Aftering graduating with a degree in genealogy over nine years ago I was relieved that my writing days were finally over. I did not think the essay and report writing would ever end. Little did I know.

This post is the 1,000th Legacy News post since we began this blog back in August 2005. I began writing with the hope of sharing a few ideas and tips with our Legacy Family Tree users, not foreseeing that they would be read by millions and millions. In this nearly six year span of writing, I've shared experiences with my own research, news from the technology world, and my excitement of how we've pioneered genealogy webinars. Along the way you have put up with my personal stories as I've announced the births of two of my children, shared my oldest son's astonishment when he learned genealogy wasn't that boring, and kept you up-to-date with the latest on my favorite ancestor - Asa Brown.

Kind of sounds like I'm writing my own obituary here, but as all genealogists know, when we look to the past we can create a brighter future. Looking back, here are the top 25 most-read articles of the past 1,000 posts:

• "But I thought genealogy was boring..."
• Three proven methods for getting responses from your living relatives
• Legacy Tip - Using the Advanced Set Living Feature (Intelli-murder)
• Legacy Tip: Organizing Sources
• Your Legacy Database - Should You Split It?
• The Genealogy Happy Dance
• How to Add a Citation to a Digital Image
• Genealogy Goals for 2008, and a few Legacy Surprises
• Why Isn't It Free?
• Get More Done with Two Monitors
• How good are the FamilySearch Indexing indexes?
• Dreaming about Genealogy
• Split Screen and Dual Monitors Tips
• Online backup service brings peace of mind
• How to create a family tree bookmark
• A Year in Review - Legacy Family Tree in 2008
• Genealogy discovery behind the wallpaper
• How to combine multiple family files into one
• Which name should I record?
• Cast your vote - Legacy Genealogy Cruise 2010
• Dangerous temptations in genealogical research
• Legacy Tip: How to Display Conflicting Information
• Join us for a webinar on September 15 - Mapping Software for Genealogists
• Technology Tip: restoring old photographs
• How do you remember all of your passwords?

It has been a pleasure communicating and interacting with all of you. Here's to the next 1,000 posts!

Additions Made to Collections from Seven Other Countries

Historic records from eight countries have been digitized and added to FamilySearch.org. In addition to 1.8 million new U.S. records, collections from seven other countries were added: Canada, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Mexico, Philippines, and Poland. There are many gems for curious minds, such as the updates to the South Dakota 1945 State Census, New York court records, Indiana marriage records, or how about the service affidavits of Utahans who served in the militia during the Indian Wars from 1909-1917? Begin searching now at FamilySearch.org.

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer–driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Yesterday's webinar, Organizing for Success, presented by Karen Clifford, is now available in our webinar archives. In addition to Karen's ideas on organizing your paper files, she also had lots of research and analysis tips. One attendee commented, "Absolutely fascinating! Wish Karen had been my professor in college. Loved the way she systematically explained the information."

View the recording

If you could not make it to the live event, the 1 hour 58 minute recording of Organizing for Success is now available to view in our webinar archives. Visit www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/webinars.asp to watch. It will be available there indefinitely.

Congrats to the door prize winners

Thanks to Karen and her research company, Genealogy Research Associates, for donating these wonderful door prizes:

• Digging Deeper: Using Essential Pre-1850 Records, 352 pages
• Organizational Kit, acid-free, 99 pre-numbered filing tabs
• One free Record Lookup from the Family History Library

Pre-order the webinar-on-CD

Own your own copy of Organizing for Success by purchasing the webinar-on-CD for just $9.95. It includes the recording of the class and the complete Q/A session. 1 hour 58 minutes. Click here for more information or to purchase.

Special discount coupon

The special discount coupon of organize that was announced during the webinar is valid for 10% off anything in our online store through Monday, August 8, 2011.

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

• Newspapers for Genealogists with Tom Kemp - Wednesday, August 17, 2011
• Best Internet Resources for African American Genealogy with Angela Walton-Raji - Wednesday, August 31, 2011
• Watch Geoff Live: Adding a Census Record - Wednesday, September 7, 2011
• Facebook for Genealogists with Thomas MacEntee - Wednesday, September 14, 2011
• Researching Your Connecticut Ancestors with Marian Pierre-Louis - Wednesday, September 21, 2011
• "Ah hold your whisht and tell me the true story": Uncovering your Irish Family History with Jennifer Geraghty-Gorman

Click here to register.