IHGS News · October 2026
October 2026 News and New Genealogical Datasets
From RootsTech 2027 registration and new learning opportunities to fresh records across five genealogy websites, here are the latest updates for family historians.
Published October 2026
82 new datasets / 5 genealogy websites
RootsTech 2027
Registration is open
RootsTech 2027 takes place from 4–6 March 2027 at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme, “Celebrate!”, invites us to see family history as a living celebration of the people, cultures and stories that connect generations. Jane Seymour is one of the announced keynote speakers.
Professional development
Launch a successful genealogy business
This free, self-paced guide is for anyone considering setting up a family history business. It introduces the practical decisions involved in turning genealogical skills into a professional service.
IHGS Bitesize Course
Chancery Court Records
The Court of Chancery operated from the fourteenth century until the late nineteenth century. Its records can reveal family disputes, property transactions, wills, debts and settlements, offering detail about everyday lives that may not appear in other sources.
This introductory course explains how to explore, locate and interpret these documents at The National Archives and beyond.
Only £45.00
Anytime Talk of the Month
Parish Registers
Chloe O’Shea, DipGen, explores how parish registers developed, what they can reveal about our ancestors and how to use them more effectively in family history research.
Chloe is an IHGS tutor and professional genealogist, author and contributor to family-history magazines. Her talk is free to IHGS students and members via the student/member area, and available to visitors for a small fee.
Keep learning
Build your research skills
Good genealogy depends on asking precise questions, understanding the records created by different institutions and comparing evidence carefully. IHGS courses and talks are designed to help researchers work with sources confidently.
New datasets added this month
The collections below include parish, civil, military, electoral, cemetery, institutional, newspaper and occupational records. A new index is a starting point rather than a conclusion: where an image is available, check the original record and compare the result with independent evidence.
Ancestry
20 datasets- Berkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1538–1812
- Berkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813–1925
- Berkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813–1941
- Berkshire, England, Church of England Burials, 1813–1998
- Cheshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1832–1939
- London, England, Cemetery and Crematorium Burial Registers, 1856–1998
- Suffolk, England, Bishops’ Transcripts, 1560–1853
- Worcestershire, England, Land Tax, 1781–1945
- Monmouthshire, Wales, Quarter Session Records, 1790–1940
- Global, Former British Colonies, Enslavement Registers, 1813–1840
- Canada, Citizenship Registrations, 1857–1916
- Canada, Mounted Police Records, 1873–1904
- Canada, Quebec, Drouin Institute Obituaries, 1902–2025
- U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Patriots List, 1775–1783
- U.S., Atlanta, Georgia, Executive Office Oath Books, 1875–1974
- U.S., Indiana, Select County Voter Records, 1850–1931
- U.S., Maine, Business Directories, 1875–1998
- U.S., Maryland, Birth Certificates, 1875–1922
- U.S., Texas, Vital Records, 1833–2000
- U.S., Virginia, Colonial Williamsburg, Enslaved People Name Files, 1633–1830
FamilySearch
36 datasets- Hertfordshire, Parish Registers, 1538–1912
- Australia Military Nominal Death Records, 1914–1918
- Australia, School Admission Registers, 1817–1995
- Italy, Parma, Church Census, 1545–1923
- Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Cemetery Records, 1800–2024
- Mauritius (Île de France), Civil Registration, 1780–1820
- Peru, Cemetery Records, 1912–2013
- Peru, Amazonas, Civil Registration, 1890–2010
- Peru, Áncash, Civil Registration, 1888–2010
- Peru, Apurímac, Civil Registration, 1909–2000
- Peru, Ayacucho, Civil Registration, 1903–2000
- Peru, Callao, Civil Registration, 1874–2000
- Peru, Huancavelica, Civil Registration, 1915–1999
- Peru, Huánuco, Civil Registration, 1888–2002
- Peru, La Libertad, Civil Registration, 1903–1998
- Peru, Lima, Civil Registration, 1683–1998
- Peru, Moquegua, Civil Registration, 1850–1998
- Peru, Pasco, Civil Registration, 1891–1998
- Peru, Tacna, Civil Registration, 1850–1998
- Philippines, Central Luzon, Church Records, 1682–1972
- Philippines, Cordillera, Church Records, 1848–1973
- Philippines, Mimaropa, Church Records, 1821–1973
- Philippines, Northern Mindanao, Church Records, 1820–1973
- Philippines, Zamboanga Peninsula, Church Records, 1796–1972
- Quebec Parish Registers, 1621–1979
- Romania, Civil Registration, 1865–1903
- San Marino, Census, 1865, 1874, 1899, 1947
- South Africa Department of Defence, Military Records, 1914–1954
- Ukraine, Chernivitsy, Confession Lists, 1819–1915
- Ukraine, Kirovohrad, Confession Lists, 1796–1915
- Ukraine, Khmelnytskyi, Confession Lists, 1795–1915
- Ukraine, Poltava, Confession Lists, 1758–1923
- Ukraine, Rivne, Confession Lists, 1799–1915
- U.S., Indiana, Franklin County, Marriage Records, 1853–1997
- U.S., Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1876–1945
- NewspaperArchive.com Historic Newspaper Vital Records (Worldwide), 1730–2025
Findmypast
9 datasets- Britain from Above, England Collection, 1919–1953
- Military Medals Awarded to Foreigners by the British Government, 1914–1920
- Distinguished Medal Roll Awarded to Foreigners by the British Government, 1914–1920
- Royal School of Needlework Workroom Orders
- Royal School of Needlework Members and Committee Records
- Royal School of Needlework Teaching Staff Records
- Royal School of Needlework Student Records
- Colchester, Essex in 1952
- U.S., New York, Trinity Episcopal Church Baptisms
MyHeritage
16 datasets- United Kingdom & Commonwealth, World War I Prisoners of War, 1914–1918
- Norfolk, Poor Law Union Registers, 1796–1900
- Austria, Vienna Military Muster Rolls
- Belgium Newspapers from OldNews.com
- Croatia Newspapers from OldNews.com
- Czechia 1900 Census
- Germany, Hamburg Alien Registrations, 1868–1889
- Greece, Attica, Athens Cemetery Burials
- Greece, Northern Greek Voter Lists, 1914–1920
- Italy, World War I Casualty Lists
- Netherlands, Army Service Registers, 1807–1929
- Poland, Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com
- Slovenia Newspapers from OldNews.com
- U.S., Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Registers, 1864–1989
- U.S., Louisiana, Baton Rouge Diocese Parish Registers, 1707–1905
- U.S., Washington, Marriage Index, 1969–2014
FIBIS
1 dataset- Cemeteries, Bombay, Baroda/Vadodara: St James Graveyard, and Catholic Cemetery
Research notes
October’s additions are particularly varied. Parish registers, church censuses and civil registration can help establish family relationships and places; electoral, tax, school and business records can add evidence of residence and occupation; military, police, prisoner-of-war and medal records may explain service and movement; newspapers, obituaries and cemetery records can provide community context.
Remember that a record may answer only one part of a research question. Check names against dates, places, occupations, relatives and witnesses, and record the full source citation as you work. Provider coverage, collection names and access arrangements can change.
To build the skills needed to evaluate evidence critically and confidently, explore IHGS courses, talks and professional development opportunities.