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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For May 6
Published 16 days ago • 4 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,
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 lattes, I asked about her interest in family history. Specifically, I asked her what parts of the family history and genealogy facts I've shared over the years sparked her interest. I wanted to know what parts she connected with.
Know what she said? It's the stories. Not the "dry" facts.
The stories of her farming ancestors growing what they ate. The stories of what her Eastern European Jewish ancestors experienced as they settled in America.
It was a sharp reminder that I'm not just a collector of facts—I'm the storyteller who brings our ancestors' experiences to life for those who come after us. You're your family's storyteller, too!
What stories from your family research have captivated your younger relatives? I'd love to know what sparks their curiosity!
📽️NEW VIDEO
TIPS FROM READERS WHO'VE BEEN THERE
In a recent newsletter, I asked readers to share their best advice for someone just starting out researching their family tree. I was so impressed with the advice everyone sent in! This week, I'm sharing the top advice from our community of researchers. If you are new to genealogy or know someone who is, you definitely want to watch. And, if you have been researching a while, you might just pick up a new tip along the way!
Learn why starting with yourself creates the strongest foundation
Discover how timeline sheets quickly reveal research gaps
Find out why your ancestor's siblings might hold the key to breaking through brick walls
From creating effective research strategies to avoiding common pitfalls, these viewer submitted tips will help you build a solid, accurate family tree from day one.
Keep your eye out for upcoming videos over on the YouTube Channel. Among a variety of topics I will be covering are:
Cemetery research - Now that the weather is warm, it's time to take our research offline and out of the office!
A unique look at women in the family tree
Where my research went wrong.... I'll be sharing where a family research project went off the rails!
Subscribe to my channel so you don't miss these upcoming videos! What topic would you like me to cover next? Hit reply & let me know!
🤝IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STORIED*
PRESERVE YOUR FAMILY'S QUIRKY STORIES
Family history goes beyond dates and genealogy charts. Storied helps you document the meaningful moments, quirky habits, and personal tales that make your ancestors come alive for future generations.
Capture stories alongside family tree data
Connect and collaborate with relatives
Preserve memories that would otherwise fade away
Don't let your great-grandmother's refusal to change her clock for daylight savings time become a forgotten memory. (Yes, she really did refuse to change!) Start recording what matters with Storied.
9 PLACES TO SEARCH FOR THE WOMEN IN YOUR FAMILY TREE
Tired of seeing your family tree branches end abruptly with your female ancestors? You're not alone. Women's stories often hide in plain sight, waiting for the right research approach to bring them to light.
Find records where women kept their maiden names
Learn which community documents reveal women's lives and relationships
Discover alternative sources when marriage records are missing
My guide "9 Places To Start Searching For Your Female Ancestor" gives you practical, actionable starting points to break through those brick walls and continue building your family's story.
Don't let the women in your family tree remain shadows in history.
Wondering why everyone was sipping mint juleps while watching thoroughbreds race this past weekend? This week, we're diving into Kentucky's spirited culinary heritage.
Discover the fascinating differences between bourbon and whiskey
Learn the historical significance of mint juleps at the Kentucky Derby
Explore how these iconic spirits have shaped American food culture
We talk all about Kentucky's most famous libation and its enduring connection to one of America's oldest sporting traditions. Whether you're a bourbon enthusiast or simply curious about these classic Derby weekend flavors, this episode offers a refreshing look at the intersection of food, drink, and cultural history.
Ever spent hours searching a record collection only to come up empty-handed? Before diving into your next search, take two minutes to read the collection's description—it could save you hours of frustration.
Record collection descriptions reveal:
Exact years and locations covered (and more importantly, what's missing)
Whether records are complete or if portions didn't survive
Special circumstances that affected how records were created or preserved
Original source information and digitization details
This simple habit of reading descriptions before searching will dramatically improve your research efficiency and help you pivot to alternative sources when needed.
Whether you're just beginning your family history journey or breaking through decades-old brick walls, remember that persistence and proper research techniques are your best allies.
Happy Ancestor Hunting!
Lisa
P.S. Love what you're reading in Are You My Cousin? newsletter? Help us reach more genealogy enthusiasts like yourself. Share this email with interested friends and tell your friends to subscribe here.
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, 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...
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, 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...
