside such visionary entrepreneurs during this period of transformational progress.”

Landon Capital Partners invested in iMemories in partnership with Greens Farms Capital and iMemories’ management, bringing institutional credibility and deep operational experience to an already successful business. From day one, the firm worked closely with iMemories’ leadership team, to provide strategic input while empowering existing management to lead day-to-day execution. Throughout its 3.5-year investment period, LCP maintained an active role as majority board representative on behalf of the firm’s family-office investors, contributing financial and strategic guidance and helping the business exceed its financial goals.

The buyer, Ancestry, is the global leader in family history and consumer genomics. The company sees the acquisition of iMemories as a natural extension of its existing offerings, allowing its 3.7 million subscribers the opportunity to further enrich their family storytelling experience through preserved visual media.

Howard Hochhauser, President and CEO of Ancestry, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome iMemories to the Ancestry family. Their technology and customer-first approach align perfectly with our mission to help people discover, preserve and share their family stories. Together, we’ll give millions of families the ability to bring their cherished memories to life in a whole new way.”

JEGI CLARITY + LEONIS acted as exclusive financial advisor to iMemories in connection with the transaction. Lowenstein Sandler LLP and Goulston & Storrs served as legal advisors to the Company. Each of these firms played a pivotal role in running an efficient and competitive process that culminated in a successful outcome for all parties.

About iMemories

iMemories is the largest and most trusted digitizer of analog home movies and photos. A pioneer in streaming personal memories on any device via its iMemories Cloud, the company pairs industry-leading scanning with proprietary AI enhancement to revive decades-old reels, tapes, and prints in stunning clarity and resolution. Honored among Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2023, iMemories has safeguarded more than 100 million memories since 2005 from its Scottsdale, Arizona headquarters. Discover how iMemories preserves, enriches, and shares life’s moments at www.imemories.com.

About Landon Capital Partners

Landon Capital Partners is a U.S.-based private equity firm with offices in Boston, Palm Beach and London. Founded in 2015, LCP is backed by a network of global family offices and focuses on control investing and scaling lower-middle market companies across North America. LCP’s patient and flexible approach allows it to be an ideal investor for founders, entrepreneurs and other sponsors that are seeking an active partner to guide long-term strategic growth. Since inception, the firm has made 18 platform investments, with a consistent focus on operational value creation and strategic partnership.

[www.landoncapital.com]

About Greens Farms Capital

Greens Farms Capital, based in Westport, CT, is a private investment firm that partners with founders and management teams of high-potential businesses to drive growth and long-term value. Greens Farms makes control and non-control investments in growing lower-middle market companies in business services, software and technology, and media and marketing services.

[https://www.greensfarmscapital.com/]

The following announcement wass written by the folks at MyHeritage:

LiveMemory™ just got even cooler — and I think you’ll love what’s new! We’ve added 11 creative new effects to the feature that turns your family photos into short, animated video clips. From Selfie with Lincoln to Deep-sea Diver and Synchronized Dance, these additions bring even more personality and fun to your old family snapshots. Plus, the AI tech behind LiveMemory™ has been upgraded, so the animations now look more lifelike and stay truer to facial features. Whether you're in the mood for silly or sentimental, there's something here that will spark a smile — and maybe even go viral. We’ve reset the free uses, so even those who have tried out LiveMemory™ before can give it another go at no cost. Give the updated feature a spin and share it with your readers or followers. We’ve included some fun examples in the blog post.

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

From the Stacks: An Unsolved Mystery from the Sky The National Archives at Seattle holds the 1971 FBI report for one of the most high-profile U.S. District Attorney’s Cases for the Western District of Washington: Case CR-0451, the infamous skyjacking case involving the alias “D.B. Cooper.”  On Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 bound for Seattle from Portland, OR, Cooper handed a flight attendant a note indicating that he had an explosive device. He demanded $200,000 in exchange for the safe return of all the passengers on board. After receiving the money, he jumped from the back of the plane with a parachute somewhere between Seattle and Reno, NV. Optimistic that the case would be solved quickly, the U.S. Attorney’s office opened the file under this placeholder name, and D.B. Cooper was never found. The investigative case file contains photographs and the initial sketch of the suspect. There are also detailed experiments conducted by the U.S. Air Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to determine how the theft was pulled off. A document from U.S. Attorney’s Case File for the skyjacking case involving the alias “D.B. Cooper,” dated 1971. NAID: 325594129 Dead Sea Scrolls In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd stumbled upon a remarkable discovery in the Judaean Desert–the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Over the next decade, this chance finding would lead to the unearthing of thousands of manuscript fragments from 11 caves near the ancient site of Qumran, dating back two millennia. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, invites you to its Special Exhibit: Dead Sea Scrolls, featuring eight authentic Dead Sea Scrolls and over 200 artifacts from the Second Temple period. The exhibit will remain on display until September 2, 2025. Come see these unique artifacts while you can! More than 200 artifacts–along with eight authentic scrolls–are on display as part of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum's Special Exhibit: Dead Sea Scrolls. Passport to Presidential Libraries The Passport to Presidential Libraries is a special keepsake booklet you can take with you on your travels to Presidential Libraries across the nation. Collect a commemorative stamp from the library at the time of the purchase and collect stamps from every Presidential Library visited in the future. The Passport can be purchased for $10 in person at any Presidential Library within the National Archives system via either the admissions desk or museum store. Alternatively, visitors can purchase the Passport via some NARA Presidential Library online stores. National Archives and Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408