Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
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May's genealogy grab bag 🌸
Published 3 days ago • 3 min read
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue.
Hi Reader,
You know that moment when you reach into your favorite tote bag and pull out exactly what you didn't know you needed? That's this week's newsletter. I'm mixing maiden name mysteries with AI research tips, tossing in family food stories, and adding a pinch of reunion wisdom.
It's your genealogy grab bag!
Some weeks I go deep on one topic, but this week felt like the perfect time to share a variety of thoughts and ideas that have been in my head recently. Pick what catches your eye, save the rest for later - or maybe you'll surprise yourself and find something unexpected that sparks your next research breakthrough.
Enjoy!
📽️NEW VIDEO
FINDING MAIDEN NAMES AT EVERY RESEARCH LEVEL
Finding your female ancestor's maiden name doesn't have to be an impossible puzzle! In my latest video, I'm breaking down 15 valuable resources organized by research level - from beginner-friendly records to advanced techniques.
You'll discover:
How to leverage children's birth certificates for mother's maiden names (standard by early 1900s)
How newspaper announcements years after the event can hold the clue you need
Why property transactions and land records can reveal maiden names through family connections
I've organized these resources by difficulty level, so you can start with the basics or jump straight to the advanced techniques.
I recently joined fellow YouTuber Aimee Cross to talk about something I'm always excited about - using AI to help create effective genealogy research plans! We covered 4 important things to include in your research plan prompt, and how artificial intelligence can provide steps to take and where to look.
On both her YouTube channel and website, Aimee is all about helping family history researchers level up their research. Be sure and grab Aimee's free resource "Starting Your Family Tree Right" to get started right and avoid common family tree mistakes.
Beyond names and dates lies your true family legacy - like a grandmother who changed the spelling of "Cecil" to "Cecile" because she didn’t like the more traditional male spelling. These personal touches create connections across generations and bring your ancestry to life.
Document meaningful stories alongside genealogy data
Spot patterns in family traits and habits
Create a shared legacy the whole family can access
The small details - how someone spelled their name, their quirky habits, their personal triumphs - tell us who our ancestors really were.
Planning a family reunion this summer? Or attending one? Here's a tip that goes beyond just collecting dates and names: focus on gathering stories.
At a family reunion I attended this spring, someone brought old scrapbooks full of family photos and newspaper clippings. They weren't just interesting to look at - they got people across generations talking, sharing memories, and connecting the dots between family members.
Here's how to make the most of story-gathering at your reunion:
Ask open-ended questions: "What do you remember about Grandma's kitchen?" instead of "When was Grandma born?"
Bring visual prompts like old photos, recipes, or objects - My FAVORITE way to get people talking - and connecting.
Set up a dedicated "story station" with a recorder or notebook
Get different generations together - kids often ask the best questions!
Remember: facts tell us what happened, but stories tell us who our ancestors really were.
🎙️NEW PODCAST EPISODE
MEET ASHLEY, MY CO-HOST
Last week on Passing the Plate, I sit down with my co-host Ashley Covelli to uncover the journey that led her to become a food writer, recipe developer, and cooking class instructor.
What makes this conversation special is Ashley's incredible connection to family food traditions. She shared great memories of being in the kitchen with three generations of family and learning Italian foods of her husband's heritage directly from her father-in-law. Her story is a perfect reminder of how recipes and cooking traditions connect us to our past in a tangible way.
If you've ever wondered how to preserve your family's food heritage or connect with older generations through cooking, this episode offers real inspiration.
How food traditions bind families together across generations
The importance of learning recipes from family members
Why the kitchen is often the heart of family storytelling
Our conversation delivers a fresh perspective on how food connects us to our ancestry and why preserving these traditions matters.
Actionable genealogy advice that you'll want to save in a special Gmail folder to grow your healthy family tree, sent weekly to 10,000+ readers.
Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, With Mother's Day just behind us, I've been thinking on the women who shaped my life. I was fortunate to grow up knowing both my grandmothers and even a great-grandmother—women who passed down the family stories alongside teaching me to cook and...
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, Recently, I spent a weekend with my daughter. We tried out new restaurants and bakeries 😋, sipped new spring coffee drinks and laced up our running shoes for a lovely mother-daughter run. (Yep, I'm still love running!) While sipping our peach cobbler...
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, Do you ever feel like you've hit a brick wall with your family research? This week, I want to share a simple habit that's helped me make numerous breakthroughs over the years - regularly rechecking genealogy databases for new content. Many researchers...
