Are you keeping up with the latest?

I try to keep up with the latest local news, important national news items, and as much as I can about the world news.  I haven't always kept up on the latest genealogy news, have you?

I decided to update you on where I go to get the latest genealogy news!

My first stop is the FamilySearch Blog at https://familysearch.org/blog/en/  This blog offers so much! You can search for a topic using the search feature or you can go directly to a category such as, Community Projects, Genealogy in the News, or Tech Tips.  

Last month at FamilySearch Blog, it was announced that an online publication of more Freedmen's Bureau Records would be available to honor Juneteenth. WHAT?  You don't know what the "Juneteenth Celebration" is?  It is a festival held each year on the 19th of June by African Americans (especially in the south), to celebrate and remember the emancipation from slavery in Texas on that day in 1865.

Picture taken from houstorian.wordpress.com

This month, I read about a new app they have at FamilySearch called:  FamilySearch Mobile Memories.  It is for anyone to use to capture and preserve pictures via your mobile device.  Not only can you preserve your pictures, but your VOICE telling a story!  How neat!  You will want to learn more about this app.  The best part is that your memories are housed FOREVER in the FamilySearch vaults and always accessible.

My next visit is to Dick Eastman's blog titled Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter at http://blog.eogn.com/  I learned about this genealogy guru many years ago from my friend and mentor, Maureen Brady. (Shout out to Maureen in Illinois!!  Hi Maureen!) Mr. Eastman writes about many topics, but he is especially knowledgeable in software, genealogy tech, and what's happening with other genealogy sites like Ancestry.com, Fold3, and the National Archives. He seems to know the news before anyone else and his reviews of new products are greatly appreciated.

New apps for genealogists are popping up all over the place.  In particular, RootsMagic has a new app.  I love, love, love my RootsMagic software and now you can carry your genealogy with you on your Android device.  It's FREE!  The app is available right now on Google Play and the Amazon app store.  More information is available at www.rootsmagic.com/app.

Ancestry.com has a blog too.  They keep us up to date on all the latest genealogy happenings. Go to http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry and read through the many blog topics or you can search for a specific topic you are interested in.

We have 3 big genealogy workshops coming up in our local area over the next few months.  Local events can be a lifeline to outside information!  Even if the topics don't interest you, consider going to these workshops.  It is not only the material taught that you learn from, but the other people in attendance.  Just a few weeks back, I was talking to another genealogy friend who told me about all the success she has had using the Allen County website at www.genealogycenter.org. This website is full of material, but in particular, Sharon Watson found that the digital family history books available were just what she needed!

Genealogy is a growing and you won't want to be left in the dark ages!  Keep up with the news...genealogy news!