Demise of RootsWeb Mailing Lists

I do not generally speaking post news announcements, but felt that this one was worthy of sharing.

Earlier this week, RootsWeb shared the following information –

Beginning March 2nd, 2020 the Mailing Lists functionality on RootsWeb will be discontinued. Users will no longer be able to send outgoing emails or accept incoming emails. Additionally, administration tools will no longer be available to list administrators and mailing lists will be put into an archival state. Administrators may save the emails in their list prior to March 2nd. After that, mailing list archives will remain available and searchable on RootsWeb

I suspect that many of us knew this day would come, but hoped not yet. The Guild of One-Name studies moved their RootsWeb list to another provider about two years ago, because the list was, and still is, a busy one and becoming unstable and losing activity for about two months was disruptive; members missed the list even though there are other methods for communicating with other members. The archives at RootsWeb are going to remain available, at least for now.

Like many others, I have surname lists, which are linked to my One-Name Studies and will need to now ponder on what I am going to do now and going forward. Other lists are moving to Facebook Groups, some to have gone to Google groups, others to Groups.io. Sadly though, not all groups have been thriving ones in the recent past and I suspect this, coupled with technology changes, and budgets has driven the decision. Either way, do consider posting to those lists, including the quiet ones, as doing so will mean that your contact information will be available to those who search the archives. If you are a current list admin, then consider the options available to you as alternatives.

About Julie Goucher

Genealogist, Author, Presenter, native Guildfordian, avid note taker and journal writer. Lover of Books, Stationery & History; Surnames, Butcher & Orlando One-Name Studies. Pharos Tutor for all One-Name Studies/surname courses as well as Researching Ancestors from Continental Europe.

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