Genealogy News



The government has been shut down since October 1st. That means we’re all feeling it by now – especially if you’re a fan of the National Archives. When government shutdowns happen, it can feel like hitting a brick wall for genealogists and family historians.

When national archives close their doors and federal databases go offline, it’s easy to feel like your research has come to a grinding halt. Which is why I decided to write this post.

There is some good news.


Some of the richest genealogical treasures aren’t locked behind federal doors . they’re sitting in courthouse basements, local libraries, historical societies, and church records right in your own community.

Let me show you how to keep your family history research thriving, even when Uncle Sam’s resources are unavailable.



Understanding What You’re Missing (And What You’re Not)

During a shutdown, you’ll likely lose access to services like the National Archives (NARA), the Library of Congress reading rooms, and some federal databases. Census records on sites like Ancestry.com or FamilySearch will still be accessible if they’ve already been digitized, but you won’t be able to request physical records or get assistance from federal archivists.

**Note: This is important to know if you’re working on gathering documents for dual citizenship.**

While I don’t have a silver lining for dual citizenship, I do for those working on your family history for the fun of it. The vast majority of genealogical records were created at the local level, and those remain accessible regardless of what’s happening in Washington.



Don’t Forget Your Local Courthouse

County courthouses are often overlooked by researchers eager to dive into federal census records, but they hold some of the most detailed documentation of your ancestors’ lives.

What you can find:

  • Birth, marriage, and death certificates (vital records)

  • Property deeds and land records

  • Probate records and wills

  • Divorce and custody proceedings

  • Naturalization records (many were processed at the county level)

  • Court cases, both civil and criminal

  • Tax assessments and payment records

How to access them:

Call ahead to find out the courthouse’s hours and which department handles genealogical requests. Many counties now have a “Register of Deeds” or “Clerk of Court” office that serves as a central repository. Some charge small fees for copies, so bring cash or a checkbook. Be patient and polite—these offices are helping you navigate records that might be centuries old. Also know that through sites like Vitalchek, you can order documents online – for a fee of course.



Local Libraries and Historical Societies

Your local library system is a treasure trove that operates completely independently of federal shutdowns. Many have dedicated genealogy sections that would make professional researchers envious.

Resources to explore:

  • Local history collections with family files

  • Digitized newspapers on microfilm or digital databases

  • City directories (the pre-internet phone books that listed residents, occupations, and addresses)

  • Published family histories and genealogies

  • Cemetery indexes and funeral home records

  • School yearbooks and reunion booklets

  • Vertical files with newspaper clippings organized by family name

Many librarians are passionate about local history and can point you toward resources you didn’t know existed. Historical societies often maintain their own archives and may have photographs, oral histories, and donated family papers that aren’t available anywhere else.



Church and Religious Records

Before states took over vital record keeping, churches were often the primary recorders of births (baptisms), marriages, and deaths (burials). These records can go back much further than government documents.

What to look for:

  • Baptismal and christening records

  • Marriage registers

  • Burial records and cemetery plot information

  • Membership rolls and transfers

  • Church meeting minutes (which sometimes mention disciplinary actions or migrations)

Start by identifying the churches your ancestors likely attended based on their religious affiliation and location. Many churches have transferred older records to diocesan archives or historical societies, so you may need to do some detective work.



Cemetery Walks and Gravestone Research

I’ve spoken about cemeteries in the past. Sometimes the best research happens with your feet on the ground. Cemeteries are open-air archives that tell stories federal records will never be able to capture.

What you can learn:

  • Birth and death dates

  • Family relationships (who’s buried together)

  • Military service (indicated by flags or special markers)

  • Social status and wealth (reflected in monument size and quality)

  • Religious affiliations and fraternal organization memberships

Websites like Find A Grave and BillionGraves have digitized millions of gravestones, but nothing beats visiting in person. Bring a camera, paper and crayon for rubbings of worn stones, and a notebook. Weather and vegetation can obscure stones that might be visible at different times of year. If you cannot locate a record on Find A Grave or BillionGraves, and are not able to visit in person, look online for who is in charge of the cemetery, and reach out to them.



State Archives and University Collections

While federal archives may be closed, state archives operate independently and hold incredible collections, including:

  • State census records (many states conducted their own censuses in off-years)

  • Military service records for state militias and National Guard units

  • Prison and institutional records

  • State land grants and homestead applications

  • Territorial and colonial records (for older states)

University special collections departments often house manuscript collections, including personal papers donated by prominent families, business records, and oral history projects.



Digital Resources That Don’t Depend on the Federal Government

Many genealogy websites operate completely independently of government shutdowns:

Subscription sites:

  • Ancestry.com

  • MyHeritage

  • Findmypast

  • Newspapers.com

Free resources:

  • FamilySearch.org (run by the LDS Church)

  • USGenWeb Project (volunteer-maintained county websites)

  • State and local digitization projects

  • Google Books (for out-of-copyright family histories)

  • Internet Archive

  • Digital Public Library of America

These platforms host records they’ve already digitized, so they remain accessible regardless of federal operations.



Networking with Other Researchers

Sometimes the best source is another researcher who’s already done the work. Take Substack for example! It is filled with family historians and genealogists working on their family history. Search substack for others possibility researching the same family or in the same area.

During a shutdown, it’s a perfect time to:

  • Join genealogy societies (local, state, or surname-specific)

  • Attend genealogy conferences or workshops

  • Participate in online forums and Facebook groups

  • Connect with distant cousins through DNA matching services

  • Attend local genealogy meetups at libraries

Other researchers can share record copies, provide context about local history, and point you toward resources you hadn’t considered.



Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

A government shutdown forces us to slow down and dig deeper into local resources we might otherwise overlook in our rush to find that census record. Use this time to:

  1. Organize what you have: Review your existing research, source your citations properly, and identify gaps in your documentation.

  2. Study local history: Understanding the historical context of where your ancestors lived makes you a better researcher. Read county histories, learn about migration patterns, and understand local industries that might have employed your family.

  3. Build relationships: Establish connections with local repositories so you’ll have allies when you need specialized research help in the future.

  4. Go analog: Request records by mail from courthouses and churches. Yes, it’s slower than clicking “search,” but you’ll often get more than you asked for when someone manually pulls a file.



Preparing for Future Shutdowns

Once federal resources come back online, consider:

  • Downloading key documents to your personal files

  • Making note of which federal resources you use most frequently

  • Identifying local alternatives for federal records

  • Building a research strategy that doesn’t rely solely on federal databases



The Bigger Picture

Government shutdowns remind us that genealogy has existed far longer than federal databases. Our ancestors left traces of their lives in countless places, most of them local. Yes, federal records are invaluable and convenient, but they’re far from the only game in town.

Some of the most moving discoveries in genealogy come from local sources: a handwritten letter in a historical society file, a newspaper obituary that reveals a family tragedy, a church record showing your great-great-grandmother as a witness to a friend’s wedding. These records have personality and context that census enumeration lines often lack.

So while we wait for federal operations to resume, let’s remember that the story of your family wasn’t written in Washington. It was written in the towns, churches, courthouses, and cemeteries where your ancestors actually lived their lives. Those records are waiting for you, shutdown or not.

Happy hunting, and remember: every shutdown is temporary, but the research skills you build while working around them will serve you for a lifetime.


(c) 2025, Aryn Youngless


Editor's Note: Aryn Youngless is a professional genealogist, author, and freelance writer living in California. She can be found at https://genealogybyaryn.substack.com.



Boston University to Phase Out Genealogy Program

Boston University has made the difficult decision to phase out several of its non-credit programs within the Center for Professional Education, including the Genealogy Studies Program. This decision was made at the university level, in response to ongoing financial pressures faced by the university as a whole due to federal actions and university-wide drops in enrollment.

The program will officially conclude at the end of the Spring 2026 semester. Between now and then, prospective and current students will still have opportunities to enroll in courses and earn the certificate. Further information will be forthcoming via the BU website.

For 16 years, the Genealogy Studies Program has stood as a cornerstone in the field of genealogy education. We are proud of the program’s lasting contribution to the field, its role in advancing research skills and professional standards, and the accomplishments of our faculty and alumni. The Genealogy Studies Program has left a lasting legacy that will continue through the work of its graduates who now contribute their skills and knowledge to the field of genealogy.

Melissa Johnson

Program Director