Hi Reader,

I have a number of letters and postcards to and from my great grandmother from the 1910's and early 1920's. Once thing I noticed is no matter how short the correspondence was, they always talked about the weather!

So, in a nod to my great grandmother and her friends, let's talk about the weather roller coaster we've been on recently. Early last week I was bundled up against the cold and later in the week, I did my morning run in shorts! 😎 Of course, the next day, it was back to sweaters.

Now on to genealogy...

Once again, my research took me back into the census records. I used both state and federal census records to tell an ancestor's story to a "non-genealogy" family. And you know what? I saw that family history spark in their eyes. The U.S. census records told a story, and the state census records filled it in.

So, in this week's census inspired newsletter find:

• A brand-new video all about those often-overlooked state census records
• A "wild" genealogy tip
• A new-to-you genealogy resource
• PLUS, a Valentine's Day sale in the shop.

Let's dive in!

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📽️NEW VIDEO

EXPLORE STATE CENSUS RECORDS

While federal census records get most of the attention, state census records often reveal unique details about our ancestors - from their religious affiliations to Civil War service and property ownership.

You'll learn:

• How to find which states took census records (and when)
• What unique information states collected
• Practical search strategies that work
• Tips for getting the most out of your census research

Plus, I share fun examples of the details you might find in these often-overlooked records.

Ready to strengthen your genealogy research skills?

👀Watch Smart State Census Tips for Your Genealogy Research NOW!​
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🌳ROOTSTECH 2025 in SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Write Powerful AI Prompts to Unlock Your Family History

Friday, March 7, 2025 @ 8:00 AM (MT) / Room 251

​RootsTech 2025 is quickly approaching, and I'm thrilled to be able to present in-person once again. If you are attending the in-person event in Salt Lake City, I hope you will join me on that Friday morning to learn about crafting AI prompts. Here is the description of my session:

Explore the strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI) prompts in genealogical research. By understanding how to craft clear and compelling prompts, you will learn how to unlock the full potential of AI tools and improve your research outcomes.

Learn how AI can assist researchers in uncovering social history details about their ancestors, brainstorm brick wall ancestors, generate captivating story ideas for family narratives, and streamline the research process.

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🛒IN THE SHOP - A VALENTINE'S DAY SALE!

GENEALOGY RESEARCH AUDITS!

Give your genealogy research the love it deserves this Valentine's Day! 💝

Ready to transform your scattered research into organized success? From February 11-17, I'm offering a special Valentine's promotion on my Genealogy Audit services.​

⭐Save 25% on Genealogy Audits that include:

• Get a personalized research strategy tailored to your family history
• Have an expert review YOUR specific research challenges
• Receive a customized action plan to break through brick walls

Choose your perfect match:

• Basic Audit: Comprehensive review + strategic written roadmap
• Premium Audit: Basic Audit PLUS 60-minute private consultation

Don't let another research opportunity slip away. Treat yourself (and your ancestors!) to clarity and direction in your family history journey.

Reserve your spot before February 17th to lock in this special Valentine's rate!

💡GENEALOGY TIP

TRY A WILDCARD SEARCH

When searching census records, sometimes you have to get a little "wild"! Spelling variations can make or break your research success, but you can overcome the confusions they cause.

Census takers often wrote names as they heard them, leading to creative spellings of even the most common surnames. Add poor handwriting to that and inaccurate transcriptions can result.

Understanding how to perform a wildcard search and use those wildcard characters in your searches helps overcome these spelling hurdles. The asterisk (*) replaces multiple letters, while the question mark (?) replaces a single letter. Both can be powerful tools when searching for ancestors with common names or longer, more complicated names. For example, searching for "Br?wn" catches Brown, Browne, and even Brawn. Experiment using the (*) and the (?) in your searches!

For a detailed guide on implementing wildcard searches in your research, check out my blog post on How To Perform a Genealogy Wildcard Search.​

⭐GENEALOGY RESOURCE

THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU'S WEBSITE

The U.S. Census Bureau's website offers valuable historical context for understanding your ancestors' census records. Beyond population statistics, researchers can access original census questionnaires, detailed enumerator instructions, and historical boundary maps that provide crucial context for interpreting census entries.

Understanding how census takers were instructed to gather the information and the actual questions they asked provides important insight for understanding our ancestors in the records.

For genealogists researching outside the United States, start with your country's national statistics office website. These agencies typically maintain historical census records and often provide research guides specific to their collections. Consider joining local genealogical societies in your research area, as they frequently maintain specialized knowledge about accessing and interpreting regional census records. FamilySearch's Research Wiki also offers comprehensive guides for census records worldwide, with country-specific search strategies and record availability.

As always, I'm here to help you succeed in your genealogy research journey. Keep moving forward with purpose in your family history research, and I'll see you next week with more tips and strategies.

Happy Ancestor Hunting!

Lisa
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Lisa Lisson Genealogy Researcher, Author & Speaker