The Records Preservation and Access Coalition (RPAC) advises the genealogical and historical communities, as well as other interested parties, on ensuring proper access to vital records and on public policy related to strong records preservation practices. RPAC is sponsored by the National Genealogical Society and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies and is supported by American Society of Genealogists (ASG), Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), Ancestry.com, Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG), and International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen).

To speak with a strong and united voice, the entire genealogy community is invited to participate. All genealogy organizations are eligible to participate as members of the coalition. If your organization is a member of NGS it is automatically included in the coalition. If you are not currently an NGS member organization, please email RPAC Chair Jan Alpert to join the coalition.

Individuals can stay informed about RPAC by signing up for RPAC’s Records Access blog at recordsaccess.org.

RPAC Mission Statement

To advise the genealogical community on ensuring proper access to historical records of genealogical value in whatever media they are recorded, on public policy affecting public records, and on supporting strong records preservation policies and practices.

Records are always at risk of accidental or scheduled destruction. Today, many additional problems such as privacy and identity theft threaten access to the documents and collections that hold our genealogical, medical, and social history. Funding cuts resulting from budget crises, large scale natural disasters, as well as rapidly changing technology are adding to the existing problems of preserving and maintaining access to records.

The organizations participating in RPAC cannot solve all these complex issues alone. But together we can have a tremendous impact on these problems. The effective response to access and preservation challenges is usually from the individuals who vote and pay taxes in a specific locality. YOU, individually, and the genealogical societies and organizations of which YOU are a member or patron, can make the difference on these issues in your area.

Email questions to [email protected].

SPONSORING MEMBERS

• International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS)
• National Genealogical Society (NGS)

 

Participating Members

• American Society of Genealogists (ASG)
• Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
• Ancestry.com
• Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG)
• International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen)

RPAC State Liaisons

RPAC blog