Genealogy Gems: Recent Episodes
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Overwhelmed by the onslaught of new AI tools for genealogy? In this episode, we’ll explore this growing category of tools and how to evaluate whether they’re worth your time and money. I’ll also share how to determine whether a FamilySearch AI Assistant suggestion is fact or fiction. Listen to Premium Podcast Episode 226 Show […]Source
(AUDIO PODCAST) Alex Haley’s book Roots: The Saga of an American Family was published on August 17, 1976. In this episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke welcomes historian (and nephew of Alex Haley) Chris Haley to discuss the remarkable impact of Haley’s seminal work, “Roots,” nearly 50 years after its release. […]Source
(AUDIO PODCAST) When building your family tree it’s easy to skip over your own parents in the excitement to go back generations. Just in time for Father’s Day we are exploring practical strategies for uncovering and preserving your dad’s life story. Learn how to get around privacy restrictions barriers on records, build a timeline, conduct […]Source
In this episode, we begin with an extraordinary DNA discovery story that proves family history can still deliver life-changing surprises. Then to help you make more discoveries, we explore newly released record collections from MyHeritage and Ancestry, highlight a free upcoming genealogy webinar from the Library of Congress, and share news about two major genealogy […]Source
(AUDIO PODCAST) Join me and professional forensic genealogist and military research expert Michael Strauss in this new podcast episode for a guided tour through military records. Michael will unpack draft registration records, compiled military service records, enlistment types, and the different branches of the military (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard). Learn how to follow […]Source
Great-grandma may be listed as a widow in the 1900 federal census…but she might not actually be a widow after all. Women in the past sometimes claimed widowhood to protect their family’s good name. A recent reader’s question prompted this post for sharing some tips to finding widows, disappearing husbands, and lost relatives. By Amie Bowser Tennant […]Source
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Finding the maiden names of your ancestors can be challenging, but with the right research strategies they can be found. Author Shelley Bishop joins me in this episode to discuss 12 strategies for finding elusive maiden names of female ancestors. Then I’ll cover additional resources to help you track down the […]Source
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Food has always been at the center of family life, so if you want to know more about your family’s history, a logical and tasty place to start is with your family’s culinary heritage. The food they ate and the recipes they cooked can actually tell you a lot about them, and […]Source
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Learn the 5 steps to successfully finding marriage records for genealogy research. Listen to the Podcast Episode To Listen click the media player below (AUDIO ONLY): Video & Show Notes Watch the video version and get the show notes article: 5 Steps to Finding Marriage Records for Genealogy. If you’re a Genealogy […]Source
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Do you have a Revolutionary War ancestor? Have you thought about joining the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)? I’ve invited Barbara Jurs of the DAR to explain the process. In this podcast episode, you’ll learn the answers to the questions: What is the DAR? What do I need to do […]Source
SHOW NOTES: In our first segment, Lisa Louise Cooke and her guest Jenny Ashcraft from Newspapers.com discuss how to use newspapers to fill in the missing stories in your ancestors’ lives. Jenny shares strategic tips on finding unique information many researchers miss. In the second segment of this episode, Shannon Combs-Bennett, the author of the […]Source
VIDEO & SHOW NOTES: Video #5 of our 25 Websites for Genealogy YouTube Playlist. In this video, my guest presenter Gena Philibert-Ortega covers Library and Archive websites that are must-haves for family history research. You’ll find plenty of genealogy gems waiting for free at websites #23 through 25 in our list. Websites 23 through […]Source
VIDEO & SHOW NOTES: Learn how Archives.com can help you find your family history. We cover getting started, finding records, building your family tree and answer the question as to whether you should use it if you already use another genealogy website. Why Use Archives.com? If you’re new to genealogy, returning after taking a break, […]Source
VIDEO & SHOW NOTES: Video #4 of our 25 Websites for Genealogy Playlist. In this video, my guest presenter Gena Philibert-Ortega covers digital collection websites that are must-haves for family history research. You’ll find plenty of genealogy gems waiting for free at websites #18 through 22. Websites 18 through 22 of our 25 Websites for […]Source
VIDEO & SHOW NOTES: Video #3 of our 25 Websites for Genealogy Playlist. In this video, my guest presenter Gena Philibert-Ortega covers digitzed newspaper websites that are must-haves for family history research. Even though some sound specific to a certain area, don’t be fooled. They have resources available for all genealogists including even more than […]Source
Show Notes: I’m excited to share with you my favorite new tool at Google Books. This is a game changer for utilizing the information you find on the digitized pages. Plus I’ll show you other new features recently added to Google Books. Why use Google Books for genealogy? Well, Google Books features over 10 million […] Source
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Get the very latest on the major update Google has made to Bard, and the answer to the question “Should I use Bard, ChatGPT, or any of the other chatbots for genealogy research?” I’ve got some surprising answers for you! Listen to the Podcast Episode To Listen click the media player […] Source
(PREMIUM AUDIO PODCAST) These five online search hacks are going to move you into the category of genealogy search ninja! Download the cheat sheet so that you can incorporate these strategies into your daily research routine. Listen to the Episode Show Notes Click here to read the full show notes. The first page is […] Source
The free Ellis Island Passenger Search database is home to 65 million records of passengers arriving at the Port of New York from 1820 to 1957. Kathryn Marks, Manager at The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation explains the best strategies for finding your ancestors’ passenger list records in the Passenger Search Database on the Ellis […] Source
Show Notes: It seems like everyone is talking about ChatGBT and other artificial intelligence (AI) driven search tools. Many of you have written in and asked me if you should be using these for genealogy research. In today’s new video, we’ll tackle questions like: What are AI chatbots? What are the top chatbots? Are they […] Source
Show Notes: Professional Genealogist J Mark Lowe joins Lisa Louise Cooke on the show to share a marriage research case study that highlights the importance of understanding Gretna Greens. Then Professional Genealogist and blogger Robyn Smith shares her 3 step process for researching witnesses found on records from her new Family Tree Magazine article Witness Testimony. […] Source
Show Notes: Over the years I’ve talked a lot about how to use Evernote and Snagit. Both are amazing tools for research and make it easy to do web clipping. If you’ve been wondering what the difference is between these two powerful tools, or if you haven’t and you’re trying to figure out which one […] Source
Show Notes: The 1931 Canadian Census was released by the Library and Archives Canada on June 1 of 2023. These digitized images can (as of now) be browsed by general location. The challenge with this census, like with other census records when they first come online, is that there is no index. Creating the index […] Source
Show Notes: A compiled history is kind of like standing on the shoulders of the giants of genealogy that came before you. OK, so maybe they weren’t giants, but they did document what they found and they published it so that you can benefit from it. This means that rather than having to start from scratch, […]Source
Show Notes: How to use Google site search to search a website that doesn’t have a good search engine, or doesn’t have one at all. Google’s Site Search will help you find exactly what you need! This tip comes from the hour-long Premium Membership “Elevenses with Lisa” video called 5 Genealogy Search Hacks. Premium Members […]Source
Show Notes: Google Books is known for having millions of free digitized books. But did you know that it’s also packed with hidden old newspapers? Since newspapers don’t typically appear in your initial search results in Google Books, I’ll show you two ways to filter down to only newspapers. Plus I’ll also show you some of […]Source
Show Notes: When you find family history information online you MUST make every effort to find the original genealogy record so that your family tree will be accurate! There are 5 reasons to find original records. I’ll explain what they are, and what to look for so that you get the most information possible for […]Source
Show Notes: Are you trying to work on a genealogy brick wall, and you think the records you need might be at the National Archives? In this video, I’m going to show you a new way that you can get answers and hopefully get the records quickly. The National Archives is a great place to […]Source
Has it been a while since you worked on your genealogy research? As passionate as we may be about genealogy, the reality is that a little thing called “Life” can get in the way! Getting back into genealogy can actually be a bit daunting. Where did you leave off? Where should you start back up? If […]Source
Show Notes: Finding female ancestors poses unique challenges that can throw roadblocks in your way. And the reason for that is simple. The women in our family tree assume the surname of their husbands when they marry. In genealogy, we’re researching backward through time, and that means we encounter a woman’s married surname first. However, […]Source
Show Notes: Marriage records are essential to building your family tree. Here are the 5 steps you need to in order to find an ancestor’s marriage record. Watch the Video 5 Steps to Finding Marriage Records for Genealogy Downloadable ad-free Show Notes Marriage Records Worksheet for Premium Members. A really good Spring cleaning task is to look through […]Source
Show Notes: When it comes to choosing an online family tree, there are lots of different options. It can be a challenging decision as to where to put yours. In this video and show notes article we’re going to take a look at WikiTree.com. You’ll learn what it is, how you to use it effectively, […]Source
Elevenses with Lisa LIVE show (Premium Members exclusive): Learn how to create an interactive Google Earth map of your ancestors’ story using the Path tool. I’ll show you how I recreated my Great Grandmother’s life path including her emigration in 1910. The possibilities for using the Path tool are endless. All you need is the […]Source
Gretna Green is a term you need to know if you are searching for marriage records. In this video professional genealogist J. Mark Lowe joins me to discuss Gretna Green: what it means, why it matters, and how Gretna Greens may have affected your ability to find your ancestors’ marriage records. Listen to the Podcast Episode To Listen […]Source
Show Notes: The FamilySearch Wiki is like a free encyclopedia of genealogy! In this FamilySearch Wiki tutorial, discover the wealth of information the Wiki has to offer, and learn the secrets to navigating it with ease. We’ll also cover the number #1 reason people get frustrated when searching the Wiki and how to overcome it. […]Source
Show Notes: Have you ever dreamed of publishing a book about your family history? Although it’s never been easier to do, there are some things to keep in mind and pitfalls to avoid. In this video, Lisa Louise Cooke interviews Dale Spaulding, author of the book Fortitude, Preserving 400 years of an American Family’s Faith, […]Source
Show Notes & Video: Finding your German ancestor’s village is key to finding the genealogical records you need to go further back in your family tree. In this session you’ll learn: How and why it is important to know the “Heimat” because many records are kept on the local level. How to de garble a […]Source
The GEDCOM digital file format is essential to genealogy. My expert guest from FamilySearch explains what a GEDCOM is, how to use it, and the most recent changes. He’ll also answer some of the most common GEDCOM questions. Listen to the Podcast Episode To Listen click the media player below (AUDIO ONLY): Show Notes & […]Source
Show Notes: If you’ve created a MyMap in Google Maps, there’s a lot more that you can do with it if you import it into Google Earth. However, exporting it out of MyMaps as a KMZ that can be used in Google Earth isn’t really obvious. The good news is that it’s not hard to […]Source
Dale Spaulding discovered remarkable stories when he was researching his family for over 30 years. But he got a little worried that these really uniquely American stories were going to be lost to time if he didn’t do something about it. Maybe you have some of those same fears. It was his determination to preserve […]Source
Show Notes: Google Books is known for having millions of free digitized books. But did you know that it’s also packed with hidden old newspapers? Since newspapers don’t typically appear in your initial search results in Google Books, I’ll show you two ways to filter down to only newspapers. Plus I’ll also show you some of the […]Source
A ton of genealogy and family history research can be done for free. In this episode I’ll share 15 fabulous free websites and what I love about them. These are essential for everyone serious about saving money while climbing their family tree. Listen to the Podcast Episode To Listen click the media player below (AUDIO […]Source
SHOW NOTES: Weave more family history into your holidays and get the whole family involved in capturing stories and finding joy in genealogy. Here are 5 ideas that will enrich your family gatherings. Watch the Video Show Notes The show notes follow below. Premium Members can download the ad-free Show Notes handout . #1 Stimulate conversation about family history […]Source
Show Notes: Finding great sources of information is part of what makes genealogy so fun! But citing those sources may not be so much. In this episode professional genealogist, Gail Schaefer Blankenau makes the case why source citation is a vital part of great genealogy research and she’s going to give us the resources to […]Source
Show Notes: I’m trying out the MyHeritage AI Time Machine photo tool! Check out the results and get tips for getting the best results. Video Premiere with Live Chat Watch Live: Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 11:00 am CT Approximate length: 12 minutes (calculate your time zone) Three ways to watch: Video Player (Live) – […]Source
Show Notes: In this video, Lisa Louise Cooke demonstrates 5 ways to improve your old family home movies so that they are more enjoyable to watch. See how you can transform a short home movie into an integral part of family history. She will demonstrate editing techniques in Camtasia software, but these strategies can also […] Source
In this episode, we’re going to be visiting two of the most pivotal states in the U.S. for genealogy research. These states played key roles in the development and expansion of the United States of America, and we’re going to explore a top online resource for each. First up is the state of Pennsylvania, officially […] Source
Show Notes: You may not have been around when your ancestors lived, but there were witnesses to the important events in their life. Genealogist Robyn Smith shares her 3 step process from her new Family Tree Magazine article called Witness Testimony. Get ready to find out how the witnesses named on your ancestors’ records can […] Source
This Elevenses with Lisa LIVE show is exclusively for Premium Members. Grab your mug because in this Premium episode, we are covering the important topic of transcribing and analyzing the historical documents you find in your genealogy research. I’ll share my best practices and favorite tech tools. Premium Members can join me for the live […] Source
Show Notes: DNA Painter explained with the creator of the shared centimorgans project on DNApainter.com, Blaine Bettinger. In this video, you’ll get answers to questions such as: what is DNA Painter What is the Shared Centimorgans tool What’s coming next in genetic genealogy Special Guest: Blaine Bettinger, The Genetic Genealogist Watch the Video Show Notes […] Source
Show Notes: Have you seen records from Geneanet popping up in your Ancestry hints? Here’s the answer to a Premium Member’s questions about the Geneanet records she is seeing show up as Ancestry hints. Learn how to figure out what new record hints like this are and how to decide how much weight to give […] Source
Episode Show Notes In this episode, we’re focusing on early Virginia genealogy. In our first segment, I’ve invited a professional genealogist to join us to help pave the way for tracing our ancestors back to Virginia just prior to the Revolutionary War. Jeri Satterwhite-Dearing specializes in early Virginia research in her work as a […] Source
Show Notes: Getting your old home movies into shape so that they can be easily enjoyed by audiences today can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right video editing tool and a little bit of know-how you can turn digitized home movies into family history fare for all your relations. It’s […] Source
Show Notes: Bruce Buzbee, CEO of RootsMagic, the leading genealogy software program joins Lisa Louise Cooke for an update on what’s new at RootsMagic. You’ll learn: why you need a genealogy software database rather than just an online family tree, Bruce’s 3 favorite features of RootsMagic 8, and what’s new at the RootsMagic website. […] Source
Show Notes: Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a Forensic Genetic Genealogist. Dr. Claire Glynn joins me to talk about the field of investigative genetic genealogy, criminal cold cases solved, and the new Forensic Genetic Genealogy certificate program she has developed at the Henry C. Lee (notable for his work on the OJ […] Source
Show Notes: Learn how to find old family recipes in newspapers. Lisa Louise Cooke and her guest Jenny Ashcraft of Newspapers.com show you how to find old recipes and discover what newspapers can tell you about the food your ancestors cooked and ate. Genealogy & family history has never tasted so good! Video Premiere with […] Source
Show Notes: The FamilySearch Wiki is like an encyclopedia of genealogy! It’s an invaluable free tool that every genealogist needs. However, many folks get frustrated when they try to search the Wiki. In this week’s video premiere I’m going to help you navigate with ease. You’ll learn: what the Wiki has to offer, how to access the […] Source
Show Notes: In this article and video, we’re going to focus on early Virginia genealogy. I’ve invited a professional genealogist to join us in this video to help pave the way for tracing our ancestors back to Virginia just prior to the Revolutionary War. Jeri Satterwhite-Dearing specializes in early Virginia research in her work as a […] Source
Show Notes: In this episode Lisa Louise Cooke discusses: Organizing and Reducing inherited genealogical information Ideas for donating portions of genealogy research How to decide what to keep and what to toss How to process information gleaned items such as compiled family histories Click here for the full show notes. Listen to the Podcast Episode […] Source
This Elevenses with Lisa LIVE show is exclusively for Premium Members. In this Premium episode, we’ll be discussing how to create an immigration story in Google Earth. Premium Members grab your mug and join me for the live show on July 14 at 11 am Central and join in the live chat. How to Watch […] Source
Show Notes: Learn how to resolve conflicting evidence in your ancestors’ birth dates. In this Article and Video: Reasons for Birthdate Discrepancies in Genealogy 5 Questions You Should Ask About Conflicting Birthdates Birth Record Substitutes Case Study Strategies for Solving Conflicting Birthdates Have you ever been frustrated by finding conflicting birth dates for your […] Source
Show Notes: PERSI Learn how to use the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) like a pro! The Periodical Source Index known as PERSI is a subject index of an amazing array of genealogy and local history articles published by subject experts in newsletters and periodicals from all over the world. Discover bible records, source materials, ancestor […] Source
Has it been a while since you worked on your genealogy research? As passionate as we may be about genealogy, the reality is that a little thing called “Life” can get in the way! Getting back into genealogy can actually be a bit daunting. Where did you leave off? Where should you start back up? If it’s […] Source
Listen to Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 265 Episode Show Notes If you’ve been wondering how to write and self-publish a book about your family history, my guest has answers for you! In this episode author J.M. Phillips shares: How to be a great family history storyteller Her favorite writing techniques that help create a compelling […] Source
In this video Lisa Louise Cooke and Jenny Ashcraft from Newspapers.com discuss how to use newspapers to fill in the missing stories in your ancestors’ lives. Jenny shares strategic tips on finding unique information many researchers miss. VIDEO PLAYER COMING SOON Watch Live: Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 11:00 am CT (calculate your time zone) […] Source
Dr. Brian Gurrin is a specialist on Irish censuses and census substitutes and author of such books as Pre-census sources for Irish demography and The Irish religious censuses of the 1760s. In this week’s video premiere he joins me for a discussion of the incredible story of the repository that held early census records and much more: the Public […] Source
Listen to Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 264 Episode Show Notes In this episode you’ll discover the best places to locate records that can substitute for the lost 1890 census. You’ll learn: what happened to the 1890 census which parts of the 1890 census survived Information that was provided in the 1890 census the best substitute […] Source
Learn how to get dual Italian citizenship using genealogical information with my guest professional genealogist Sarah Gutmann of Legacy Tree Genealogists. Watch Live: Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 11:00 am CT (calculate your time zone) Three ways to watch: Video Player (Live) – Watch video premiere at the appointed time in the video player above. […] Source
In this video on Italian genealogy and family history research Lisa Louise Cooke and her guest professional genealogist Sarah Gutmann of Legacy Tree Genealogists will discuss: How to get started in Italian Genealogy The best websites for Italian Genealogy Italian genealogical records Language tips and resources Sarah Gutmann began her obsession with family history when […] Source
Listen to Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 263 Episode Show Notes In this episode we’re talking about this unique moment in time where we have access to the 1950 U.S. Census but we don’t yet have the full index. The 1950 census must be indexed so that we can search for relatives by name, location […] Source
The 1950 census must be indexed so that we can search for relatives by name, location and much, much more. You can help with this exciting project, and no special skills or background are required. Jim Ericson of FamilySearch 1950 Census Community Project explains what’s happening and how you can get involved. Lisa: The 1950 […] Source
If you want to find the marriage records of your ancestors, you may need to look somewhere besides where they lived. This genealogy case study with professional genealogist J. Mark Lowe demonstrates how the concept of a Gretna Green can solve this marriage mystery. This is part 2 of a 2 part series on marriage […] Source
The GEDCOM digital file format is essential to genealogy. My expert guest from FamilySearch explains what a GEDCOM is, how to use it, and the most recent changes. He’ll also answer some of the most common GEDCOM questions. Watch Live: Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 11:00 am CT (calculate your time zone) Three ways to […] Source
Podcast Show Notes: Genealogy Data Workflow When you’re working on our genealogy, you’ve got data and records coming from all directions: websites, interviews, archives, downloadable documents, and more. Some of it you’re actively working on, some of it you need to save for later, and the rest has already been analyzed and is ready for […] Source
One-Step Webpages by Steve Morse helps genealogists find relatives faster in the U.S. federal census. Steve Morse explains how to use his one-step tools for the 1950 census. Watch Live: Thursday, March 10, 2021 at 11:00 am CT (calculate your time zone) Three ways to watch: Video Player (Live) – Watch video premiere at the […] Source
Documenting family history isn’t just about finding genealogical records. Family history can be found all around our home and the home’s of our relatives. These items need to be documented too. But when you start inventorying what you have – scrapbooks, photo albums, heirlooms and inherited items – it may turn out to be a bigger […] Source
Show Notes: 10 Top Tips for German Research Researching ancestors in another country can be a little daunting. Challenges include foreign languages, moving boundaries, and spelling variations. This is certainly true for German genealogy.If you’re new to German genealogy or your research has stalled, this episode is for you. In fact, even if you don’t have German ancestors I think […] Source
Video and Show Notes On their website, the U.S. National Archives states their mission is to: “provide public access to Federal Government records in our custody and control. Public access to government records strengthens democracy by allowing Americans to claim their rights of citizenship, hold their government accountable, and understand their history so they can […] Source
Have you ever found an address for an ancestor but been disappointed that it is just a Route number and a town name? Have you wondered if it is possible to figure out where they actually lived? The good news is, it is! I’m going to show you how to take a rural “route” address […] Source
Learn how to find more about your family history in old newspapers at Newspapers.com. In this video Jenny Ashcraft from Newspapers.com joins me. She will share not only her 5 best search strategies, but also some amazing stories and items she’s found that will inspire you! Watch Live: Thursday, January 20, 2021 at 11:00 am […] Source