A Historic Milestone: 32 Billion Historical Records Now Available On MyHeritage
Last month we announced the release of the first 4 collections of Names & Stories, extracted from historical newspapers on OldNews.com using advanced AI technology. At the time, we shared that these collections were part of a groundbreaking project to add billions of new records to MyHeritage’s historical record database.
Today, we are delighted to share that the project is complete! All 15 collections have now been published, bringing the total number of Names & Stories records added to 11.6 billion. The collections span all 50 U.S. states, as well as Canada, Australia, and the U.K. This momentous achievement increases MyHeritage’s total historical record count to a massive 32 billion records.
Search Names & Stories in Newspapers Collections on MyHeritage
These 15 collections unlock a wealth of family history by turning newspaper articles into searchable structured records that provide detailed insights into names, dates, places, relationships, and life events. Structured records can be found more easily, even when you query them using synonyms, nicknames and date variations, making it easier than ever to find elusive ancestors.
Each record includes a snippet of the text from the original newspaper. From obituaries and wedding announcements to stories of personal triumphs, these collections go beyond the basics of vital records, capturing the stories that make family history come alive.
With this addition, stories that might otherwise have been lost to time are now easily accessible and ready to be shared with your family. MyHeritage users will soon receive Record Matches to these newly indexed newspaper records, bringing the stories directly to them.
Below is a table of all 15 Names & Stories collections, including descriptions, record counts, and links to explore each collection on MyHeritage.
| Name of Collection | Description of Collection | Number of Records | Search Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
 Australia, Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Australia on OldNews.com. | 1,991,829,284 | Search collection now |
 Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota on OldNews.com. | 1,122,181,584 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont on OldNews.com. | 1,031,922,605 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania on OldNews.com. | 1,050,201,531 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Connecticut on OldNews.com. | 1,025,507,107 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Nebraska) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Nebraska on OldNews.com. | 998,431,495 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois on OldNews.com. | 709,128,303 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming on OldNews.com. | 694,041,047 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi on OldNews.com. | 658,310,577 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (North Carolina, South Carolina, District of Columbia) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C. on OldNews.com. | 651,259,146 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky on OldNews.com. | 623,276,652 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan on OldNews.com. | 500,269,758 | Search collection now |
 Canada, Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from Canada on OldNews.com. | 382,759,442 | Search collection now |
Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (California, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands) | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from California, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on OldNews.com. | 194,162,586 | Search collection now |
United Kingdom, Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com | An index of names, events, and stories, found in newspapers from the U.K. on OldNews.com. | 44,766,610 | Search collection now |
Pricing
Anyone can search through the new collections on MyHeritage for free. Only MyHeritage subscribers (Data, Complete, or Omni) are able to view the records, which include a text snippet from the article. An Omni plan, or an OldNews.com Pro plan, is required to view the full newspaper images on OldNews.com.
The Omni plan is MyHeritage’s most comprehensive subscription plan. Omni is a superset of MyHeritage’s Complete plan. It includes full access to all features and content on MyHeritage available with the Complete plan, plus all newspapers on OldNews.com, a Geni.com Pro plan, all 2,000+ genealogy and DNA webinars on Legacy Family Tree Webinars, and unlimited photo scanning using MyHeritage’s mobile apps. Omni also includes extended usage of the new LiveMemory™ feature.
Examples
The record below from the Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan) collection tells the fascinating story of Arthur Lopez, who confessed to impersonating Arthur Frazier, a soldier who died during the Great War. For over a year, Lopez posed as Frazier, deceiving those who believed him to be the fallen hero. The article was published in the Ludington Daily News on March 8, 1925.
The record includes details about the real Arthur Frazier’s death in the Great War.
The original newspaper article includes a photo of Lopez, the imposter, adding a vivid dimension to this remarkable story.
Another example from these collections is the following record for Cecil Keiser from the Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com (New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut) collection, extracted from The Newburgh News, published on November 7, 1925.
The article details how Jack Hardy, a quick-thinking fireman, saved 2-year-old Cecil Keiser from being struck by a train in Stamford, Nebraska. This heroic act spared young Cecil from a tragic fate. Imagine discovering through a newspaper record that your grandfather narrowly escaped tragedy as a toddler and learning about the hero who saved him!
These are just a couple of examples of the countless incredible stories waiting to be uncovered in the Names & Stories in Newspapers collections on MyHeritage.
Next steps
This achievement is a milestone in our ongoing mission to make family history research accessible, engaging, and impactful for everyone. By leveraging cutting-edge AI, we’ve transformed historical newspapers into a goldmine of genealogical information, preserving the stories of the past and making them accessible for future generations.
Now is the perfect time to explore the new collections and discover the untold stories in your family’s history. Many more historical record collections and innovations are on the horizon.
Stay tuned!
