Alex Calzareth
@alcalz.bsky.social
Genealogist in New York, NY focused on German-Jewish, Czech-Jewish and Southern Italian families, FOIA enthusiast, CPA
www.calzareth.com
Board Member at : www.jgsli.org and www.reclaimtherecords.org
www.calzareth.com
Board Member at : www.jgsli.org and www.reclaimtherecords.org
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
What's a #FOIA Appeal? What's some good language to use when you want to argue with the government about why they should be giving you the file you asked for, instead of some "genealogy letter"?
We got you covered, fam. Check out our advice in our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
We got you covered, fam. Check out our advice in our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Reclaim The Records
We’re Reclaim The Records, a new not-for-profit activist group of genealogists, historians, researchers, and open government advocates. We identify important genealogical records sets that ought to be...
mailchi.mp
October 21, 2025 at 3:19 AM
What's a #FOIA Appeal? What's some good language to use when you want to argue with the government about why they should be giving you the file you asked for, instead of some "genealogy letter"?
We got you covered, fam. Check out our advice in our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
We got you covered, fam. Check out our advice in our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
NEW: We just published 1.5 million NEW BIRLS records for 2020-2023, ALL FREE -- but now the VA doesn't want you to see any of them!
Read all about it in our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Read all about it in our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Reclaim The Records
We’re Reclaim The Records, a new not-for-profit activist group of genealogists, historians, researchers, and open government advocates. We identify important genealogical records sets that ought to be...
mailchi.mp
August 31, 2025 at 11:46 PM
NEW: We just published 1.5 million NEW BIRLS records for 2020-2023, ALL FREE -- but now the VA doesn't want you to see any of them!
Read all about it in our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Read all about it in our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
I heard there was a secret “b”
Toward the end of “blueberry”
But you don’t really care for AI, do you?
It went like this — the first, the fifth,
The secret “b” in the seventh
The baffled bot composing “bluebebry.”
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Toward the end of “blueberry”
But you don’t really care for AI, do you?
It went like this — the first, the fifth,
The secret “b” in the seventh
The baffled bot composing “bluebebry.”
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
August 8, 2025 at 2:01 AM
I heard there was a secret “b”
Toward the end of “blueberry”
But you don’t really care for AI, do you?
It went like this — the first, the fifth,
The secret “b” in the seventh
The baffled bot composing “bluebebry.”
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Toward the end of “blueberry”
But you don’t really care for AI, do you?
It went like this — the first, the fifth,
The secret “b” in the seventh
The baffled bot composing “bluebebry.”
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
Bluebebry
In December, RTR launched BIRLS.org along with a very easy way to make FOIA requests for deceased veterans' claim files. As of late July, the VA will no longer release these great files, only short summaries. See www.birls.org/updates - RTR is working on learning more & fighting these changes.
Search the BIRLS Database - over 18 million records about deceased US veterans, from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, now online and FREE from Reclaim The Records
Search the BIRLS Database - over 18 million records about deceased US veterans, from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, now online and FREE from Reclaim The Records
BIRLS.org
August 5, 2025 at 3:29 PM
In December, RTR launched BIRLS.org along with a very easy way to make FOIA requests for deceased veterans' claim files. As of late July, the VA will no longer release these great files, only short summaries. See www.birls.org/updates - RTR is working on learning more & fighting these changes.
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
OUR BILL PASSED the New York State Assembly yesterday -- UNANIMOUSLY! 🤩
It's still not a done deal yet. It has to go to the governor, and be signed, and not have last-minute line-item edits or a veto.
But we are now SO much closer to reforming New York's vital records access!
It's still not a done deal yet. It has to go to the governor, and be signed, and not have last-minute line-item edits or a veto.
But we are now SO much closer to reforming New York's vital records access!
a cartoon drawing of a man wearing a shirt that says law .
ALT: a cartoon drawing of a man wearing a shirt that says law .
media.tenor.com
June 14, 2025 at 7:45 PM
OUR BILL PASSED the New York State Assembly yesterday -- UNANIMOUSLY! 🤩
It's still not a done deal yet. It has to go to the governor, and be signed, and not have last-minute line-item edits or a veto.
But we are now SO much closer to reforming New York's vital records access!
It's still not a done deal yet. It has to go to the governor, and be signed, and not have last-minute line-item edits or a veto.
But we are now SO much closer to reforming New York's vital records access!
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
You guys...? We did it. 🥰
We won the FULL NEW YORK STATE DEATH INDEX FOR 1880-2017!
We beat the largest government agency in the state of New York (@nysdoh.bsky.social), in the highest court of the state, through a Freedom of Information Law (#FOIL) suit.
www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-requ...
We won the FULL NEW YORK STATE DEATH INDEX FOR 1880-2017!
We beat the largest government agency in the state of New York (@nysdoh.bsky.social), in the highest court of the state, through a Freedom of Information Law (#FOIL) suit.
www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-requ...
The FULL New York State Death Index, 1880-2017 - Reclaim The Records
www.reclaimtherecords.org
May 29, 2025 at 6:38 PM
You guys...? We did it. 🥰
We won the FULL NEW YORK STATE DEATH INDEX FOR 1880-2017!
We beat the largest government agency in the state of New York (@nysdoh.bsky.social), in the highest court of the state, through a Freedom of Information Law (#FOIL) suit.
www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-requ...
We won the FULL NEW YORK STATE DEATH INDEX FOR 1880-2017!
We beat the largest government agency in the state of New York (@nysdoh.bsky.social), in the highest court of the state, through a Freedom of Information Law (#FOIL) suit.
www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-requ...
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
30 years ago
May 21, 2025 at 4:48 PM
30 years ago
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
This is a symptom of a bigger problem that extends beyond immigration into pretty much every type of civil litigation against the feds.
Almost every time you get a declaration in a case from a fed, it's from someone who has NO personal knowledge of the facts they're testifying about.
Almost every time you get a declaration in a case from a fed, it's from someone who has NO personal knowledge of the facts they're testifying about.
👀 The Trump administration has been arguing that one of the people it deported to Mexico — despite fears of persecution — said verbally he was not afraid to go there. Now, in a late Friday filing, they say that was a mistake. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
May 17, 2025 at 3:27 AM
This is a symptom of a bigger problem that extends beyond immigration into pretty much every type of civil litigation against the feds.
Almost every time you get a declaration in a case from a fed, it's from someone who has NO personal knowledge of the facts they're testifying about.
Almost every time you get a declaration in a case from a fed, it's from someone who has NO personal knowledge of the facts they're testifying about.
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
🚨 Reclaim The Records is working on A BRAND NEW LAW in the New York State Legislature! 🚨
We want to finally FIX New York State historical records access, and put it all online for everyone!
And we need your help!
Read our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
We want to finally FIX New York State historical records access, and put it all online for everyone!
And we need your help!
Read our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Reclaim The Records
We’re Reclaim The Records, a new not-for-profit activist group of genealogists, historians, researchers, and open government advocates. We identify important genealogical records sets that ought to be...
mailchi.mp
May 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
🚨 Reclaim The Records is working on A BRAND NEW LAW in the New York State Legislature! 🚨
We want to finally FIX New York State historical records access, and put it all online for everyone!
And we need your help!
Read our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
We want to finally FIX New York State historical records access, and put it all online for everyone!
And we need your help!
Read our latest newsletter:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
What is the relationship between Congress and records preservation and access? Spoiler alert: funding! Join us on Sunday 2 March to understand more and learn how your voice can make a difference. Event is open to all, but registration is required.
Join APG on 2 March for a FREE webinar about the importance of the U.S. National Archives in our profession and how YOU can effectively engage with legislators to support archival access. Open to all; register at bit.ly/4hPJXRg. This presentation is underwritten by Civil War Records.
February 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM
What is the relationship between Congress and records preservation and access? Spoiler alert: funding! Join us on Sunday 2 March to understand more and learn how your voice can make a difference. Event is open to all, but registration is required.
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
Are you a journalist, genealogist or historian who has ever used records from the National Archives? It's time to step up and take some simple steps to preserve federal records. And save our nation's history. Please visit this website. And share widely.
fundnara.com
fundnara.com
fundNARA.com - Congress must fund the National Archives at the current level!
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides core government functions necessary to preserve, protect, and make accessible records from all three branches of the federal government...
fundnara.com
February 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Are you a journalist, genealogist or historian who has ever used records from the National Archives? It's time to step up and take some simple steps to preserve federal records. And save our nation's history. Please visit this website. And share widely.
fundnara.com
fundnara.com
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
The acting head of the National Achives is stepping down, a week after his boss was fired, as Trump takes full control of US records. What could go wrong? www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
National Archives head resigns as Trump takes control of records
Sources name conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt and far-right journalist John Solomon as potential replacements.
www.motherjones.com
February 15, 2025 at 1:06 AM
The acting head of the National Achives is stepping down, a week after his boss was fired, as Trump takes full control of US records. What could go wrong? www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
We need to talk about the Federal Records Act. Everything else is a distraction.
Multiple media and internal NARA sources confirm. Under normal procedures, Deputy Archivist Jay Bosanko ascends to Acting Archivist. These aren't normal times, so stay tuned. www.cnn.com/2025/02/07/p...
Trump administration dismisses national archivist | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump’s administration announced it had dismissed Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan in a surprise move Friday evening.
www.cnn.com
February 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
We need to talk about the Federal Records Act. Everything else is a distraction.
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
TONIGHT: (Thursday Feb 6th, 5 PM ET):
Meeting/Panel via Zoom, about New York State Vital Records Access!
RTR board members Alex Calzareth and Alec Ferretti will discuss the access changes proposed in the FY 2025-2026 budget. Free and open to everyone! Register here:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Meeting/Panel via Zoom, about New York State Vital Records Access!
RTR board members Alex Calzareth and Alec Ferretti will discuss the access changes proposed in the FY 2025-2026 budget. Free and open to everyone! Register here:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: JGSLI Special Meeting: NYS Vital Records Access. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
The FY2026 New York State budget proposes to severely limit access to historical New York State vital records and to greatly increase the cost of the records that remain available. Join JGSLI members,...
us06web.zoom.us
February 6, 2025 at 5:43 PM
TONIGHT: (Thursday Feb 6th, 5 PM ET):
Meeting/Panel via Zoom, about New York State Vital Records Access!
RTR board members Alex Calzareth and Alec Ferretti will discuss the access changes proposed in the FY 2025-2026 budget. Free and open to everyone! Register here:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Meeting/Panel via Zoom, about New York State Vital Records Access!
RTR board members Alex Calzareth and Alec Ferretti will discuss the access changes proposed in the FY 2025-2026 budget. Free and open to everyone! Register here:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
URGENT: New York Wants to Lock Up Vital Records — Again! 😫
A backdoor proposal to essentially ban public access to birth, marriage, and death records got snuck into their annual budget bill?!
And we have FIVE DAYS to do something about it?!
Here's how we can stop it:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
A backdoor proposal to essentially ban public access to birth, marriage, and death records got snuck into their annual budget bill?!
And we have FIVE DAYS to do something about it?!
Here's how we can stop it:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Reclaim The Records
We’re Reclaim The Records, a new not-for-profit activist group of genealogists, historians, researchers, and open government advocates. We identify important genealogical records sets that ought to be...
mailchi.mp
February 5, 2025 at 3:57 AM
URGENT: New York Wants to Lock Up Vital Records — Again! 😫
A backdoor proposal to essentially ban public access to birth, marriage, and death records got snuck into their annual budget bill?!
And we have FIVE DAYS to do something about it?!
Here's how we can stop it:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
A backdoor proposal to essentially ban public access to birth, marriage, and death records got snuck into their annual budget bill?!
And we have FIVE DAYS to do something about it?!
Here's how we can stop it:
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Today on International Holocaust Remembrance Day I'm remembering my great-great-grandfather, Friedrich Fried, and my maternal grandparents' aunts, uncles and cousins along with another 400+ relatives of varying degrees in my extended family tree who were all killed in the Holocaust.
January 27, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Today on International Holocaust Remembrance Day I'm remembering my great-great-grandfather, Friedrich Fried, and my maternal grandparents' aunts, uncles and cousins along with another 400+ relatives of varying degrees in my extended family tree who were all killed in the Holocaust.
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
NEW FOIA Files is out!
The National Archives painted a dire picture for the future of America’s historical records, docs I obtained show. NARA, which sparked one of the criminal investigations against Trump, now needs his help. But it has a huge target on its back
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
The National Archives painted a dire picture for the future of America’s historical records, docs I obtained show. NARA, which sparked one of the criminal investigations against Trump, now needs his help. But it has a huge target on its back
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
The National Archives Needs Trump’s Support But the Agency Has a Target on Its Back
The National Archives painted a dire picture for the future of America’s historical records, according to documents FOIA Files obtained. The agency, which sparked one of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s c...
www.bloomberg.com
January 17, 2025 at 3:42 PM
NEW FOIA Files is out!
The National Archives painted a dire picture for the future of America’s historical records, docs I obtained show. NARA, which sparked one of the criminal investigations against Trump, now needs his help. But it has a huge target on its back
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
The National Archives painted a dire picture for the future of America’s historical records, docs I obtained show. NARA, which sparked one of the criminal investigations against Trump, now needs his help. But it has a huge target on its back
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
Anyone with even a passing interest in #genealogy will be extremely well-served by checking out the new database over at @reclaimtherecords.org - they have made it exceptionally easy for *anyone* to *very easily* FOIA certain US Veteran records from the VA.
December 25, 2024 at 4:39 AM
Anyone with even a passing interest in #genealogy will be extremely well-served by checking out the new database over at @reclaimtherecords.org - they have made it exceptionally easy for *anyone* to *very easily* FOIA certain US Veteran records from the VA.
This is as about as easy as a FOIA will get. If you have American veterans in your family that died after abt. 1950 (or their surviving spouse did), check out this new resource from @reclaimtherecords.org . RTR will be explaining more over the coming weeks, but get started exploring now.
~*~ FREE FILES FOR FESTIVUS! ~*~
We can finally announce that we sued the VA and WE WON!
And it's probably the largest public and free data set of deceased American veterans!
And now it's online and free and downloadable and searchable AND FOIA-ABLE!!!
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
We can finally announce that we sued the VA and WE WON!
And it's probably the largest public and free data set of deceased American veterans!
And now it's online and free and downloadable and searchable AND FOIA-ABLE!!!
mailchi.mp/reclaimthere...
Reclaim The Records
We’re Reclaim The Records, a new not-for-profit activist group of genealogists, historians, researchers, and open government advocates. We identify important genealogical records sets that ought to be...
mailchi.mp
December 25, 2024 at 5:26 AM
This is as about as easy as a FOIA will get. If you have American veterans in your family that died after abt. 1950 (or their surviving spouse did), check out this new resource from @reclaimtherecords.org . RTR will be explaining more over the coming weeks, but get started exploring now.
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
2024 was a big year for RecordsNotRevenue.com!
RecordsNotRevenue.com got started in 2019 to fight USCIS Genealogy Program fee hikes; raise awareness of the historical immigration and records USCIS maintains custody of; and works to transfer those records to the National Archives. RecordsNotRevenue 100% volunteer-run and takes zero donations. 🧵1/
December 18, 2024 at 4:30 PM
2024 was a big year for RecordsNotRevenue.com!
USCIS released its FOIA and PA Case Processing Guide dated 29 August 2024 to @alecferretti.bsky.social in only a few months. It looks like it's grown by 53 pages in 2.5 years, based on the 2022 version IRAP (refugeerights.org) got. Document here: tinyurl.com/USCISFOIAPA-...
FOIA Case Processing 8-29-2024.pdf
tinyurl.com
December 10, 2024 at 10:27 PM
USCIS released its FOIA and PA Case Processing Guide dated 29 August 2024 to @alecferretti.bsky.social in only a few months. It looks like it's grown by 53 pages in 2.5 years, based on the 2022 version IRAP (refugeerights.org) got. Document here: tinyurl.com/USCISFOIAPA-...
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
JGSLI has 40 short videos with tips on various subjects. Our top 3 most popular videos are:
Tips to Help Find Maiden Names
Popular Symbols on Jewish Headstones
How Form SS-5 Can Help Break through Your Research Brick Walls
Check them out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic9s...
Tips to Help Find Maiden Names
Popular Symbols on Jewish Headstones
How Form SS-5 Can Help Break through Your Research Brick Walls
Check them out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic9s...
6 Tips to Help Find Maiden Names
YouTube video by Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2024 at 4:51 PM
JGSLI has 40 short videos with tips on various subjects. Our top 3 most popular videos are:
Tips to Help Find Maiden Names
Popular Symbols on Jewish Headstones
How Form SS-5 Can Help Break through Your Research Brick Walls
Check them out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic9s...
Tips to Help Find Maiden Names
Popular Symbols on Jewish Headstones
How Form SS-5 Can Help Break through Your Research Brick Walls
Check them out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic9s...
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
The ancestor of 'to forget' meant "to lose hold of".
It was the opposite of 'to get'.
Speaking of 'to get', this verb is special: it only has cognates in the Nordic languages, such as Norwegian 'å gjeta'.
It was even borrowed from their Old Norse ancestor 'geta'.
Here's more:
It was the opposite of 'to get'.
Speaking of 'to get', this verb is special: it only has cognates in the Nordic languages, such as Norwegian 'å gjeta'.
It was even borrowed from their Old Norse ancestor 'geta'.
Here's more:
December 7, 2024 at 7:38 PM
The ancestor of 'to forget' meant "to lose hold of".
It was the opposite of 'to get'.
Speaking of 'to get', this verb is special: it only has cognates in the Nordic languages, such as Norwegian 'å gjeta'.
It was even borrowed from their Old Norse ancestor 'geta'.
Here's more:
It was the opposite of 'to get'.
Speaking of 'to get', this verb is special: it only has cognates in the Nordic languages, such as Norwegian 'å gjeta'.
It was even borrowed from their Old Norse ancestor 'geta'.
Here's more:
Reposted by Alex Calzareth
Come see Alec rant about the government for $5.
This is a much better deal than if you were to hire me privately to rant about the government.
This is a much better deal than if you were to hire me privately to rant about the government.
Did you know not all records go to the US National Archives? Historically valuable documents of 20th-C naturalization will be paper pulp in 32 years. How can this happen, and what can be done? Join me, @richvenezia.bsky.social and @alecferretti.bsky.social on 8 Dec at 1:30ET via Zoom
December 6, 2024 at 2:04 AM
Come see Alec rant about the government for $5.
This is a much better deal than if you were to hire me privately to rant about the government.
This is a much better deal than if you were to hire me privately to rant about the government.