Category Archives: Records Access

Freedom of information: residents only

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Supreme Court upholds limits Information access took a hit last week, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that states have no constitutional obligation to treat non-residents the way they treat residents under their freedom-of-information laws. To be sure, most … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, Records Access | 9 Comments

URGENT! Speak out TODAY for Texas records!

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Speak out TODAY for Texas records access Word just reached the broader genealogical community yesterday that we’re in a fight in the Texas Legislature right now over access to birth and death records, and there’s an urgent need for genealogists … Continue reading →

Posted in Records Access | 20 Comments

Records access: good news, bad news

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

What a week on the records access front! It’s been a definite roller coater, and — on the federal front — the roller coaster is just starting to pick up steam. We’ve had good news, with the breakthrough on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Records Access, SSDI | 15 Comments

And one step back…

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

“Model” Vital Statistics Act Records access for genealogists always seems to be a “one-step-forward-and-one-step-back” situation. Yesterday The Legal Genealogist reported the news of a big step forward, with a change in a federal privacy rule so that health records won’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Records Access | 4 Comments

Breakthrough for medical genealogy

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

One for our side There’s been a major breakthrough in records access for those of us with family medical issues that we research in part through our genealogy. Quietly, without much fanfare, the federal Department of Health and Human Services … Continue reading →

Posted in Records Access | 12 Comments

Georgia Archives needs one last push

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Fighting for the Georgia Archives Okay, folks, it’s time for one more — hopefully last — push on behalf of the Georgia Archives. Because we’re down to one last best chance to get the funding the Archives needs to continue … Continue reading →

Posted in Records Access | 4 Comments

Now there are three

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Three bills to affect SSDI access Even with the constant crisis news out of Washington, D.C. — “the fiscal cliff is going to ruin the economy!” “the sequester is going to ruin the economy!” “Congressional gridlock is going to ruin … Continue reading →

Posted in Records Access, SSDI | 10 Comments

Georgia Archives: time is running

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Georgia on my mind The battle to save the Georgia Archives isn’t over, as the 2013 Georgia legislative session continues without — as yet — a vote on funding for the Archives for the upcoming year. We’re now in the … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Records Access | 4 Comments

News from the SSDI front

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

There’s news on the Social Security Death Index front — some bad, some worse, and some that just might possibly end up being at least neutral if not actually good. Bad news The bad news is that the 113th Congress … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Records Access, SSDI | 47 Comments

Update on the Georgia Archives

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

More to be done An online newspaper article practically caused The Legal Genealogist to fall off her chair yesterday: it may be — just possibly — that a politician is keeping his word. At least mostly. The article, which appears … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Records Access | 2 Comments