Hi Reader,

I've often described genealogy research as a huge jigsaw puzzle, only we don't know what it looks like, and we have to find the puzzle pieces! 🧩 It's a good thing I LOVE puzzles!

There is almost always a puzzle (or 2) being put together on my dining room table. I'm not the only puzzle loving family member, which means I came home from TN recently with 8 more puzzles to do and pass along to the next cousin!

I expect you are a bit of a puzzler yourself. After all, you're here because you love genealogy. Those puzzle skills come in handy when you're trying to piece together family stories from scattered records and documents.

This week I'm sharing some resources that might help you find a few more pieces for your own family puzzle. Whether it's learning to read cemetery clues you might have missed or spotting overlooked details on death certificates, these techniques can help fill in those frustrating gaps in your research.

Ready to add some new pieces to your family story?

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📚FRESH FROMTHE BLOG!

The Death Certificate Details You're Probably Missing

You find your great-grandfather's death certificate after months of searching. You scan for the obvious stuff—name, date, cause of death—then file it away feeling accomplished.

But what if those "obvious" details aren't the most important bits of information to be had?

My latest blog post reveals 4 pieces of information hiding in plain sight on every death certificate. These overlooked clues have helped me:

• Discover unknown family members through informant relationships
• Track down correct immigration records using birthplace discrepancies
• Uncover family dynamics through occupation timelines
• Find new relatives through death location addresses

Each section includes actionable tips you can use immediately with the death certificates you already have.

Ready to see what you might be missing? Read 4 Death Certificate Clues Everyone Misses (The Hidden Stories)​

📽️VIDEO ALERT!

The Cemetery Mistake I Didn't Want to Share 😳

I just shared a story on YouTube that still makes me cringe a little. Picture this: I'm standing in a cemetery, excited to have found my ancestor Caswell Harward's gravestone after months of searching. I took photos, recorded details, and left feeling accomplished.

But here's the thing —I completely missed that I was standing in what was originally the old family cemetery. Those weathered stones nearby? They belonged to direct ancestors, taking me back two more generations. The clues were right there, and I walked away without seeing them. 😳

Don't let this happen to you. In this new video, I'm sharing:

• 5 foundational techniques that prevent these types of costly oversights (More to come in the future Part 2 video.)
• How to "read" a cemetery like a genealogy detective
• The most important question to ask yourself when researching your ancestor's burial place.

This is Part 1 of my updated cemetery research series. Part 2 drops soon with 3 more techniques.

🎥 Watch now: How to Read a Family Cemetery: Research Techniques I Wish I'd Known Sooner (Part 1)​

🤝 TOGETHER WITH STORIED* Your ancestors were more than birth dates and marriage records. They were people who changed their name spellings, refused to adjust clocks, and created the unique stories that shaped your family. Admit it, it’s those quirky ancestors that are your favorites! Storied gives you a place to document these meaningful details that traditional family history often overlooks. * = Promoted ​ Learn more

💡GENEALOGY TIP OF THE WEEK

The Cemetery Photo That Changes Everything

When photographing gravestones, don't forget the "context shot." Step back and capture a wide-angle photo showing the surrounding area and nearby stones.

That broader view often reveals family groupings and plot boundaries you might miss when you're focused on individual gravestones. Remember my embarrassing cemetery research mistake in this week's video? A "context photo" could have helped prevent that!

Want to take your cemetery photography to the next level? Over on the website professional photographer Diane Evans of PhotoFluent shares her expert techniques for capturing the best cemetery photos: Photographing Cemeteries: Telling the Story of Your Ancestors.​

Diane's tips will help you document your ancestors' resting places accurately while gathering all the genealogical clues those stones have to offer.

🛍️ EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE PLACE

Welcome to the AYMC Resource Hub

Since my website facelift back in March, I've been continuously tweaking and improving things behind the scenes. One of my latest updates is my refreshed Everything Page! Think of it as your one-stop shop for all the genealogy help you need.

Whether you're looking for:

• Free resources to jumpstart your research
• In-depth masterclasses to level up your skills
• One-on-one guidance to break through your brick walls

It's all organized in one convenient spot. No more hunting around my website wondering where to find what you need.

Two freebies I think you'll love right now:

• ​5 Proven Strategies to Find Your "Missing" Ancestors in Census Records​
• ​The Big Genie List - my curated collection of the best genealogy resources

​CHECK OUT THE EVERYTHING PAGE​

Happy ancestor hunting this week!

Lisa
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Lisa Lisson Genealogy Researcher, Author & Speaker