Changes at American and Polish archives that affect your family research: records newly online, new fees, new access rules and new ways to order copies. Every item links to the official source.
- Poznan State Archive Posts 66,761 New Scans, Including Two Registry OfficesIn the third quarter of 2026 the State Archives in Poznan published 66,761 new scans online, including civil registry records for Nekla and Nowe Miasto nad Warta.
- Railroad Retirement Board Records at NARA Chicago Close October 13NARA expects Railroad Retirement Board records at Chicago to close on October 13, 2026, and reopen at the National Archives at Boston around January 15, 2027.
- Social Security Lowers SS-5 and Numident Copy Fees from October 1, 2026For requests received on or after October 1, 2026, a copy of an original SS-5 costs $23 and a Numident record $22, down from $27 and $26.
- FamilySearch Adds 812,746 Indexed New Jersey Naturalization RecordsThe September 2026 FamilySearch update lists New Jersey, Naturalization Records, 1796-1991 as a new collection with 812,746 indexed records from the federal court in New Jersey.
- National Archives at Chicago Will Close; Records Move to Other SitesNARA will close its Chicago facility in the next few years. Its archival records, including federal court records for six Midwestern states, are planned to move, mostly to the National Archives at Kansas City.
- USCIS Proposes Limiting Its Genealogy Program to Records It Still HoldsA proposed rule published August 21, 2026, would send researchers to the National Archives for any historical immigration file USCIS has already transferred there. Comments are open until October 20, 2026.
- Ohio 1954-1970 Death Records Move to Reading Room KiosksFrom July 1, 2026, the Ohio History Connection shows 1954-1970 death records only on kiosks in its Columbus reading room and no longer orders or copies vital records for patrons.
How we choose the news
We report only changes we can confirm on the website of the archive, agency or court involved, and every item links to that source. Fees, forms and processing times change, so check the source before you send a request or a payment.
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