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.
The genealogy tools hiding in your pocket
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Hi, Reader, Most genealogists think organization happens at the desk. I used to think that too. But some of my most-used research tools aren't on my computer. They're on my phone — and I reach for them constantly. At the courthouse. In the cemetery. On the couch with a stack of documents. The small moments add up faster than you'd think. This week I updated one of my most practical posts. This one has been sitting in the archives for a while, but the way I actually research today looks a lot different than it did when I first wrote it. So I've updated it. In it, I'm sharing 11 smartphone apps I use to stay organized including the MyHeritage app, which I consider essential for any on-site research day. I'll show you exactly how I use each one in real research situations, not just what they are. You don't need all 11 of these apps. But I'd be surprised if at least one or two didn't change how you capture and manage your research. 👉 Read The Best Genealogy Apps To Keep You Organized The best genealogy tools aren't always new databases. Sometimes they're just better ways to capture what you're already finding. Lisa P. S. Want a peek at what I do when I am not chasing ancestors? (I know you thought I spend all my waking hours researching, right?) Check out my other passions on my new Instagram channel. |
Are You My Cousin? Newsletter
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.
Hi, Reader, You've checked every database. Searched every spelling variation. Tried soundex, wildcards, and every creative workaround you know. You've gone back to sources you've already searched, just in case you missed something the first time. And your ancestor is still....missing. After years of searching for brick wall ancestors exactly like yours, I've learned something valuable: the wall isn't the problem. The research direction is. Let me show you what I mean. I've been working a case...
Hi, Reader, You found the death certificate. Name, date, cause of death confirmed. Filed away. Most genealogists stop there, but the four most useful clues on the document are still sitting unread. I just updated this post with exactly what to look for and why each one matters: → 4 Death Certificate Clues Everyone Misses The first I'd start with: the informant. Who reported the death? If it's a neighbor instead of a family member, that's not random. It's either evidence of estrangement, or a...
Hi, Reader, If you've been doing genealogy research for more than five minutes, you probably have them. A box. A folder. A stack of photographs with faces and zero names. They arrived from an aunt who was cleaning out a closet, or a cousin who "heard you do genealogy," or in my case — literally in the back of a car at Thanksgiving. They're sitting somewhere right now, and every time you look at them, you think: I should do something about these. Here's the thing — you can. And it doesn't...