MyFamily.com, the leading network for connecting families and generations on the Web, announced that its site Ancestry.com, the premier source for tracing family history, now has over one billion searchable records. The largest source for genealogical information on the Internet, Ancestry.com has added at least one new database each business day for more than three years. The one billion records are divided among approximately 3,000 databases, such as the Social Security Death Index and US Federal Census Images.

"This is a great accomplishment for Ancestry.com and for the pursuit of genealogy," said Andre Brummer, general manager of Ancestry.com. "We've been committed to achieving this milestone for over a year now and are very proud to solidify our industry leadership by reaching this significant goal."

Ancesty.com has over 285,000 paying subscribers, ranking it the third-largest paid-subscriber service on the Internet, behind Consumer Reports and Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones. While a number of the site's databases are for paid subscribers only, the site also makes available nearly half of its content free to all site visitors. Additionally, the site offers extensive help and "getting-started" resources for those new to the pursuit of genealogy, as well as free daily and weekly email newsletters. Over one million people currently subscribe to the email newsletters.

Ancestry.com first debuted on the Web in 1996, expanding its publishing empire of family history books, magazines and CD ROMs to reach a new audience. At the beginning of 1999, the site had approximately 800 databases and 200 million searchable records. The five-fold increase in its searchable collection further extends its position as the leading online resource for family history.

"The impact the Internet has had on genealogy is incredible. Never before have so many people been afforded access to so much important information. From the comfort of home people are now able to view original records, search records kept in repositories thousands of miles away and quickly collaborate with others tracing similar lineages," said Brummer.

Within the Ancestry.com Web site, The Shops @ Ancestry.com provide another valuable resource to help those interested in the pursuit of genealogy to discover, preserve and celebrate their roots. With hundreds of book and CD ROM titles as well as research aids, the site provides an extensive collection of merchandise dedicated to family history. The Shops also offer customizable, personalized products such as the Heirloom Family Tree to display and celebrate each family's unique heritage.