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April 16, 2026

Who Owns Philadelphians’ Family History?

City Cast Philly

Who Owns Philadelphians’ Family History?

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Mayor Cherelle Parker recently inked a deal with the genealogy research company Ancestry.com, allowing the website to add Philadelphia’s public records to its database. Now, the trove of documents stowed at City Hall and the City Archives will be scanned, digitized, and easily searchable online, but if you want to browse from your home, it'll come with a price. The deal has sparked questions over how data about our ancestors, from marriage licenses to death certificates, can find new life online.

Host Trenae Nuri is talking with Chelsea Cox, a content creator for Technical.ly Philly, about how this move could change who has access to your family history.

Read more of Chelsea's full story here

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