Every month, we hear from people searching for the stories of forgotten family members. For decades, we've carried these voices with us, knowing that somewhere in Massachusetts’ archives, their family members' stories are waiting to be found.

 

We've always fought to ensure these records would open on a regular, predictable schedule so families wouldn't have to wish for access to them.

 

This year, that patience finally paid off.

 

On November 25th, Governor Maura Healy signed legislation that will open the doors to these long-sealed records (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c-66-ss-7#:~:text=Section%207,and%20shall%20certify%20copies%20thereof). Starting now, records from state institutions for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and mental health conditions will become publicly accessible 75 years after their creation. Automatically, on a schedule, no more barriers in the way.

 

It's hard to overstate what this means.

 

• Families will no longer hit dead ends.

• Researchers can illuminate forgotten chapters of our shared history.

• And the people whose lives were lived largely out of public view can finally have their stories told.

 

That same spirit of persistence and collaboration is why MGC was so proud to bestow our 2025 Shirley Barnes Records Access Award to the 10 Million Names Project, supported by American Ancestors and more than a dozen partner institutions. This collaborative effort, powered by institutional partnerships and donors like you, shows what's possible when we pool our resources and refuse to give up.

 

At a time of government budget cuts, these wins stand as proof that collective action works.

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We're making progress, but the fight isn't over.

 

This is why your support matters and why we need your help today.

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Why Your Support Matters

A tax-deductible gift means MGC can continue fighting to keep records accessible and affordable, providing the education you value, and preserving the history that connects us to our past.

 

Here's what your gift accomplishes:

 

• $25 helps support our ongoing expenses, such as website and video hosting for our M:O.R.E. program

• $50 funds our advocacy work for one month, including outreach to legislators and town clerks

• $100 helps underwrite the Shirley M. Barnes Records Access Award event, honoring a records access advocate

• $250 assists MGC in attending NERGC and hosting a luncheon speaker

• $500 underwrites a M:O.R.E. program event

• $1,000 sponsors our participation in Records Preservation and Access Coalition’s Family History Hill Day to advocate with Congress

 

Your past support made remarkable things possible in 2025.  Here’s just a sample of what you helped us achieve:

• Participated in Family History Hill Day advocating face-to-face with Members of Congress to vote for robust funding for the National Archives (NARA)

• Served nearly 300 researchers through our educational programs

• Launched innovative Q&A sessions connecting you with Massachusetts Town Clerks

• Tracked bills in the Massachusetts Legislature that impact records availability

• Presented the Shirley M. Barnes Records Access Award to the 10 Million Names Project, an initiative launched by American Ancestors and its partners

• Supported our 16 member societies, who also graciously supported our own education efforts

 

This is the impact you make possible.

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Coming in 2026: M:O.R.E. Sessions

Your gift today ensures we can continue this momentum with exciting new M.O.R.E. Sessions:

• Jan. 19: Demystifying the Three Big Free Digital Sites for Massachusetts Genealogists:  The Internet Archive and Beyond!

• March 30: Bay State Bonanza: 400 years of Vital Records

• June: Q&A with Massachusetts Town Clerks

• April 29: Maritime Records of Essex County

• September 19: Warning Out! Following the Unwanted in Colonial New England

• and more!

 

Here's what keeps us up at night...

Here's what keeps us up at night. Access to public records is becoming harder, not easier. Fees are rising. Databases are disappearing. Funding for the National Archives, libraries, museums, and other important repositories are being slashed.

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Without organizations like MGC standing watch, the records that tell your family's story could vanish before your grandchildren ever get the chance to discover them.

 

We can't do this work without you. Make your tax-deductible gift today here. LINK

 

MGC is a volunteer-run organization. Every dollar you give goes directly to ensuring that records remain accessible, that stories aren't lost, and that future generations can continue to discover where they came from.

 

Yes, I’ll support MGC’s mission. MGC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is fully tax-deductible.

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Every contribution, no matter the amount, makes an impact.

To donate, just select one of the options below that is most convenient for you. MGC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your donation is tax-deductible.

 

Questions?

Feel free to reach out to Jessica Neaves, our Advancement Director, at development@massgencouncil.org. She’d be glad to share more about how you can get involved as a volunteer or supporter.

 

Thank you for being part of MGC’s mission. Together, let’s keep family history alive and accessible for generations to come.