Native Americans

Efforts to Stop the Closure of the National Archives at San Francisco and Chicago Continue

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Efforts to stop the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) from closing regional archival facilities at San Francisco and Chicago continue.

On 7 October 2026, Rep. Kevin Mullin announced receipt of a “dismissive” response by NARA to a joint letter that he and 37 other legislators had sent to NARA. In addition, Rep. Mullin and other introduced the National Archives Protection Act that “would prevent NARA from closing any of its facilities including archives, records centers, and research rooms, without Congressional approval.” The 119th Congress is unlikely to take action on this legislation before it adjourns sine die so the matter will need to be reintroduced in the 120th Congress in January. Read more here:

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on 14 October 2026 filed a lawsuit challenging the decision by the NARA to close the National Archives at San Francisco and transfer its archival holdings to other NARA facilities across the country. 

The records date back to 1850 and “are invaluable to the State, universities and researchers, families, Tribes, and individuals who come to the facility to connect with their ancestors, culture, and broader community. In the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Attorney General Bonta argues that the decision to close this facility, without regard for those who rely on it, violates the Administrative Procedure Act and should be blocked.” Read more here:

Follow events and announcements more closely at Save OUR National Archives at https://www.saveournationalarchives.org.

NGS 2026 Family History Conference

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It’s time to register for the National Genealogical Society’s 2026 Family History Conference at Fort Wayne, Indiana, May 27-30, 2026. With the theme of “America at 250” the conference features a wide range of speakers and topics that will help shine a light on the stories, communities, and research strategies that help us understand our nation’s past and as well as preserve our family histories for the future.

The added bonus is that Fort Wayne is the home of the incomparable Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center which has one of the largest research collections available, incorporating records from around the world.

See you in Fort Wayne!

NARA’s 2025 Genealogy Series

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The National Archives and Records Administration has announced the lineup of speakers and topics for its 2025 Genealogy Series. Presentations premiere at specific times but are then available 24/7 on YouTube. Mark your calendar now! It’s free! No registration required! This year’s schedule includes:

Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1881-1907

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Need some help figuring out how to find and access correspondence in Record Group 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs? Rose Buchanan, Archivist and Subject Matters Expert for Native American Related Records, has a recent blog post on Accessing the Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1881-1907, at https://historyhub.history.gov/community/american-indian-records/blog/2022/08/09/accessing-the-letters-received-by-the-office-of-indian-affairs-1881-1907 that will help you get started! From there, you can also easily access other blog posts by Rose as well as Cody White, NARA’s other Subject Matters Expert for Native American Related Records.