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.
What's actually on your genealogy desk in 2026?
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Hi, Reader, Ten years ago, I was a "paper based" researcher. Yes, I was moving toward a completely digital system, but I still had a lot of paper. Plus, I had nn elaborate filing system that needed its own management system. Most of the paper is gone now. Good riddance. What's left on my desk is a small collection of tools that actually earn their place, and one upgrade I wish I'd made years earlier. That upgrade? A second monitor. Genealogy is essentially a constant comparison exercise. Records against notes. Documents side by side. Source next to tree. A second monitor means I do all of that without toggling back and forth like a tennis spectator. Once you work this way, single-screen research feels sluggish. In this week's new post, I'm sharing everything that's on my desk right now — and what's not. Including:
There's also a short, free toolkit list linked in the post if you want the quick version. 👉 My Minimalist Genealogy Office: The Tools I Actually Use (2026) You don't need a lot of office supplies to do strong genealogy research. You need a clear head and good evidence. Happy Ancestor Hunting! Lisa P.S. What is your go-to research tool? |
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, Where I live, “back to school” is a little complicated. We have traditional-calendar schools, year-round schools, modified year-round schools…basically, somebody is always going back to school. But August still feels like back-to-school season. And for genealogists, it’s a good reminder to ask a question we often overlook: What records did our ancestors leave behind when they went to school? School records can be surprisingly useful especially when you’re trying to place a family...
Hi, Reader, I bet you've done this. You've pulled the census for that ancestor more times than you can count. Same searches, same names, same dead end. Nothing that moves you forward. After years of searching, I finally took down a large section of a genealogy brick wall! Darwin Talbott left Virginia in 1848 and went "west". That's it. Family clues suggested I should start the search in Kentucky. For years I could not find him anywhere in Kentucky or elsewhere. Every name search came up...
Hi, Reader, Sometimes the best thing you can do for your family tree is not add another record. It’s to step back and ask yourself: Do I actually trust what I’ve built? On Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 PM Eastern, I’m hosting a free live genealogy workshop: Build a Family Tree You Can Trust: The key decisions that matter whether you’re starting today or starting over This workshop is for you if: You’re new to genealogy and want to start the right way You’ve been researching for years but have a...