What a fun webinar that was today! The recording of today's webinar, Inheritance in Scotland - Wills, Testaments, and Land Records, by Marie Dougan, is now available to view in our webinar archives for a limited time. One viewer wrote, "She was so good that I wished I had Scottish ancestors!"

View the recording

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 30 minute recording of Inheritance in Scotland - Wills, Testaments, and Land Records is now available to view in our webinar archives for a limited time. Visit www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/webinars.asp to watch.

Pre-order the webinar-on-CD

Own your own copy of Inheritance in Scotland - Wills, Testaments, and Land Records by purchasing the webinar-on-CD for just $9.95. It includes the complete 1 hour 30 minute recording of the class, 3 pages of handouts, and complete Question/Answer session. Click here for more information or to purchase.

Special discount coupon

The special discount coupon of scotland2 that was announced during the webinar is valid for 10% off anything in our online store through Monday, February 4, 2013.

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

• Online Genealogy: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Linda Geiger. February 1.
• YouTube Your Family History by Devin Ashby. February 6.
• Pre-1850 U.S. Research Methodologies by Karen Clifford. February 13.
• Making the Most of Canadian Census Records by Kathryn Lake Hogan. February 20.
• Annie Moore of Ellis Island - A Case of Historical Identity Theft by Megan Smolenyak. February 27.
• Behind the Cheese Curtain: A Look at Wisconsin Genealogy Resources by Thomas MacEntee. March 6.
• Blogs: Easy-to-Make Web Pages by DearMYRTLE and Carrie Keele. March 8.
• Breaking Down Your Irish and Scottish Brick Wall in the New Poor Law Records of Scotland by Judy Wight. March 13.
• Evidence: Guidelines for Evaluating Genealogical Evidence by Linda Geiger. April 3.
• That First Trip to the Courthouse by Judy Russell. April 10.
• A Treasure Trove of Irish Websites by Judy Wight. April 17.
• What's New at FamilySearch by Devin Ashby. April 24.
• Researching your Roots in Rhode Island by Maureen Taylor. May 1.
• Blogging for Beginners with DearMYRTLE. May 3.
• Land Records Solve Research Problems by Mary Hill. May 15.
• Ten Hidden Resources Every Genealogist Should Know by Lisa Alzo. May 22.
• The New Frontier in Genetic Genealogy: Autosomal DNA Testing by Ugo Perego. May 29.
• The Genealogy of Your House by Marian Pierre-Louis. June 5.
• Get What You Came For: New Search Options Let You Target Obituaries, Photos, Passenger Lists, Births, Marriages, and More by Tom Kemp. June 12.
• Next Exit: Your New Jersey Ancestors by Thomas MacEntee. June 14.
• How Knowing the Law Makes Us Better Genealogists by Judy Russell. June 26.
• Canadian Ports of Entry: Ship Passenger Lists, Immigration Records, and Border Crossing Records by Kathryn Lake Hogan. July 10.
• Research in the Old Line State: An Overview of Maryland Genealogy by Michael Hait. July 17.
• Top Ten Techniques for Finding More in Library Catalogs by Barbara Renick. July 19.
• Top 21st Century Genealogy Resources - A Baker's Dozen by Tom Kemp. July 24.
• Direct Your Research with City Directories by Maureen Taylor. July 31.
• Captured For All Time: Recording Family Voices to Preserve and Pass Down by Marian Pierre-Louis. August 7.
• Digital Research Guidance, Research Logs, and To Do Lists: FamilySearch, Research Wiki, and Legacy FamilyTree by Geoff Rasmussen. August 14.
• Colonial Immigrants: Who They Were and Where They Came From by Mary Hill. August 28.
• Getting the Most from Your Records: Putting Them Through the Wringer! by Linda Geiger. September 4.
• More Blogging for Beginners with DearMYRTLE. September 6.
• You Use WHAT for Genealogy? by Thomas MacEntee. September 11.
• Don't Be an Audio Hog: Free and Easy Ways to Share Your Audio Files by Marian Pierre-Louis. September 18.
• Using Church Records to Identify Ancestors by Mary Hill. October 23.
• Using Court Records to tell the Story of our Ancestors' Lives by Judy Russell. October 30.
• Ancestry Trees Can Jump Start Your Research by DearMYRTLE. November 1.
• Researching with Marian! Creating a Research Plan with YOUR Research by Marian Pierre-Louis. November 6.
• Researching Your Ohio Ancestors by Lisa Alzo. November 13.
• Mind Mapping Your Research Plans and Results by Thomas MacEntee. November 20.
• How Computers & Gadgets are Changing Genealogy by Barbara Renick. December 4.
• Overcoming Lost Records Using Technology by Karen Clifford. December 18.

Click here to register.

See you online!

New genealogical resources, eLearning tools, “how-to” discussions, and other items useful to the genealogist and family historian appear online nearly every day. This webinar, presented by Linda Woodward Geiger, will provide some tips and tricks for staying current with data that is most important to you and your research. Some standards for using online sources and for sharing information with others will be also be addressed. 

Join us for the live webinar on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 2pm Eastern U.S. Register today to reserve your virtual seat. Registration is free but space is limited to the first 1,000 people to join that day. Before joining, please visit www.java.com to ensure you have the latest version of Java which our webinar software requires. When you join, if you receive a message that the webinar is full, you know we've reached the 1,000 limit, so we invite you to view the recording which should be published to the webinar archives within an hour or two of the event's conclusion.

Test Your Webinar Connection

To ensure that your webinar connection is ready to go, click here and then click on the "Test Your GoToWebinar Connection" link.

About the presenter 

Linda Woodward Geiger is a professional historical and genealogical researcher, author, and lecturer. She is an associate of the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG), holding credentials as a Certified Genealogist^sm and as a Certified Genealogical Lecturer^sm. Although she specializes in Georgia's state and county records prior to 1900 and a variety of federal records, particularly of the southeast region of the United States, she has extensive experience in Cherokee research before and during removal. She also specializes in methods for finding elusive ancestors--those mighty brick walls. 

Linda is the coordinator for a new course for the 2013 Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR)—The Five Civilized Tribes: The Records and Where to Find Them. 

Linda is on the board of the Georgia Genealogical Society and Friends of the National Archives Southeast Region. She moderates monthly webinars for each organization and serves as their respective webmaster. 

She is also the author of:

• Genealogy for Novices: Where Do We Begin? webinar-on-CD

Add it to your Google Calendar

With our Google Calendar button, you will never forget our upcoming webinars. Simply click the button to add it to your calendar. You can then optionally embed the webinar events (and even turn them on and off) into your own personal calendar. If you have already added the calendar, you do not have to do it again - the new webinar events will automatically appear.

Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Friday, February 1, 2013 at:

• 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
• 1pm Central
• 12pm Mountain/Arizona
• 11am Pacific
• 7pm GMT

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

1. Register at www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/webinars.asp today. It's free!
2. You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
3. You will receive a reminder email during the week prior to the webinar.
4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
5. Make sure you have the latest version of Java installed on your computer. Check at www.java.com.
6. Check your GoToWebinar connection here by clicking on the "Test Your GoToWebinar Connection" link.
7. Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
8. Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

Legacy QuickGuides^TM are quickly becoming one of the more popular resources for genealogists. Each guide contains four pages of valuable information covering a variety of genealogy research topics, and are written by genealogists and family historians who are experts in the subject areas. Today we announce the availability of twelve new Legacy QuickGuides:

• Connecticut Genealogy
• Italian Genealogy
• Nova Scotia Genealogy
• World War I and World War II Military Records
• Pennsylvania Genealogy
• Using U.S. Census Records
• African-American Genealogy
• Alberta Genealogy
• Québec Genealogy
• Researching Your U.S. Civil War Ancestors
• Croatian Genealogy
• Ontario Genealogy

Our Legacy QuickGuide collection is quickly growing - 25 to choose from now. Click on the links below for more information or to purchase. PDFs are $2.95 and printed/laminated copies are $7.95. Click here for instructions on using the PDF guides on your tablet or smartphone.

United States

• New York Genealogy
• African-American Genealogy
• Using U.S. Census Records
• Connecticut Genealogy
• Pennsylvania Genealogy

Canada

• Canadian Genealogy
• Researching Your Loyalist Ancestors
• Ontario Genealogy
• Québec Genealogy
• Alberta Genealogy
• Nova Scotia Genealogy

Europe

• Italian Genealogy
• Slovak Genealogy
• Czech Genealogy
• Croatian Genealogy

Military

• Researching Your Loyalist Ancestors
• Researching Your U.S. Civil War Ancestors
• World War I and World War II Military Records

General

• Land and Property Records
• Genealogy for Kids
• Lineage Societies and Genealogy
• Using Historical Newspapers for Genealogy
• Finding Your Female Ancestors
• Preserving Family Heirlooms
• Starting a Family Archive

If you have Scottish ancestry, don't miss Webinar Wednesday presented by Marie Dougan. In "Inheritance in Scotland: Wills, Testaments, and Land Records," Marie will explore these records which are all useful in providing further evidence and documentation for your Scottish ancestors. She will be presenting from Glasgow, Scotland - you'll love her accent!

Join us for the live webinar on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 2pm Eastern U.S. Register today to reserve your virtual seat. Registration is free but space is limited to the first 1,000 people to join that day. Before joining, please visit www.java.com to ensure you have the latest version of Java which our webinar software requires. When you join, if you receive a message that the webinar is full, you know we've reached the 1,000 limit, so we invite you to view the recording which should be published to the webinar archives within an hour or two of the event's conclusion.

Test Your Webinar Connection

To ensure that your webinar connection is ready to go, click here and then click on the "Test Your GoToWebinar Connection" link.

About the presenter 

Marie Dougan is a professional genealogist based in Scotland who holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. She has been involved in researching genealogy for over 14 years. Marie has an extensive background in education and provides a variety of training courses in genealogy, including the courses she teaches at the University of Strathclyde. She has a particular interest in the applications of technologies to assist in genealogical research. Marie is the owner of Ancestral Consultants which provides a range of professional genealogy services.

She is also the author of:

• Researching Your Scottish Ancestors webinar-on-CD

Add it to your Google Calendar

With our Google Calendar button, you will never forget our upcoming webinars. Simply click the button to add it to your calendar. You can then optionally embed the webinar events (and even turn them on and off) into your own personal calendar. If you have already added the calendar, you do not have to do it again - the new webinar events will automatically appear.

Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at:

• 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
• 1pm Central
• 12pm Mountain/Arizona
• 11am Pacific
• 7pm GMT

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

1. Register at www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/webinars.asp today. It's free!
2. You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
3. You will receive a reminder email during the week prior to the webinar.
4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
5. Make sure you have the latest version of Java installed on your computer. Check at www.java.com.
6. Check your GoToWebinar connection here by clicking on the "Test Your GoToWebinar Connection" link.
7. Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
8. Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

Another great week from FamilySearch:

FamilySearch added an additional 2 million new, free indexed records and images this week to its collection. Notable additions include the 995,820 indexed records and images in the new Ohio County Births from 1841-2003 collection, and the 363,235 indexed records for the United States Index to General Correspondence of the Pension Office from 1889-1904. Another new searchable record was also added this week for Ohio, Scioto County Probate Records from 1885-1887. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org.

Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world’s historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org.

FamilySearch 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 and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources for free at FamilySearch.org or through more than 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The recording of today's webinar, Best Internet Resources for East European Genealogy, by Lisa, is now available to view in our webinar archives for a limited time. One viewer described Lisa "like a fantastic genealogical tour guide of all the countries she's describing." Lisa did a terrific job getting us started with online research for these countries and her enthusiasm was contagious. If you have East European ancestors, do not miss this recording.

View the recording

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 30 minute recording of Best Internet Resources for East European Genealogy is now available to view in our webinar archives for a limited time. Visit www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/webinars.asp to watch.

Pre-order the webinar-on-CD

Own your own copy of Best Internet Resources for East European Genealogy by purchasing the webinar-on-CD for just $9.95. It includes the complete 1 hour 30 minute recording of the class, 5 pages of handouts, and complete Question/Answer session. Click here for more information or to purchase.

Special discount coupon

The special discount coupon of europe that was announced during the webinar is valid for 10% off anything in our online store through Monday, January 28, 2013.

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

• Inheritance in Scotland - Wills, Testaments, and Land Records by Marie Dougan. January 30.
• Online Genealogy: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Linda Geiger. February 1.
• YouTube Your Family History by Devin Ashby. February 6.
• Pre-1850 U.S. Research Methodologies by Karen Clifford. February 13.
• Making the Most of Canadian Census Records by Kathryn Lake Hogan. February 20.
• Annie Moore of Ellis Island - A Case of Historical Identity Theft by Megan Smolenyak. February 27.
• Behind the Cheese Curtain: A Look at Wisconsin Genealogy Resources by Thomas MacEntee. March 6.
• Blogs: Easy-to-Make Web Pages by DearMYRTLE and Carrie Keele. March 8.
• Breaking Down Your Irish and Scottish Brick Wall in the New Poor Law Records of Scotland by Judy Wight. March 13.
• Evidence: Guidelines for Evaluating Genealogical Evidence by Linda Geiger. April 3.
• That First Trip to the Courthouse by Judy Russell. April 10.
• A Treasure Trove of Irish Websites by Judy Wight. April 17.
• What's New at FamilySearch by Devin Ashby. April 24.
• Researching your Roots in Rhode Island by Maureen Taylor. May 1.
• Blogging for Beginners with DearMYRTLE. May 3.
• Land Records Solve Research Problems by Mary Hill. May 15.
• Ten Hidden Resources Every Genealogist Should Know by Lisa Alzo. May 22.
• The New Frontier in Genetic Genealogy: Autosomal DNA Testing by Ugo Perego. May 29.
• The Genealogy of Your House by Marian Pierre-Louis. June 5.
• Get What You Came For: New Search Options Let You Target Obituaries, Photos, Passenger Lists, Births, Marriages, and More by Tom Kemp. June 12.
• Next Exit: Your New Jersey Ancestors by Thomas MacEntee. June 19.
• How Knowing the Law Makes Us Better Genealogists by Judy Russell. June 26.
• Canadian Ports of Entry: Ship Passenger Lists, Immigration Records, and Border Crossing Records by Kathryn Lake Hogan. July 10.
• Research in the Old Line State: An Overview of Maryland Genealogy by Michael Hait. July 17.
• Top Ten Techniques for Finding More in Library Catalogs by Barbara Renick. July 19.
• Top 21st Century Genealogy Resources - A Baker's Dozen by Tom Kemp. July 24.
• Direct Your Research with City Directories by Maureen Taylor. July 31.
• Captured For All Time: Recording Family Voices to Preserve and Pass Down by Marian Pierre-Louis. August 7.
• Digital Research Guidance, Research Logs, and To Do Lists: FamilySearch, Research Wiki, and Legacy FamilyTree by Geoff Rasmussen. August 14.
• Colonial Immigrants: Who They Were and Where They Came From by Mary Hill. August 28.
• Getting the Most from Your Records: Putting Them Through the Wringer! by Linda Geiger. September 4.
• More Blogging for Beginners with DearMYRTLE. September 6.
• You Use WHAT for Genealogy? by Thomas MacEntee. September 11.
• Don't Be an Audio Hog: Free and Easy Ways to Share Your Audio Files by Marian Pierre-Louis. September 18.
• Using Church Records to Identify Ancestors by Mary Hill. October 23.
• Using Court Records to tell the Story of our Ancestors' Lives by Judy Russell. October 30.
• Ancestry Trees Can Jump Start Your Research by DearMYRTLE. November 1.
• Researching with Marian! Creating a Research Plan with YOUR Research by Marian Pierre-Louis. November 6.
• Researching Your Ohio Ancestors by Lisa Alzo. November 13.
• Mind Mapping Your Research Plans and Results by Thomas MacEntee. November 20.
• How Computers & Gadgets are Changing Genealogy by Barbara Renick. December 4.
• Overcoming Lost Records Using Technology by Karen Clifford. December 18.

Click here to register.

See you online!

With more information coming online and greater access to records, there’s never been a better time to research your Eastern European ancestors. Learn about the best Internet resources for locating records, maps, networking with fellow researchers, and tracking down information abroad.

Join us for the live webinar on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 2pm Eastern U.S. Register today to reserve your virtual seat. Registration is free but space is limited to the first 1,000 people to join that day. Before joining, please visit www.java.com to ensure you have the latest version of Java which our webinar software requires. When you join, if you receive a message that the webinar is full, you know we've reached the 1,000 limit, so we invite you to view the recording which should be published to the webinar archives within an hour or two of the event's conclusion.

About the presenter

Lisa A. Alzo. M.F.A. is a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer, specializing in Slovak/Eastern European genealogical research, writing your family history, and using the Internet to trace female and immigrant ancestors. She is the author of nine books, including the award-winning Three Slovak Women, and hundreds of magazine articles, and writes the blog "The Accidental Genealogist."

She is also the author of:

• Beyond the Arrival Date: Extracting More from Passenger Lists webinar-on-CD
• Researching Your Pennsylvania Ancestors webinar-on-CD
• Digital Writing Tools for Genealogists webinar-on-CD
• Tracing Immigrant Ancestors webinar-on-CD
• Ready, Set Write! Share Your Family's Story webinar-on-CD

Her webinar CDs can be found here.

Add it to your Google Calendar

With our Google Calendar button, you will never forget our upcoming webinars. Simply click the button to add it to your calendar. You can then optionally embed the webinar events (and even turn them on and off) into your own personal calendar. If you have already added the calendar, you do not have to do it again - the new webinar events will automatically appear.

Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at:

• 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
• 1pm Central
• 12pm Mountain/Arizona
• 11am Pacific
• 7pm GMT

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

1. Register at www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/webinars.asp today. It's free!
2. You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
3. You will receive a reminder email during the week prior to the webinar.
4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
5. Make sure you have the latest version of Java installed on your computer. Check at www.java.com.
6. Check your GoToWebinar connection here by clicking on the "Test Your GoToWebinar Connection" link.
7. Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
8. Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

FamilySearch added an additional 7 million new, free indexed records and images this week to its collection. Notable additions include the 1,747,863 indexed records and images in the Slovakia Church and Synagogue Books collection from 1592-1910, the 1,308,956 indexed records from the United States General Index to Pension Files collection from 1861-1934, the 1,115,732 images for the Luxembourg Census Records collection from 1843-1900, and the 1,023,459 added to the United States Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, from 1820-1874. New searchable records were also added this week for Colombia and six states in the US collections. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org.

Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world’s historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org.

FamilySearch 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 and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources for free at FamilySearch.org or through more than 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The recording of yesterday's webinar, In the Trenches: Successful On-Site Research, by Marian Pierre-Louis, is now available to view in our webinar archives for a limited time. One viewer described the webinar as a "very useful detailed guide to preparation for a trip to a research facility." Another commented, "this webinar is a must for newcomers, however, regardless of how advanced a researcher you are, you will always learn something new."

If you enjoyed the live webinar, you are going to really, really enjoy your 2nd viewing of it in this recording. After the live webinar, Marian re-recorded the first thirty minutes to give you additional on-site research advice, and shortened some of the transportation/food suggestions. If you weren't at the live event - you won't notice a thing - she did a terrific job! Don't miss her 7 pages of syllabus materials on the webinar CD which contain all her on-site research checklists (available in both .pdf and .doc formats).

View the recording

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 35 minute recording of In the Trenches: Successful On-Site Research is now available to view in our webinar archives for a limited time. Visit www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/webinars.asp to watch.

Pre-order the webinar-on-CD

Own your own copy of In the Trenches: Successful On-Site Research by purchasing the webinar-on-CD for just $9.95. It includes the complete 1 hour 35 minute recording of the class, 7 pages of handouts, and complete Question/Answer session. Click here for more information or to purchase.

Special discount coupon

The special discount coupon of onsite that was announced during the webinar is valid for 10% off anything in our online store through Monday, January 21, 2013.

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

• Best Internet Resources for East European Genealogy by Lisa Alzo. January 23.
• Inheritance in Scotland - Wills, Testaments, and Land Records by Marie Dougan. January 30.
• Online Genealogy: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Linda Geiger. February 1.
• YouTube Your Family History by Devin Ashby. February 6.
• Pre-1850 U.S. Research Methodologies by Karen Clifford. February 13.
• Making the Most of Canadian Census Records by Kathryn Lake Hogan. February 20.
• Annie Moore of Ellis Island - A Case of Historical Identity Theft by Megan Smolenyak. February 27.
• Behind the Cheese Curtain: A Look at Wisconsin Genealogy Resources by Thomas MacEntee. March 6.
• Blogs: Easy-to-Make Web Pages by DearMYRTLE and Carrie Keele. March 8.
• Breaking Down Your Irish and Scottish Brick Wall in the New Poor Law Records of Scotland by Judy Wight. March 13.
• Evidence: Guidelines for Evaluating Genealogical Evidence by Linda Geiger. April 3.
• That First Trip to the Courthouse by Judy Russell. April 10.
• A Treasure Trove of Irish Websites by Judy Wight. April 17.
• What's New at FamilySearch by Devin Ashby. April 24.
• Researching your Roots in Rhode Island by Maureen Taylor. May 1.
• Blogging for Beginners with DearMYRTLE. May 3.
• Land Records Solve Research Problems by Mary Hill. May 15.
• Ten Hidden Resources Every Genealogist Should Know by Lisa Alzo. May 22.
• The New Frontier in Genetic Genealogy: Autosomal DNA Testing by Ugo Perego. May 29.
• The Genealogy of Your House by Marian Pierre-Louis. June 5.
• Get What You Came For: New Search Options Let You Target Obituaries, Photos, Passenger Lists, Births, Marriages, and More by Tom Kemp. June 12.
• Next Exit: Your New Jersey Ancestors by Thomas MacEntee. June 19.
• How Knowing the Law Makes Us Better Genealogists by Judy Russell. June 26.
• Canadian Ports of Entry: Ship Passenger Lists, Immigration Records, and Border Crossing Records by Kathryn Lake Hogan. July 10.
• Research in the Old Line State: An Overview of Maryland Genealogy by Michael Hait. July 17.
• Top Ten Techniques for Finding More in Library Catalogs by Barbara Renick. July 19.
• Top 21st Century Genealogy Resources - A Baker's Dozen by Tom Kemp. July 24.
• Direct Your Research with City Directories by Maureen Taylor. July 31.
• Captured For All Time: Recording Family Voices to Preserve and Pass Down by Marian Pierre-Louis. August 7.
• Digital Research Guidance, Research Logs, and To Do Lists: FamilySearch, Research Wiki, and Legacy FamilyTree by Geoff Rasmussen. August 14.
• Colonial Immigrants: Who They Were and Where They Came From by Mary Hill. August 28.
• Getting the Most from Your Records: Putting Them Through the Wringer! by Linda Geiger. September 4.
• More Blogging for Beginners with DearMYRTLE. September 6.
• You Use WHAT for Genealogy? by Thomas MacEntee. September 11.
• Don't Be an Audio Hog: Free and Easy Ways to Share Your Audio Files by Marian Pierre-Louis. September 18.
• Using Church Records to Identify Ancestors by Mary Hill. October 23.
• Using Court Records to tell the Story of our Ancestors' Lives by Judy Russell. October 30.
• Ancestry Trees Can Jump Start Your Research by DearMYRTLE. November 1.
• Researching with Marian! Creating a Research Plan with YOUR Research by Marian Pierre-Louis. November 6.
• Researching Your Ohio Ancestors by Lisa Alzo. November 13.
• Mind Mapping Your Research Plans and Results by Thomas MacEntee. November 20.
• How Computers & Gadgets are Changing Genealogy by Barbara Renick. December 4.
• Overcoming Lost Records Using Technology by Karen Clifford. December 18.

Click here to register.

See you online!

Thanks to guest blogger, Lisa Alzo, for this article.

Is finally finding those elusive East European ancestors one of your genealogy goals or resolutions for 2013?  You’ll be happy to know that with greater access to records, and a number of archival efforts in various countries, more information is coming online. Here are five places to start your search.

1. FamilySearch. With millions of records online that can be viewed for free—including many for Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine—the FamilySearch site is a fabulous resource. Start with the FamilySearch Wiki to learn more about each country, and about FamilySearch digitized and microfilm record collections, and find links to maps, gazetteers, word lists, letter writing guides, and more!

2. Online archival sites. Many archives and organizations are digitizing records and putting them online.  Some examples include: Acta Publica and Prague City Archives (Czech Republic) Estonian Historical Archives (Estonia), Geneteka  (Poland) Latvian State Historical Archives (Latvia).

3. Federation of East European Family History Societies.  Use the Federation of East European Family History Societies (FEEFHS) free online map library to view historic maps to help you pinpoint your ancestral town or village, and its free resource directory to follow links to country-specific genealogy resources.

4. Special collections of libraries and repositories. Public and university libraries have books, manuscripts, microfilmed records and other special collections worth searching for information you might be missing.  Many have begun digitizing records and making them available online (some to the general public).  If the records are not digitized, most sites have finding aids or research guides you can download to learn about both online and onsite research.  A few excellent examples include Connecticut Polish American Archives at Central Connecticut State University, the Polish Room at the University of Buffalo, The Czech and Slovak Collections at the Library of Congress, and the Slavic Resources and Ukrainian Collection at the University of Toronto. You can also search WorldCat to locate other libraries and collections.

5. Google. Utilize the power of Google to search for your ancestors’ names and hometowns.  You would be surprised at how many towns and villages have their own Websites.  In addition, you may find a blog (Geneabloggers lists more than 3,000 genealogy and family history blogs), a Facebook page, or a Pinterest board related to surnames or places you’re researching.  Don’t forget to use the advanced search feature to find pages published in a particular region (e.g. Slovakia, Hungary, etc.)

Want to learn more?  Register for the free January 23, 2013 Legacy Family Tree webinar on Best Internet Resources for East European Genealogy, and check out the currently available Legacy QuickGuides™ on Czech, Slovak, and Croatian genealogy. Watch for other guides coming soon!

Even if your family history quest does not take you to Eastern Europe, you can still investigate the above resources and tailor your searches to suit your needs!

Lisa A. Alzo is a freelance writer, instructor, and lecturer who has been tracking her ancestors for over 23 years. She is a frequent presenter for the Legacy Family Tree Webinars series and can be contacted via http://www.lisaalzo.com.