The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke     -      Your Family History Show

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke - Your Family History Show

Lisa Louise Cooke

Genealogy Gems Podcast shows you, the family historian, how to make the most out of your family history research time by providing quick and easy to use research techniques. In addition, you will learn creative ways to share your family tree and the legacy of your ancestors. Lisa Louise Cooke guides you through the exhilarating process of discovering your family tree. She scours the family history landscape to find and bring you the best websites, best practices, and best resources available. And Lisa’s interviews with the experts in the field of genealogy make the Genealogy Gems Podcast your own pe...

Artificial Intelligence for Genealogy Research, and Family History Writing

Artificial Intelligence for Genealogy Research, and Family History Writing

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Lisa Louise Cooke discusses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on genealogy research, exploring its evolution, ethical considerations, and the importance of data privacy. Genealogists need to understand AI's capabilities and limitations and develop a balanced approach to its use in research. She also covers the significance of being aware of data privacy when using AI tools. This video comes from our full-length "Elevenses with Lisa" live show exclusively availa

Feb 18, • 43:28

Episode 191 - Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com on the 1921 England and Wales Census. Plus The Photo Detective Maureen Taylor

Episode 191 - Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com on the 1921 England and Wales Census. Plus The Photo Detective Maureen Taylor

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In episode 291 of the Genealogy Gems podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke discusses the launch of the . Crista Cowan, Ancestry's corporate genealogist, discusses the census that covers 38 million people and it's significance due to its 100-year privacy law. Cowan highlights the importance of understanding the context, including the delay in census day due to a potential worker strike, the impact of World War I on marital status, and new employment details. The conversation a

Jan 10, • 53:21

Episode 290 - 5 Genealogy Gems from 2024 that will BOOST your family history!

Episode 290 - 5 Genealogy Gems from 2024 that will BOOST your family history!

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke shares 5 genealogy gems from 2024 that you can use to boost your family history. Get the show notes for Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 290.  Check out Lisa's LiveMemory™ video on the Genealogy Gems Facebook page:   Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the show notes page for this episode. (Premium Member subscription required.) Not a Premium Member? .)  Become a Geneal

Dec 23, 2024 • 27:10

Episode 289 Animate Old Photos & Solving Photograph Mysteries

Episode 289 Animate Old Photos & Solving Photograph Mysteries

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke covers the groundbreaking LiveMemory™ tool from MyHeritage, a revolutionary advancement that harnesses the power of AI to transform still photos into mesmerizing short videos. Check out Lisa's LiveMemory™ video on the Genealogy Gems Facebook page:   Then she shares a story of the curious publication of a 19th century photo by a news organization. Hear how she spotted the case of mistaken identity, and quickly uncovered how the error ma

Nov 26, 2024 • 48:13

Episode 288 How to Find Maiden Names

Episode 288 How to Find Maiden Names

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 records.  Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the for this episode. (Premium Member subscript

Oct 22, 2024 • 39:05

Episode 287 Food and Family History

Episode 287 Food and Family History

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 my guests today can help you uncover those stories.  Ashley Covelli is the food photographer, recipe developer, and culinary instructor behind the website  Lisa Lisson is the genealogy resear

Sep 24, 2024 • 36:34

Episode 286 Original Records and Website Search Strategies

Episode 286 Original Records and Website Search Strategies

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: When you find family history information online it's important to make every effort to find the original genealogy record. 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 your family tree. Then I'll help you get the most out of those genealogy websites that you pay for. Avoid randomly searching in hopes of finding something about our family. Instead, follow these steps that

Aug 20, 2024 • 34:50

Episode 285 - Cemetery research, tombstones and stories

Episode 285 - Cemetery research, tombstones and stories

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Cemeteries have some of the most intriguing stories to tell us about our ancestors. In this episode, Joy Neighbors (The Tombstone Tourist), author of the book  joins me to discuss: How to prepare for a successful cemetery research trip The meaning behind tombstone symbols  The most surprising things she has discovered at cemeteries This episode is also available in  on the show notes page on our website.   Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download th

Jul 11, 2024 • 51:08

Episode 284 - 5 Steps to Finding Marriage Records

Episode 284 - 5 Steps to Finding Marriage Records

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Learn the 5 steps to successfully finding marriage records for genealogy research.  This episode is also available in on the show notes page on our website.   Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Log into your  and download the ad-free Show Notes handout that complements this episode: Downloadable ad-free  for .  Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member Premium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts The Genealogy Gems Pre

Jun 21, 2024 • 30:17

Episode 283 - Daughters of the American Revolution DAR and Genealogy

Episode 283 - Daughters of the American Revolution DAR and Genealogy

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Do you have a revolutionary war ancestor? Have you thought about joining the ? I’ve invited Barbara Jurs of the DAR to explain the process. In this video, you’ll learn the answers to the questions: What is the DAR? What do I need to do first?  How much genealogical proof do I need? How do I apply for the DAR? How do I find local DAR chapters near me? These interviews are also available in video form on the show notes page. And if you’re a Genealogy Gems Premium Member

May 23, 2024 • 35:01

Episode 282 - Newspapers and Obituaries for Genealogy

Episode 282 - Newspapers and Obituaries for Genealogy

AUDIO PODCAST 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 article A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Using Historical Obituaries published in Family Tree Magazine, covers everything you need t

Apr 20, 2024 • 45:47

Episode 281 - Find and Identify Old Family Photos at DeadFred

Episode 281 - Find and Identify Old Family Photos at DeadFred

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Discover more than 100,000 old family photos on . Founder Joe Bott explains how to find photos of your relatives on this free website, as well as how to post your unidentified photos. Who knows, someone else may spot your photo and have the answers.  This interview is also available in video form on the show notes page. And if you’re a Genealogy Gems Premium Member, you’ll be able to download those show notes as a PDF cheat sheet in the Resources section at the bottom o

Mar 13, 2024 • 28:16

Episode 280 - 16 Ways to Find Your Ancestors’ Village

Episode 280 - 16 Ways to Find Your Ancestors’ Village

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES:  Whether you want to visit the village where your ancestor was born on your next vacation, or you just want to find their records, you’ll need to know the exact place name and location. Professional genealogist Rich Venezia of  joins me in this video to help us pin down those ancestral places. This interview is also available in video form on the show notes page. And if you’re a Genealogy Gems Premium Member, you’ll be able to download those show notes as a PDF cheat sh

Feb 14, 2024 • 44:55

Episode 279 - DNA Painter and Resolving Conflicting Birthdates

Episode 279 - DNA Painter and Resolving Conflicting Birthdates

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES:  I've got two great genealogy topics and interviews for you in this audio podcast episode. First up we’re going to tackle the problem of conflicting birthdates. When you find different dates in a variety of genealogical records, how do you decide which one to record in your family tree database? Well, you have to do more digging and analysis! So, we’re going to talk about: Reasons for Birthdate Discrepancies in Genealogy 5 Questions You Should Ask About Conflicting Bir

Jan 15, 2024 • 36:30

Episode 278 - AI Updates and Should you use AI like ChatGPT and Bard for genealogy

Episode 278 - AI Updates and Should you use AI like ChatGPT and Bard for genealogy

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! Visit the show notes page for this episode.  Watch the Video You can watch the video version:  Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Log into your and download the ad-free that complements this episode. Our Sponsors: MyHeritage   Learn

Jul 15, 2023 • 36:12

Genealogy Marriage Case Study with J Mark Lowe and Researching Witnesses for Family History with Robyn Smith

Genealogy Marriage Case Study with J Mark Lowe and Researching Witnesses for Family History with Robyn Smith

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.   Visit the Watch the Videos Watch Lisa Louise Cooke's on Marriage Research.  Watch Lisa Louise Cooke's on researching witnes

Jun 16, 2023 • 46:12

Episode 276 - Free Old Newspapers at Google Books

Episode 276 - Free Old Newspapers at Google Books

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 most effective ways to quickly find the right ancestor and the right article. Get the . (This page includes affiliate links from which we are compensated. Thank you for supporting thi

May 15, 2023 • 26:43

Episode 275 Restarting Your Genealogy Research - Getting Started

Episode 275 Restarting Your Genealogy Research - Getting Started

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 been months or even years since you had your hands in genealogy, you’re in the right place. In this episode, we’re going to talk about how to pick up your genealogy after a hands-off spell so that

Apr 15, 2023 • 28:48

Episode 274 - Marriage Records and Gretna Green

Episode 274 - Marriage Records and Gretna Green

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. Get the . MyHeritage Get your  Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription.  and use coupon code genealogygems   Become a Genealogy Gems Premium MemberPremium Members have exclusive access to: Video c

Mar 12, 2023 • 51:42

Episode 273 - GEDCOM Genealogy Files

Episode 273 - GEDCOM Genealogy Files

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.  Get the  MyHeritage Get your  Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription.  and use coupon code genealogygems   Become a Genealogy Gems Premium MemberPremium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts Monthly Elevenses with Lisa show The Ge

Feb 7, 2023 • 30:36

Episode 272 - 15 Freebies for Genealogy

Episode 272 - 15 Freebies for Genealogy

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. Get the . MyHeritage Get your Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription.  and use coupon code genealogygems   Become a Genealogy Gems Premium MemberPremium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts Monthly Elevenses

Jan 13, 2023 • 52:31

Episode 271 Genealogy Source Citations

Episode 271 Genealogy Source Citations

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 help get the job done right. Get the . MyHeritage Get your  Get 20% off.  and use coupon code genealogygems   Visit Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana is the home of the second largest fre

Dec 14, 2022 • 53:58

Episode 270 Pennsylvania and Ohio Genealogy

Episode 270 Pennsylvania and Ohio Genealogy

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 known as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1681 through a royal land grant to William Penn, and established as a haven for religious and political tolerance. And sinc

Nov 14, 2022 • 48:04

Episode 269 Virginia Genealogy Strategies and Best Websites

Episode 269 Virginia Genealogy Strategies and Best Websites

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 professional genealogist with  In this video, she explains some of the biggest challenges you’ll face when researching early Virginian ancestors, the records you should be looking fo

Oct 17, 2022 • 46:19

Episode 268 Reconstructing an ancestor's story with newspapers

Episode 268 Reconstructing an ancestor's story with newspapers

In this episode, 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.  Get the full .    From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!"  Get your .    Get 20% off.  and use coupon code genealogygems   Visit Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana is the home of the second largest free gen

Sep 18, 2022 • 39:07

Episode 267 Become a Forensic Genetic Genealogist

Episode 267 Become a Forensic Genetic Genealogist

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 F she has developed at the Henry C. Lee (notable for his work on the OJ Simpson case and many others) College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven. .  MyHeritage Get your Get 20% off.  and use coupon code genealogygems   Visit Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana

Aug 10, 2022 • 45:19

Episode 266 Dealing with Inherited Genealogy

Episode 266 Dealing with Inherited Genealogy

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 .  From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!"  Get your .  Get 20% off.  and use coupon code genealogygems   Visit Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana is the home of the second l

Jul 15, 2022 • 49:54

Episode 265 - Writing a Family History Book with Author J.M. Phillips

Episode 265 - Writing a Family History Book with Author J.M. Phillips

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 story What she learned about self-publishing (and what you need to know) Her experience living on and writing about Lamlash Street .  From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” G

Jun 18, 2022 • 53:48

Episode 264 - 1890 Census Substitutes

Episode 264 - 1890 Census Substitutes

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 records and where to find them From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” Get your Get 20% off.  and use coupon code genealogygems   Become a Genealogy Gems Premium MemberPremium

May 11, 2022 • 44:02

Episode 263 1950 Census Update and FamilySearch Indexing

Episode 263 1950 Census Update and FamilySearch Indexing

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 and much, much more. You can help with this exciting project, and no special skills or background are required. Jim Ericson of FamilySearch  explains what’s happening and how you can get involved.   Resources mentioned: (How to find and use them)   From Lisa

Apr 15, 2022 • 44:01

Episode 262 - Genealogy Data Workflow

Episode 262 - 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 archiving. This variety of data requires a variety of storage locations.   In this audio podcast episode I’m going to share with you my genealogy data workflow. We’ll talk about how it all fits together to

Mar 9, 2022 • 47:31

Episode 261 - 10 Top Tips for German Genealogy

Episode 261 - 10 Top Tips for German Genealogy

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 you will still find the principles and ideas covered very helpful. Translator, author and German handwriting expert Katherine Schober shares her 10 Top Tips for

Feb 10, 2022 • 44:12

Episode 260 - Your Guide & Update to the 1950 Census

Episode 260 - Your Guide & Update to the 1950 Census

Th National Archives releases the 1950 census in April 2022. Before you start searching for your family, familiarize ourselves with this important records collection and start preparing for success.    This episode brings you the audio from Elevenses with Lisa episode 51 PLUS important updates. You will learn: the interesting and little known stories behind the 1950 census, what it can reveal about your family, (and who you will NOT find!) the important documents associated with it that you can

Jan 13, 2022 • 56:34

A Cup of Christmas Tea with Best-Selling Author Tom Hegg

A Cup of Christmas Tea with Best-Selling Author Tom Hegg

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Tom Hegg, author of the New York Times best-selling book “A Cup of Christmas Tea”. Genealogists from around the world gathered together for this special live show to share a cup of tea and hear a story of the importance of touching base with our fellow man. It’s a message we can benefit from any time of year, and especially in a year where we’ve spent more time apart than ever. It’s also a wonderful reminder of the importance of family and how our older

Dec 9, 2021 • 36:00

Episode 258 - DNA Problem-solving for Genealogy

Episode 258 - DNA Problem-solving for Genealogy

Visit the show notes page at Genealogy Gems. This episode is brought to you by our wonderful sponsors: StoryworthGive your relatives a meaningful gift with StoryWorth. Get started right away with no shipping required by going to   You’ll get $10 off your first purchase!  From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” Episode Topic: DNA Problem Solving  Maybe it’s as simple as having a ton of matches and not knowing what to do with them. How do you kee

Nov 10, 2021 • 49:12

Genealogy at the Internet Archive

Genealogy at the Internet Archive

Visit the show notes page at Genealogy Gems. This episode is brought to you by our wonderful sponsors: StoryworthGive your relatives a meaningful gift with StoryWorth. Get started right away with no shipping required by going to   You’ll get $10 off your first purchase!  From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” Episode Topic: Genealogy at the Internet Archive The Internet Archive is a free website that strives to archive the internet. Within the

Oct 12, 2021 • 49:20

Episode 256 - Interview with Author Nathan Dylan Goodwin

Episode 256 - Interview with Author Nathan Dylan Goodwin

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 256 with Lisa Louise Cooke September 2021 Visit the show notes page at Genealogy Gems. This episode is brought to you by our wonderful sponsor: From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” Episode Topic: Interview with Nathan Dylan Goodwin, author of The Chester Creek Murders Author Nathan Dylan Goodwin () joins Lisa Louise Cooke for a conversation about writing, DNA, Criminal Cold Cases, and his new book The Chester C

Sep 9, 2021 • 45:45

Episode 255 - National Archives Online

Episode 255 - National Archives Online

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 255 with Lisa Louise Cooke August 2021 Visit the  at Genealogy Gems. This episode is brought to you by: From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” Episode Topic: The U.S. National Archives Online Catalog for Genealogy In this  episode Lisa Louise Cooke will answer important questions such as: What kind of genealogy records can be found at the National Archives website? Which genealogy records are not available at th

Aug 24, 2021 • 49:33

Episode 254 - How to Use Google Photos

Episode 254 - How to Use Google Photos

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 254 with Lisa Louise Cooke July 2021 Visit the at Genealogy Gems. This episode is brought to you by: From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” Today’s Topic: Google Photos for Beginners Have you thought about using Google Photos but just weren’t sure how it worked or where to start? This episode will answer your questions and give you the confidence to use it effectively. In this introductory tour to Google Photos

Jul 14, 2021 • 53:47

episode 253 - Finding Early American Ancestors

episode 253 - Finding Early American Ancestors

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 253 with Lisa Louise Cooke June 2021 This episode is brought to you by: StoryworthGive your dad the most meaningful gift this Father’s Day with StoryWorth. Get started right away with no shipping required by going to   You’ll get $10 off your first purchase!  From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” In this episode: In this episode we head back to 17th century New England with Lindsay Fulton of  the New England Hi

Jun 4, 2021 • 49:59

How to find photos in old newspapers

How to find photos in old newspapers

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 252 with Lisa Louise Cooke April 2021 This episode is brought to you by . From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” In this episode: Newspaper Navigator is a new free online tool for finding images and photos in old newspapers at Chronicling America. It doesn’t work the way the Library of Congress website works, so in this episode I show you how to navigate the Newspaper Navigator. It’s a fun session that will have y

Apr 14, 2021 • 52:48

Free Genealogy Records at the Genealogy Center ACPL

Free Genealogy Records at the Genealogy Center ACPL

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 251 with Lisa Louise Cooke March 2021 This episode is brought to you by . From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” In this episode: If you’re looking for a wide array of free online genealogical records for your family history, look no further than then Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It’s the second largest genealogy library in the country. In addition to the in-house collecti

Mar 12, 2021 • 45:50

Free Genealogy Records at Google Books

Free Genealogy Records at Google Books

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 250 with Lisa Louise Cooke February 2021 This episode is brought to you by . From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” In this episode: Who doesn’t love a good genealogical surprise? Sometimes we discover something we overlooked the first time around. Other times we find gems in places we never expected. Google Books is one of those places full of unexpected surprises. Google Books is a free online catalog of over 25

Feb 19, 2021 • 59:36

10 Questions You Should Ask Yourself for Genealogy Success

10 Questions You Should Ask Yourself for Genealogy Success

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 249 with Lisa Louise Cooke January 2021 This episode is brought to you by . From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!” In this episode: It's a new year. Are you ready for genealogical success/ In this episode we cover the 10 questions you should be asking yourself as you begin your new research year. This exercise will help us all fill in the gaps in our organization and preparedness and give us the confidence to real

Jan 25, 2021 • 52:14

How to Find Free Genealogy Records and Resources

How to Find Free Genealogy Records and Resources

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 248with Lisa Louise CookeDecember 2020 This episode is brought to you by: StoryWorthVisit  for $10 off. In this episode we cover a plethora of strategies that will give you access to loads of free genealogy records and resources. You will learn: How to follow the path of least resistance to find what you need for your genealogy research. The best ways to find free genealogy records online. What you need to know about the genealogy industry that will help you sav

Dec 8, 2020 • 54:50

Filling in a genealogy research plan after a consultation

Filling in a genealogy research plan after a consultation

Follow up on a Consultation with a Professional Genealogist You will find the complete show notes for the topic discussed in this episode at the .  Sometimes we just a need a little help with a brick wall. That was certainly the case with the Irish line of my family tree. In episode 18 of my YouTube video series Elevenses with Lisa I enlisted the help of professional genealogist Kate Eakman of Legacy Tree Genealogists. In that 45 minute consultation she broke things wide open on my Irish family

Nov 23, 2020 • 51:59

Episode 246

Episode 246

How to Make a Video for Free with Adobe Spark Video In last month's episode we talked about how to construct a great story for video. In this episode I've got the ideal tool for you to use to make your video: Adobe Spark Video. Video is the perfect medium for sharing your family’s history. It captures the interest of the eyes and the ears. Adobe Spark Video is a free app and website tool that makes it easier than ever to create shareable videos.  Watch the companion video and read the full show

Oct 20, 2020 • 51:52

How  to tell your family history story with video

How to tell your family history story with video

Telling Your Family's Story and Creating Family History Videos Don’t just gather genealogical information. Take the time to tell your ancestors’ stories! Video is the perfect medium for sharing your family’s history. It captures the interest of the eyes and the ears. In this episode my special guest is Kathy Nielsen. She’s a librarian from California who recently started creating videos. She’s going to walk you through the simple yet effective process she followed. Then I will share additional t

Sep 21, 2020 • 1:06:29

How to Search Effectively at Ancestry.com

How to Search Effectively at Ancestry.com

Top Tips for Searching at Ancestry.com You will find the complete notes for the topics discussed in this episode (and more) in the .  Getting Your History Digitized Our family’s history comes in many forms, and some of them over time can become obsolete. I shared in this episode my continuing progress on my own project of converting the rest of my old home movies that are in a variety of formats (8mm, mini DV, High 8, and VHS.)  I use Larsen Digital and have been extremely pleased with the servi

Aug 25, 2020 • 41:28

Lessons Learned from History: One Family's Inspiring Story

Lessons Learned from History: One Family's Inspiring Story

One Family's Story and the Lessons Learned from History In this episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast you'll hear Daniel's story and the lessons we can learn from history. You can watch the video recording of this on Elevenses with Lisa. Click here for the complete show notes at my Genealogy Gems website.  Getting Your History Digitized Our family’s history comes in many forms, and some of them over time can become obsolete. I shared in this episode my continuing progress on my own project of c

Jul 11, 2020 • 57:05

Research Questions and Avoiding Distractions

Research Questions and Avoiding Distractions

Research Plans and Avoiding Distractions You will find the complete notes for the topics discussed in this episode (and more) in the .  Getting Your History Digitized Our family’s history comes in many forms, and some of them over time can become obsolete. I shared in this episode my continuing progress on my own project of converting the rest of my old home movies that are in a variety of formats (8mm, mini DV, High 8, and VHS.)  I use Larsen Digital and have been extremely pleased with the ser

Jun 16, 2020 • 49:22

Google Update, Reuniting Family History, School Records

Google Update, Reuniting Family History, School Records

May 2020 Visit our website at GenealogyGems.com for the complete show notes.   Topics: Google Search - a new change you need to know about How to Return Found Items to Other Families  - including an interview with Caryl Kidd-Osborn of the Shrubs to Trees – A Pay-It-Forward Genealogy Facebook Group  School Records - 10 Strategies for finding them The Genealogy Gems Podcast is the leading genealogy and family history show. Launched in 2007, the show is hosted by genealogy author, keynote presenter

May 12, 2020 • 56:22

Answers to your genealogy and family tree questions

Answers to your genealogy and family tree questions

April 2020 Visit our website at GenealogyGems.com for the complete show notes.   Topics: Organization with Lisa Lisson, Are You My Cousin? DNA Q&A with Andrew Lee, Family History Fanatics Evidence & Proof with Kate Eakman, Legacy Tree Genealogists The Genealogy Gems Podcast is the leading genealogy and family history show. Launched in 2007, the show is hosted by genealogy author, keynote presenter, and video producer. The podcast features genealogy news, interviews, stories and how-to instructio

Apr 7, 2020 • 1:06:40

DNA and Genetic Genealogy with Libby Copeland, author of The Lost Family

DNA and Genetic Genealogy with Libby Copeland, author of The Lost Family

March 2020  for the complete show notes. In this episode we’re going to delve into how DNA testing and genetic genealogy has changed our world. Award-winning journalist Libby Copeland, author of the new book The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are discusses genetic genealogy, the big DNA testing companies (AncestryDNA,  23andMe, Family Tree DNA, and MyHeritageDNA) The Golden State Killer Case and the use of genetic genealogy DNA for criminal investigation, the genealogy community

Mar 13, 2020 • 1:04:27

Genealogy mysteries with twists, turns and murder!

Genealogy mysteries with twists, turns and murder!

February 2020 I LOVE genealogy, mysteries and puzzle solving. Are you with me on that? Well in this episode we have not one by two tales of mystery. The first has a Valentine’s theme centered around a mysterious love letter. Professional genealogist Kathleen Ackerman will be here to share how a love letter that was missing its last page took her on a genealogical journey full of surprises. And our second story is a mystery full of twists,  turns and murder that will ultimately resurrect your fai

Feb 13, 2020 • 1:05:51

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 237 - The Family History Show that grows your Family Tree

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 237 - The Family History Show that grows your Family Tree

The Genealogy Gems Podcast is the leading genealogy and family history show. Launched in 2007, the show is hosted by genealogy author, keynote presenter, and video producer Lisa Louise Cooke. The podcast can be found in all major podcasting directories, or download the exclusive Genealogy Gems Podcast app to listen to all the episodes and receive bonus content.  We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Genealogy Gems app. We blazed a new trail back in 2010 when we launched the app – apps w

Jan 7, 2020 • 1:04:08

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 236 - The Family History Show that grows your Family Tree

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 236 - The Family History Show that grows your Family Tree

Hosted by Lisa Louise Cooke Recorded December 2019 My how time flies and it’s flying further and further way from when our ancestors’ got their photographs taken, which can make the task of identifying and dating them harder and harder. Do not fret my friend because I have the coolest free tech tool for you that can help you zero in on the date of your photos. David Lowe a Specialist in the Photography Collection of the New York Public Library will be joining me today to tell you all about it. A

Dec 11, 2019 • 59:29

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 235

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 235

Hosted by Lisa Louise Cooke Recorded November 2019 Federal court records are wonderful because they are so packed with genealogical information. But knowing which records are available and where to find them can sound daunting, and that stops many genealogists from ever tapping into them. In this episode our aim is to fix all that. Professional forensic genealogist Michael Strauss is here to pull back the curtain and introduce you to these valuable records. You know Michael from our Military Min

Nov 12, 2019 • 1:05:34

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 234

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 234

with Lisa Louise CookeOctober 2019 NEWS: New and Returning genealogy-themed television Shows: A New Leaf on NBC A New Leaf will be included in the Saturday NBC morning programming block called The More You Know beginning October 5, 2019.  From the Ancestry Blog:  “Each week ‘A New Leaf’ will follow people on the cusp of key life inflection points, who using family history, genealogy, and sometimes AncestryDNA® analysis will go on a journey of self-discovery and learn from the past while looking

Oct 8, 2019 • 54:31

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 233

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 233

Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 233 with Lisa Louise CookeSeptember 2019 In this episode: Today we’re going to take a look at what so many records and record collections have in common: they are often Lists. Now that may sound pretty straight forward, but there’s a lot more to Lists than meet the eye. A list of names, places or other information has a lot to tell us and can be used in unique ways. Professional genealogist Cari Taplin joins me in this episode for a conversation about what is so lo

Sep 11, 2019 • 54:46

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 232

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 232

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 232 with Lisa Louise Cooke August 2019 Please take our quick which will take less than 1 minute.  Thank you!   In this episode: Exploring what you can do to go deeper in your genealogy research for a more accurate family tree with Elissa Scalise Powell. Irish genealogy radio host Lorna Moloney, a professional genealogist with Merriman Research, discusses Irish genealogy.   MAILBOX: Marcia Finds Treasure on eBay “I recently remembered your idea of searching for fa

Aug 12, 2019 • 1:03:45

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 231

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 231

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 231 with Lisa Louise Cooke July 2019 NEWS: Google Earth News Jennifer in California sent me a fascinating item recently , and she says “Thought you might get a kick out today's blurb from Google, where they pat themselves on the back for what can be done with Google Earth. No argument from me; it's amazing!” So, what can be done with Google Earth besides all the family history projects that I teach here on the podcast and in the Premium videos? Well, Peter Welch an

Jul 17, 2019 • 58:18

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 230

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 230

Have you thought about telling the story of your personal history? Most of us at some point have, But let’s be honest: continuing the genealogical research of our ancestors probably seemed more appealing, and frankly, it’s probably easier than sitting down and figuring out how to capture our own story. I’ve spoken to a lot of genealogists through the years, and I often hear comments like “ah, my story isn’t all that interesting or important.” But nothing could be farther from the truth. When we

Jun 11, 2019 • 1:00:41

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 229

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 229

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 229 with Lisa Louise Cooke May 2019 NEWS: Lisa Louise Cooke is back in the studio after two weeks on the road speaking at the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) Conference and the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Conference. Each conference was great and had its own unique feel, and there were many new genealogists in attendance. Genealogy Gems listener Carol stopped by and enthusiastically shared with how the eBay search strategies for family history that Lisa di

May 23, 2019 • 55:40

Episode 228 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke

Episode 228 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke

The Genealogy Gems PodcastEpisode 228 April 2019 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode: More new feature enhancements announced by Listeners Trisha and Betty share their stories with Lisa in person Lisa’s interview with Crista Cowan, The Tombstone Tourist, Joy Neighbors, share 3 intriguing discoveries that she’s made while searching cemeteries Military Minutes Man Michael Strauss explores an underused genealogical treasure: women's registration cards on the home front from 1917-1918 during W

Apr 13, 2019 • 58:35

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 227

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 227

News: Major Announcements Made at RootsTech 2019 Ancestry Announcements: Historical records: Ancestry just released over 5 million Mexico Catholic records and 1 million new France Census and Birth, Marriage, Death records and have several U.S. statewide projects underway, from New York to Hawaii. They also released US WWII Draft Cards from seven states. By early next year, the full set of WWII Draft Cards – all 33 million — will be exclusively available on Ancestry and Fold3. MyTreeTags™:“MyTree

Mar 14, 2019 • 59:56

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 226

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 226

Welcome my friend to the podcast where we take joy in the discovery of your family’s history! This is Genealogy Gems Podcast episode #226 and in today’s show we’ll cover research strategies and new resources that will help you find your way, plus I’ve got a tech tip and a fascinating bit of military genealogy for you.   GEM: They Shall Not Grow OldThere are so many things I want to cover every month, but I try really hard to sift through it all and bring you the best of the best, the genealogy g

Feb 12, 2019 • 57:52

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 225

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 225

with Lisa Louise Cooke GEM: A Conversation with Kenyatta D. Berry (Genealogy Roadshow) Get ready for a fun and inspiring start to your new genealogy year. I’m not going to lecture you about how to get organized and all that – you get enough of that New Year banter other places. Today I’m going to bring you a talented lady who’s a sharp genealogist and just happens to be one of the hosts of the television series Genealogy Road show., Kenyatta Berry. I had the pleasure of working with Kenyatta Be

Jan 10, 2019 • 1:00:54

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 224

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 224

Lisa’s Recent Travels Swedish Genealogical Society in Edina, MN and a side trip to Winthrop, MN. Above: Speaking at the Swedish Genealogical Society   Above: Bill (left) with his new found Larson cousin.  Oslo Norway – MyHeritage Above: Speaking at the MyHeritage conference in Oslo, Norway T with my genealogy crew at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway Read  By Anna Swayne A Visit to Sweden  Above: Lacey in Gothenburg, Sweden Non-Genealogical Recommended Reading: U by   Mailbox High sch

Dec 11, 2018 • 58:09

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 223

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 223

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 223 November 2018 with Lisa Louise Cooke   Bit Players in Someone Else’s Show If you happen to catch an old episode of the TV Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you may be surprised to spot Ben Affleck dribbling down a basketball court in the not so highly acclaimed role of Basketball Player #10.     Or how about funny man Jack Black of School of Rock fame in the walk-on part of “Taxi Driver” on the iconic 1980s comedy The Golden Girls.   Yep, at some point we are A

Nov 25, 2018 • 1:01:01

Episode 222

Episode 222

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #222 with Lisa Louise Cooke In honor of Family History Month, Lisa celebrates YOU! This episode is packed with comments, tips and questions from Genealogy Gems fans. Topics range from podcasting to metal detecting, must-use resources and inspiring genealogy discoveries. You’ll also hear from Kirsty Gray at THE Genealogy Show in the UK. NEWS: INTERNET ARCADE Internet Archive blog post: on the Internet Archive BONUS CONTENT for Genealogy Gems App Users If you

Oct 17, 2018 • 1:00:48

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 221

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 221

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #221 with Lisa Louise Cooke Live from FGS 2018! Lisa chats with a podcast listener, talks about vital records with Shannon Combs-Bennett and welcomes a drop-by guest, Daniel Horowitz of MyHeritage.com. Other episode highlights: Fantastic news from RootsTech; A great new resource from Library & Archives Canada; An update from Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard on MyHeritage DNA tools; The long-awaited conclusion of Project Lizzie. LIVE FROM FGS! Lisa records the

Sep 12, 2018 • 55:36

Episode 220

Episode 220

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #220 with Lisa Louise Cooke   In this episode: Two major upcoming genealogy events—one with an exclusive, meaty tip; Fun travel suggestion from The Archive Lady Melissa Barker: “Archive in a backpack” DNA specificity from Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard Finding books about your ancestors’ experiences and Finding your German ancestor’s place of origin. This month’s episode includes two “Blast from the past” segments from the original Genealogy Gems Podcast ep

Aug 9, 2018 • 59:13

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 219

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 219

The Genealogy Gems PodcastEpisode #219 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode, Lisa shares the stories of Julianne Mangin, who has explored the tragic and twisted stories of her ancestors, Graziella and Philippe Metthe. These stories caught Lisa’s eye: “The tragic tale with its surprises along the way was tantalizing enough, but the real intrigue for me was from a genealogical point of view – the confusing records and the fascinating news accounts that help shed light on them.” Julianne Mang

Jul 8, 2018 • 1:03:30

Episode 218 - It's All About You

Episode 218 - It's All About You

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #218 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode, Lisa answers your questions and shares your comments. Hot topics on your minds that are covered in this episode: discovering new records online, working with other people’s online trees, hard-to-locate military records; and getting lost in Pennsylvania research   NEWS: GOOGLE EARTH STORIES COMING Lisa’s FREE Google Earth video class: , 2nd edition and (you must use the Chrome browser to access) .      NEWS: FA

Jun 14, 2018 • 1:02:32

Episode 217 - The Golden State Killer and Your Genealogy and DNA

Episode 217 - The Golden State Killer and Your Genealogy and DNA

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #217 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this special episode, host and producer Lisa Louise Cooke takes a look at the Golden State killer, one of the most notorious crime sprees in recent memory. She’ll talk about the role that DNA testing played in an ultimate arrest, and the impact that these events are having on genealogists and the use of DNA in genealogy. The Golden State Killer “” docuseries (As an Amazon Associate, Genealogy Gems earns from qualifying purchases

May 9, 2018 • 50:43

Episode 216

Episode 216

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #216 with Lisa Louise Cooke   In this episode: Lisa introduces you to a couple of fantastic genealogists she met on her recent trip Down Under—the organizers of the 15the Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry, which she keynoted recently; Enjoy Lisa’s exclusive RootsTech 2018 interview with Findmypast CEO Tamsin Todd; Military Minutes contributor Michael Strauss shines a spotlight on women who have served in the U.S. military; Your DNA Guide Diahan S

Apr 11, 2018 • 1:01:10

Episode 215

Episode 215

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #215 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this “Blast from the Past” episode, Lisa gives voice to the era of silent films, in a unique approach to understanding her great-grandmother’s life. Her passion for this mostly-forgotten film genre comes through in her conversation with film archivist Sam Gill of the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, California. Don’t miss these fun segments, too: A listener writes in after discovering a birth mom’s story in passport r

Mar 20, 2018 • 1:03:54

Episode 214

Episode 214

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #214 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode, Irish expert Donna Moughty joins host and producer Lisa Louise Cooke to talk about Irish genealogy—to help you get a jump on yours before everyone starts talking about their Irish roots on St. Patrick’s Day next month! Also in this episode: Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard has DNA news and an answer to a listener who called in with a question about YDNA. Other listeners write in with inspiring successes Michael Strau

Feb 13, 2018 • 1:00:20

Episode 213

Episode 213

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #213 with Lisa Louise Cooke NEWS: HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR TO KEYNOTE ROOTSTECH to read about all RootsTech keynote speakers to read about the Genealogy Gems experience at RootsTech 2018 to hear Lisa Louise Cooke’s conversation with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in the Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 133 GEMS NEWS: UPDATED PREMIUM VIDEO can now enjoy an updated version of Lisa’s Premium video, You’ll learn how to use Evernote’s: Quick Keys: Help you get things don

Jan 10, 2018 • 1:03:08

Episode 212

Episode 212

The Genealogy Gems PodcastEpisode #212with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke speaks with Contributing Editor Sunny Morton about turning our fleeting scraps of recollections into meaningful memories. Also: Genealogist Margaret Linford tells us how she got started in family history. Like many of our best stories, it’s not just about her, but someone who inspired her. 2017 could be called “the year of DNA.” Diahan Southard looks back with a special DNA news digest. Finding miss

Dec 6, 2017 • 1:07:19

Episode 211

Episode 211

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #211 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode, host and producer Lisa Louise Cooke talks with Barry Moreno, Historian at Ellis Island. Hear about the life cycle of this busy U.S. immigration station (1892-1954) and Barry’s research into thousands of Ellis Island employees—men and women—who worked there. HelloFresh: Visit  and use promo code gems30 to save $30 off your first week of deliveries. More episode highlights: Archive Lady Melissa Barker tells us about t

Nov 8, 2017 • 1:02:24

Episode 210

Episode 210

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #210 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode: You’ve heard of “burned counties,” a phrase used to describe places where courthouse fires or other disasters have destroyed key genealogy records? In this episode, a listener presents the problem of her burned city—Chicago. Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard shares some of the latest buzz about DNA health reports you can get with your DNA tests for family history—and some opinions about them News from the Genealogy Gem

Oct 24, 2017 • 57:08

Episode 209

Episode 209

The Genealogy Gems PodcastEpisode 209with Lisa Louise Cooke In today’s episode: David Ouimette of FamilySearch is known to his colleagues as “the Indiana Jones of genealogy” because of his globe-trotting adventures in curating record treasures. He joins us to talk about the millions of records being digitized around the world right now. Lots of excited emails from you! Compiled military service records from Military Minutes expert Michael Strauss GENEALOGY GEMS EVENTS Thanks for a great se

Oct 10, 2017 • 54:08

Episode 208

Episode 208

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode: A free webinar! Great comments from you: An inspiring Google Books success story, how one listener gets her shy husband talking about his life story, and a listener’s own version of the poem, “Where I’m From” The Archive Lady talks to us about historical scrapbooks at archives that may be packed with genealogy gems for us A genealogy hero who saved a life story Your first look at RootsTech 2018 NEWS: FREE WEBINAR Handouts:

Sep 27, 2017 • 55:52

Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 207

Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 207

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 207 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode, Lisa welcomes Mary Tedesco, a co-host of PBS’ Genealogy Roadshow. Mary shares stories and tips about tracing Italian and Italian-American roots. Also: FamilySearch updates since the end of microfilm lending (and how YOU helped make the last days of lending more effective); A listener uses Google to find her mysterious great-grandmother, with a success story she calls a “game-changer” for her genealogy research. GET

Sep 13, 2017 • 1:05:02

Special Episode

Special Episode

Change is something we can always count on, but that doesn't make it any easier, does it? Understanding why the change is happening, how it affects you personally, and what you can do to adapt, does. So, when announced the end of their long-standing microfilm lending program, I immediately sought out the key expert who can answer these questions for you.  FamilySearch's Goal for Microfilm and the Family History Library It seems like only yesterday I was interviewing Don R. Anderson, Director o

Aug 22, 2017 • 27:46

Adoption DNA, Family History Books, Identifying Old Cars in Photos, and more Genealogy Gems

Adoption DNA, Family History Books, Identifying Old Cars in Photos, and more Genealogy Gems

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke In this Blast from the Past episode: Lisa reprises a favorite research detour into vehicle forensics—to identify an old family car—and shares tips for creating short family history books like those she given as holiday gifts to loved ones. Hear letters from listeners on a special adoption discovery and a 1940 census mystery that now makes more sense. Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard weighs in with 4 reasons to take a DNA test, if you haven’t take

Aug 10, 2017 • 53:12

Episode 205

Episode 205

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #205 with Lisa Louise Cooke This episode breaks two huge pieces of genealogy news and shares two great conversations: FamilySearch ends microfilm lending:  how you can get the records you need; RootsMagic adds Ancestry.com compatibility: sync your Ancestry.com tree to your master RootsMagic file and search Ancestry.com from within the software; Melissa Barker, the Archive Lady, talks about visiting archives to explore original manuscript record treasures; Nico

Jul 11, 2017 • 1:04:47

Episode 204

Episode 204

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #204 with Lisa Louise Cooke Canadian expert Dave Obee shares the story of the Canadian home children tips on newspaper research. Also in this episode: New site features at MyHeritage, including improved DNA ethnicity analysis (it’s free—upload your DNA!); An excerpt from the Genealogy Gems Book Club interview with Fannie Flagg about The Whole Town’s Talking—and a great summer reading idea; A detailed get-started guide to British Isles research: Terminology and

Jun 15, 2017 • 1:03:12

Episode 203

Episode 203

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke Episode #203 This episode features a special interview with renowned Canadian expert Dave Obee. He shares his favorite tips on researching the Canadian census—his insights are fascinating whether you have Canadian ancestors or not! Also in this episode: an inspiring adoption discovery, DNA testing news at 23andMe, a tip for incorporating family history into a wedding, and a brand-new resource that can finally help you solve one of genealogy’s mo

May 10, 2017 • 1:09:13

Episode 202

Episode 202

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 202 Lisa Louise Cooke   Highlights of this episode include: AncestryDNA’s new Genetic Communities: An Interview with Catherine Ball, Ancestry’s Chief Scientific Officer; Meet contestant Joe Greer from Relative Race, the genealogy reality show; The new Genealogy Gems Book Club featured title: a novel from an internationally best-selling author A botched reference to the 1950 census in a Stephen King novel—and 5 tips for counting down to the 1950 census release

Apr 9, 2017 • 1:03:10

Episode 201

Episode 201

with Lisa Louise Cooke    In this episode, I chat with Angela Walton-Raji, expert in U.S. and African-American research, about tips for interviewing relatives and taking your African-American family tree back to the era of slavery. Other highlights of this episode include: A RootsTech 2017 recap, with info on archived streaming sessions; Great news from Findmypast about its new Catholic Heritage Archive; A ground-breaking study from AncestryDNA that identifies specific migration patterns amo

Mar 7, 2017 • 1:04:43

Episode 200

Episode 200

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 200 with Lisa Louise Cooke  Listen below: It’s finally here—the 200th episode of the free Genealogy Gems podcast, also celebrating its 10th year. In this special episode, Lisa invites Professor Mark Auslander to share his discoveries about a mother and young daughter separated by slavery. Learn how he pieced together their story from a poignant family heirloom found at a flea market. Throughout the episode, you will hear from several listeners, past podcast

Feb 6, 2017 • 1:29:03

Episode 199

Episode 199

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 199 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode, Lisa celebrates Canada’s 150th anniversary with Clare Banton from Library and Archives Canada. You’ll also hear how Lisa will be marking another anniversary in 2017: the 10th year of this Genealogy Gems podcast. More episode highlights: An inspiring follow-up email from Gay, whose YouTube discovery Lisa shared in episode 198, and a great conference tip from Barbara just in time for RootsTech. Genealogy Gems Book Clu

Jan 11, 2017 • 1:13:56

Episode 198

Episode 198

This episode’s got a bit of holiday sparkle! Lisa Louise Cooke welcomes Genealogy Gems Book Club author and Victorian lifestyle expert Sarah Chrisman to the show to talk about Victorian holiday traditions, some of which may still live on in your own life. Following that conversation, Lisa shares a fun description of Victorian-era scrapbooking: how it’s different than today’s scrapbooking hobby but also how it reminds her of modern social media. More episode highlights: Three success stories from

Dec 15, 2016 • 1:04:15

Episode 197

Episode 197

Episode 197with Lisa Louise Cooke This episode celebrates the most recent family history there is—our own. A chat between host and producer Lisa Louise Cooke and Gems editor Sunny Morton explores the meaning and memories behind heirlooms in Lisa’s home. They comment on the larger value, for self and others, of recording our own memories in honor of Sunny’s new book, Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy. Also in this episode: A spotlight on new marriage records online for th

Nov 10, 2016 • 1:10:53

Episode 196

Episode 196

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode, expert Kate Eakman from Legacy Tree Genealogists joins us with some tips for those starting to trace their Irish ancestors into Ireland. She shares some great websites for Irish research and places to look for that elusive Irish home county;and an exclusive coupon code for anyone who could use some expert help on a tough research problem. Additional episode highlights: Gems listeners respond with strong opinions on sharing gossi

Oct 12, 2016 • 1:04:34

Episode 195

Episode 195

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke In this episode, I’m celebrating the 100th episode of another podcast I host: the Family Tree Magazine podcast. So I’ll flashback to one of my favorite interviews from that show, an inspiring get-in-shape conversation for your research skills: how you can strengthen your research muscles and tone those technology skills to find and share your family history. More episode highlights: News on Chronicling America and Scotland’s People; Comments fro

Sep 14, 2016 • 1:00:03

Episode 194

Episode 194

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke Did you know you can use Google to help identify images, to find more images like them online, and even to track down images that have been moved to a different place online? Find these great Google tech tips in this episode, along with 10 tech-savvy tricks for finding an ancestor's school records. You will also hear how to create a family history photo decoupage plate: a perfect craft to give as a gift or create with children. This blast from t

Aug 7, 2016 • 47:22

Episode 193

Episode 193

The Genealogy Gems Podcast by Lisa Louise Cooke Episode highlights: Genealogy milestones, anniversaries, new records, upcoming conferences and new free video tutorials; Email response to The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #192: another tip on the U.S. Public Records Index, a family adoption story and his own research on the changing coastline of Sussex; More response to the “Where I’m From” poetry initiative; Announcement: the NEW Genealogy Gems Book Club title; A key principle in genetic ge

Jul 12, 2016 • 53:42

Episode 192

Episode 192

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #192 with Lisa Louise Cooke Highlights from this episode: How to use Animoto, my favorite new tech tool for creating professional-looking slide shows and videos New Genealogy Gems team member Amie Tennant shares insights as she prepares for professional certification A listener shares a favorite genealogy database for finding recent relatives A listener uses DNA to connect adoptive and biological relatives—who were closer than she thought A segment from the Genea

Jun 9, 2016 • 1:10:23

Episode 191

Episode 191

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #191 with Lisa Louise Cooke   NEWS: Upcoming Live-Streaming from FGS from Periscope Free Periscope app in or  Lisa’s Twitter handle: @LisaCooke   New German Records with James Beidler His new book: Trace Your German Roots Online: A Complete Guide to German Genealogy Websites. Jim mentioned this new website for Protestant church records: Links to new German genealogy databases: CHURCH. An enormous collection of  is now searchable on Ancestry.com. You’ll find ov

May 11, 2016 • 1:05:01

Episode 190

Episode 190

Genealogy Gems PodcastEpisode #190Lisa Louise Cooke Highlights from this episode: Extreme Genes radio show Scott Fisher talks about his role in helping to solve a 30-year old missing persons case; Lisa advises a listener on a pesky Gmail problem; A whirlwind world tour of new genealogy records online; Searching out military service details with Google Books; One RootsTech attendee's Google search success story the new  title, a brand-new, much-anticipated second novel by a breakout British nove

Apr 6, 2016 • 1:04:47

Episode 189

Episode 189

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 189 NEWS: Relative Race BYUtv’s new reality series Relative Race () premiered on February 28, 2016. The show “features four married couples as they travel across the US in search of long lost relatives, armed with only paper maps, a rental car, a $25 per diem and a flip phone.” (Interview with two contestants later in the show.)   Databases of Runaway Slave Notices on new websites that will launch databases of runaway slave notices: Irish Collections and Tips

Mar 9, 2016 • 1:00:19

Episode 188

Episode 188

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 188 Highlights from this episode include: RootsTech news and resources for everyone; New records online for Ireland and the United States; Two inspiring emails from listeners who unravel family mysteries with determination, skill and Google sleuthing; Motivating thoughts on organizing your family history research; A  update with more thoughts on the featured title  by Tara Austen Weaver and book recommendations from RootsTech attendees; A critique of a recent NPR

Feb 17, 2016 • 1:00:17

Episode 187

Episode 187

This New Year’s episode is packed with fresh energy and perspective!  We welcome the  to the podcast. Judy takes on a Genealogy Gems listener’s fantastic question about the bounty land his War of 1812 ancestor never claimed. Also: The latest on life after Family Tree Maker software; A fresh look at why family history software is still relevant today; New strategies for using Google to answer your genealogical research questions; The new Genealogy Gems Book Club title; Why I’m so excited about R

Jan 13, 2016 • 1:13:42

Episode 186

Episode 186

Genealogy Gems PodcastEpisode 186 This month’s episode celebrates upcoming holiday family time with a special segment on interviewing relatives. Diahan Southard offers her thanks for DNA connections that are helping fill holes left by adoption. And you’ll hear about: a great new resource from MyHeritage for connecting with other researchers, family history poetry from two Gems listeners, letters from the Gems mailbox and an excerpt from our new Genealogy Gems Book Club interview, which will ap

Dec 8, 2015 • 1:20:50

Episode 185

Episode 185

This month all of us here at Genealogy Gems are celebrating reaching a milestone 1000 blog posts on our website. But we’re not just celebrating our own genealogy writing. We’re celebrating YOURS! Today I have a special segment that celebrates what YOU have shared with us about your adventures in family history blogging. I also have a short, fun family history writing challenge to share with everyone, not just those who blog. I’ll introduce that challenge with a surprise guest—the poet laureate o

Nov 5, 2015 • 54:34

Episode 184

Episode 184

In this episode I’ll kick things off with two fabulous online resources I think are Gems. Two of you wrote in with your own advice, one on saving your genealogy from theft and another with another tip on digital preservation. I found a funny poem online that the author gave me permission to share. And then Sunny will join me to announce our next Genealogy Gems Book Club pick—and we may or may not digress a little to talk about other fun things on our minds. So sit back and relax—or do whatever y

Oct 6, 2015 • 59:39

Episode 183

Episode 183

In this episode, a special expert joins us to talk about digitizing and storing your old movies, videos, and pictures—even further updating those old movies you’ve already put on CD. You’ll hear a juicy clip from our exclusive Genealogy Gems Book Club interview with the editor of the new Laura Ingalls Wilder biography, Pioneer Girl. And Your DNA Guide is here with a story of DNA and the President. NEWS: AncestryDNA Common Matches Genealogists are losing sleep lately because of a new DNA tool, b

Sep 2, 2015 • 1:03:03

Episode 182 - The Ghost Army of WWII

Episode 182 - The Ghost Army of WWII

You know me, I love looking outside the genealogy box to discover strategies and inspirational stories that can help us be better family historians. In today’s episode, we’re heading back to World War II, and event that in some way touched the lives of every genealogist’s family, and we’re going to hear an incredible tale deception while at the same time gather research strategies, interview techniques, and compelling story telling methods that I know you’ll love and be able to apply to your o

Aug 8, 2015 • 57:48

Episode 181 - 1950s, New Book Club Read

Episode 181 - 1950s, New Book Club Read

Today, we’re turning back the clock to talk about two of my favorite eras, the 1950s and—well, the second one is a surprise. I’ll tell you later in the show when I introduce the NEW Genealogy Gems Book Club featured title! But first, we’ll talk a little news—from a new Google innovation to two new record collections online that fill in a hole in American documentary history. I’ll read some mail from YOU about the new Ancestry site and family history blogging. NEWS Wouldn’t it be great if your s

Jul 11, 2015 • 59:41

Episode 180 - Ancestry, FamilySearch, Google, Cloud Backup, Book Club Interview

Episode 180 - Ancestry, FamilySearch, Google, Cloud Backup, Book Club Interview

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 180 with Lisa Louise Cooke   Welcome to episode 180 of the Genealogy Gems podcast! Today we’re talking about big names, like Ancestry and Google and FamilySearch. We’re talking about big numbers—the possible price tag for Ancestry at auction—and small numbers: a handheld computer for under $100. We’re also talking about road trip tips, an important online Civil War database, a leading Canadian digital archive and EXCLUSIVE tips for using FamilySearch’s

Jun 16, 2015 • 1:00:00

Episode 179 - Evernote Book Library, Book Club

Episode 179 - Evernote Book Library, Book Club

Have you ever felt like you got the short end of the genealogy stick when it comes to family heirlooms? Maybe you haven’t inherited much in the way of family photos or memorabilia, or maybe you feel like you’ve tapped out all the potential goodies that are out there to find. In this episode I’ll share an email I got from Helen, because she reminds us that you should never say never.  I’ve also got another amazing story about an adoption reunion. And we’ll also check in with our Genealogy Gems Bo

May 25, 2015 • 1:06:47

Episode 178 - CeCe Moore on DNA, 2nd Qtr Book Club book announced!

Episode 178 - CeCe Moore on DNA, 2nd Qtr Book Club book announced!

Episode 178 Lisa Louise Cooke Niche record collections that might just be what you are looking for. Interview with genetic genealogist CeCe Moore about using DNA for genealogy research, adoption, and the Finding Your Roots TV show. Announcement of the Genealogy Gems Book Club book for the 2nd quarter of 2015. A listener shares an update on adoption records in Ohio.   NEWS: RECORDS CANADIAN MENNONITE PHOTO ARCHIVE: is now online with over 80,000 images of Mennonite life from across Canada and da

Apr 10, 2015 • 1:00:45

Episode 177 - Interview with the Author of Orphan Train

Episode 177 - Interview with the Author of Orphan Train

This episode features our interview with Christina Baker Kline, the author of our Genealogy Gems Book Club featured book Orphan Train. The book spent five weeks at the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestselling list as well as time at the top of The Bestsellers List in Canada, and by now after reading the book you know why. Christina will share how the book came in to being. And why she first hesitated to write it. And how, although this is a novel, in fact the details of Vivian’s story are true

Mar 10, 2015 • 50:20

Episode 176 - RootsTech Roundup, Writing Your History, DNA and Surnames

Episode 176 - RootsTech Roundup, Writing Your History, DNA and Surnames

In this episode we are going to check in with our Genealogy Gems Book Club Guru Sunny Morton on our featured book , and some additional books you’ll want to add to your reading list that also provide insight in to how you can approach writing your own family’s history. And Your DNA Guide here at Genealogy Gems, Diahan Southard, will be here to tell you how to Social Network Your YDNA with Surname Projects But first I’ve got the RootsTech Run down for you. Last week I spoke at RootsTech 2015 whi

Feb 23, 2015 • 1:08:43

Episode 175 - New Book Club Book, Mary Tedesco of Genealogy Roadshow, DNA, and Lisa's New Book

Episode 175 - New Book Club Book, Mary Tedesco of Genealogy Roadshow, DNA, and Lisa's New Book

I’m pretty excited  about this episode because it’s just jammed back with all kinds of fun stuff! (image right: my Grandson Joey excited about his new wagon!) First, Genealogy Gems Contributing Editor Sunny Morton will be here to announce our new Book Club read for this first quarter of 2015.  And it is fantastic! Even better, the nationally acclaimed author who wrote it will be joining us on a future episode to give us the back story. Then, since it is January that means that a lot of telev

Jan 8, 2015 • 59:22

Episode 174 - Shocking Revelations in My Family Tree that May Benefit You

Episode 174 - Shocking Revelations in My Family Tree that May Benefit You

In this episode I'm going to share a personal story from my own family history just recently uncovered, and pull from it 3 powerful strategies that you can start using right away to further your own genealogy research in newspapers. My husband's grandfather, Raymond Harry Cooke, was born March 6, 1894 in Tunbridge Wells, England. Ever since I first started researching his family I have been aware that Raymond's mother, Mary Ann Cooke, died at a young age, around 40 years old. Wha

Dec 8, 2014 • 1:06:23

Episode 173 - Inspiring Ideas

Episode 173 - Inspiring Ideas

We all need a little inspiration now and then, and in this episode I hope to bring you some through good books, inspiring comments from other listeners, and some new ideas to try. Once I got past the organization of my new office, what I’ve really enjoyed doing is devoting time to display family photos and artifacts, and just decorating the room. It may seem frivolous, but I don’t this it is. We spend a lot of time in our offices, and you may have a home office, or corner of a room where you wo

Nov 11, 2014 • 49:25

Episode 172 - Book Club Launch, DNA, and Star Trek Journey

Episode 172 - Book Club Launch, DNA, and Star Trek Journey

In this episode I've got some exciting news, a cool free online tool, advice on translation, stories of inspirational finds, DNA for genealogy, and a Star Trek take on the innovations of yesteryear!  NEWS: FamilySearch’s free  interactive map to see the FamilySearch England & Wales 1851 Parish map.   What Has Replaced Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness?Facebook is the new RAOGK. And the upside is that Facebook expands the resources to folks who may be in a position to help through a shared i

Oct 20, 2014 • 47:49

Episode 171 - Coping with Change, and Genealogy Storytelling

Episode 171 - Coping with Change, and Genealogy Storytelling

Do you have enough time to work on your family history the way you would like to? How about taking on someone else’s family history? In this episode I’ve invited someone who has jumped over his own family history to diligently working on a perfect strangers…or did he jump over it? It’s a very interesting story! We’ll also be talking later about coping and in fact excelling even in the face of technological change.  I’m home for a week before I head back out on the road. And the next stop is Nap

Sep 16, 2014 • 57:35

Episode 170 - Interview with Lisa Kudrow of the TV series Who Do You Think You Are?

Episode 170 - Interview with Lisa Kudrow of the TV series Who Do You Think You Are?

Lisa shares her recent research successes: Getting in touch with a distant German cousin through MyHeritage Organizing and “Visualizing” the German photos from her Great Grandmother’s Scrapbook (below is the inscription by Louise's siblings in the front cover of the scrapbook) Using Google Earth to plot out each photographer studio listed on the back of the photos in the scrapbook Finally identifying the people in one of the first old family photos she received (separate from the scrapbook

Aug 14, 2014 • 1:05:59

Special Free Premium Episode

Special Free Premium Episode

Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Episode #113 Who Do You Think You Are? has become a worldwide television phenomenon, starting in the UK and making its way around the world, telling the stories of well-known celebrities in search of their family history. July 23, 2014 marks the debut of season 5 of the series here in the U.S. and the show’s Executive Producer Dan Bucatinsky is here to tell us more about it. We hope you enjoy the free access to this Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast episode! Benefit

Jul 23, 2014 • 33:35

Episode 169 - Blast from the Past Episode 14

Episode 169 - Blast from the Past Episode 14

Catch a glimpse of the silent movie era and how it was an integral part of your ancestors’ lives. In this episode, I find out more about the silent movies my grandmother catalogued in her diary, and how they molded a generation. The cultural influences of the “Picture Shows” Below is a page from my grandmother’s journal documenting the silent films she saw that year, including the actors who starred in them. Just like today, the stars who light up the silver screen were mimicked and followed

Jul 14, 2014 • 52:52

Episode 168 - All About DNA and Genealogy

Episode 168 - All About DNA and Genealogy

Get up to speed on the world of DNA and Genealogy in this episode. We’ll explore in depth the ramifications of Ancestry closing down some of their DNA tests along with other businesses in their portfolio. Then you’ll meet Your DNA Guide, Diahan Southard. She’s a genealogy gem who will be joining us here on Genealogy Gems on a regular basis to help guide us through the murky waters of DNA research in easy to understand, and FUN terms.   Ancestry is shutting down 5 areas of their business In a re

Jun 17, 2014 • 1:01:36

Episode 167 - Colonial American Genealogy

Episode 167 - Colonial American Genealogy

Get ready to lay a foundation in your knowledge of Colonial American genealogy research. Beth Foulk is here to walk us through early immigration to America, Indentured Servitude and Bondage, and the records and resources that can help you locate your ancestors from this time period. But first... NEWS: Lisa's youngest daughter Hannah got married last weekend!    NGS 2014 Conference in Richmond VA In addition to teaching conference classes Lisa teamed up with Maureen Taylor (The Photo Detective)

May 22, 2014 • 1:08:39

Episode 166 - Tips, Ideas and Listener Email

Episode 166 - Tips, Ideas and Listener Email

I’ve been enjoying time at home getting the new house decorated.  I have a wonderful sort of wall niche area in the living room that is perfect for a family history display, so the wheels are turning on what I want to do there. I’ve been pinning lots of ideas on Pinterest for that. And of course I’m getting in my time with my grandsons Davy and Joey. Now that Joey is a year and a half and running all over the place, it’s just playtime bedlam at Sha Sha’s house.  I'll be speaking in Round Rock, T

Apr 15, 2014 • 55:16

Episode 165: A Blast from the Past

Episode 165: A Blast from the Past

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 13 Originally Published 2007 Remastered March 2014 By Lisa Louise Cooke   From the MAILBOX Hello Lisa: I have just finished listening to your podcast on tracing family members through school records. You mentioned some sources to research. Many years ago I came across a list or resources to be found in the home. I still have the photocopy I made,  but it does not say who originally created it. I believe I found it at my local LDS.  Anyway since putting

Mar 11, 2014 • 26:44

Episode 164 - The Ancestry Wiki, Searching for Google Earth Maps and Files

Episode 164 - The Ancestry Wiki, Searching for Google Earth Maps and Files

In this episode you'll hear what you've been missing and how to get it from the Ancestry Wiki. Also how to do a very specialized type of Google search you may have never tried, a French-Canadian genealogy resource, and more. Top 10 Reasons I Moved to Texas: 10. They have something here, it’s called weather 9. I live on an acre now so my neighbors don’t complain that they hear me over here talking to myself 8. There’s a Soft Surroundings store in Southlake! And a Pottery Barn, and a Coach p

Feb 18, 2014 • 57:53

Episode 163 - Flip Your Genealogy into Flipboard

Episode 163 - Flip Your Genealogy into Flipboard

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 163: Get ready to flip out with me over Flipboard. It’s a free app and web tool that you have to see to fully appreciate. In this episode I’ll take you behind the scenes at Flipboard in the Silicon Valley and talk to the folks who create the product that helps you enjoy the online content you love. I’ll also share a little discovery I made about family history when I threw my back out over the holidays (there’s got to be an easier and less painful way to do family

Jan 8, 2014 • 1:12:28

Episode 162 - How to Help Kids Engage, Explore and Enjoy Family History

Episode 162 - How to Help Kids Engage, Explore and Enjoy Family History

Wondering how to get your kids and grandkids engaged in family history? Looking for worthwhile activities for the kids over the Christmas break? In this episode author Janet Hovorka provides answers. Our children are the future of our families, and there's no better time to help them engage, explore and enjoy their family history!  App Users: Be sure to check out the audio Bonus Content in the Genealogy Gems App! NEWS: of the 1 year digital subscription to Family Tree Magazine. Amanda’s Blog:

Dec 4, 2013 • 57:07

Episode 161 - Taking Risks, and Norwegian Research

Episode 161 - Taking Risks, and Norwegian Research

I was so impresssed with Yngve Nedrebø, the Chief archivist at Riksarkivet (National Archives of Norway) who I recently interviewed for the Family Tree Magazine podcast that I'm publishing an extended version of that interview here on the Genealgoy Gems Podcast. This is a "must hear" for those with Norwegian heritage. In this episode you'll also hear from a fellow listener and get a chance to see his family history tour that he created in Google Earth using the techniques I teach in the Google E

Nov 14, 2013 • 49:17

Episode 160 - Genealogy Blogging and A Lisa's Favorite Genealogy Gem

Episode 160 - Genealogy Blogging and A Lisa's Favorite Genealogy Gem

In this episode you will meet other listeners who are getting the word out about their family history through blogging as well as give you some genealogy blogging pointers,and I will introduce you to one of my first “Favorite Genealogy Gems” Look who I ran into in Detroit: Steve Luxenberg, author of "Annie's Ghosts" Cruise with Lisa It’s always a joy for me to get to get out and about and meet so many of you in person. And, have I got an amazing event to tell you about where we can get together

Oct 9, 2013 • 1:07:44

Episode 159 - African American Research, Work Through the Ages

Episode 159 - African American Research, Work Through the Ages

Come along as we solve a family history mystery with high-tech and low-tech tools, discuss who to begin African-American research, explore newly available Canadian records, and contemplate the value of work as well as the values we want to pass on to our kids and grandkids.   NEWS: Canadian Genealogical Records Now Available If you have Canadian kin, you’ll be pleased to hear that the 1825 census of Lower Canada is now searchable online. The 1825 census of Lower Canada counted nearly half a mil

Sep 5, 2013 • 42:42

Episode 158 - Exclusive Interview with the Producer of TLC's Who Do You Think You Are?

Episode 158 - Exclusive Interview with the Producer of TLC's Who Do You Think You Are?

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 158 August 2, 2013 NEWS: Attention Gmail Users:Google has revised the Gmail dashboard to now include tabs, separating your emails based on the type of content. Overall, I really like it, but I wanted to bring to your attention to the fact that your Genealogy Gems email newsletters will probably land in the Promotions tab, rather than your Primary tab. The problem with this is that we are used to focusing on what is in the in box in front of us, and I know I’m havi

Jul 29, 2013 • 1:08:17

Episode 157 - Blast from the Past Episodes 11 and 12 Remastered

Episode 157 - Blast from the Past Episodes 11 and 12 Remastered

In this Blast from the Past episode we are turning the time machine back to May of 2007.  First up is Genealogy Gems Episode #11, first published May 07, 2007, which includes two great gems for you: How to Find Pictures from the Past with Google.com, adn a Family History Decoupage Plate Project. This is easy even for you non-crafters out there and the result is an heirloom quality decorative plate that tells an ancestors story. Then in this double header, Genealogy Gems episode # 12, which was o

Jul 12, 2013 • 39:37

Episode 156 - What to Do When Technological Change Creates Mayhem in Your Life

Episode 156 - What to Do When Technological Change Creates Mayhem in Your Life

In this episode you will get a sneak peek at new changes coming in Ancestry search, and we will look for women in naturalization records. But first here is what you can do... When Technological Changes Get You Down  The Mayhem commercials from Allstate are a riot, but of course all that mayhem is not all that funny when it’s happening to you. Sometimes it feels like technology companies are having a little mayhem fun with us when they get us all up and running with their software program, or ap

Jun 13, 2013 • 47:54

Episode 155 - Catching Up on Everything Genealogy, and WikiTree Update

Episode 155 - Catching Up on Everything Genealogy, and WikiTree Update

A lot has been happening in the genealogy world while I have been on the road, and my job is to boil it down so I can bring you the best genealogy gems and that’s what we are going to do in this episode.   NEWS: RootsTech If you didn’t make it out to Salt Lake City for the huge RootsTech conference – and I do mean huge – don’t fret because they have lots of video recordings online for you including a panel that I participated in where the topic was the Future of Genealogy. If you have ever wond

May 18, 2013 • 52:54

Episode 154 10 Tips for Breaking Through Your Genealogy Brick Wall

Episode 154 10 Tips for Breaking Through Your Genealogy Brick Wall

Travel back to #RootsTech - You'll hear 10 Top Tips for How to Bust Through Your Genealogy Brick Wall, and get the scoop on the new partnership between OCLC / WorldCat and FamilySearch. From Lisa: If you didn’t get a chance to attend a genealogy event yet this year, don’t fret, because in today’s episode while I get back to my laundry and packing to travel to Tennessee to present a genealogy seminar, you are going to hear two recordings we did at RootsTech. First up is Jay Jordon, President of

Apr 30, 2013 • 33:59

Episode 153 - Blast from the Past Episode 10, and Darius Gray on Storytelling at RootsTech

Episode 153 - Blast from the Past Episode 10, and Darius Gray on Storytelling at RootsTech

Enjoy a blast from the past with episode #10 featuring Steve Morse and his One-Step website. Then delight in Darius Gray, a genealogist and storyteller who provides tips on sharing your family history stories with your family, (recorded at #RootsTech 2013) GEM: A Blast from the Past -Episode: # 10        Original Publish Date:  May 01, 2007 GEM: Stephen Morse On August 21, 2007 I attended a seminar sponsored by a local genealogical society.  The speaker was Stephen P. Morse who is very well-k

Mar 29, 2013 • 34:12

Episode 152 - Interview with Dr. Turi King at Who Do You Think You Are? Live in London

Episode 152 - Interview with Dr. Turi King at Who Do You Think You Are? Live in London

Show Notes Lisa Louise Cooke I am back from speaking at the Who Do You Think You Are? Live conference in London, and I’ve brought back some gems for you for this episode which I’m excited about. I got to spend about a week in England and this time around got to do some touring with my friend Janet Hovorka owner of Family ChartMasters. We went to Windsor castle which I’ve always wanted to see, and it did not disappoint. What windsor castle can teach us about family history. It’s all in the detail

Mar 8, 2013 • 58:33

Episode 151 - 50 Fabulous Family History Favorites Part 2

Episode 151 - 50 Fabulous Family History Favorites Part 2

In this episode we wrap up my 50 Fabulous Family History Favorites List On Friday I babysat my two grandsons Davy and Joey, and I put together a little game that was prompted by a listener email. You met long time listener and Premium Member Dot in Australia during our virtual Christmas Party in episode 147, and after the show aired, Dot wrote me to say how much she enjoyed it and to tell me about a little concentration game she put together for her granddaughter.  When my kids were growing up

Feb 15, 2013 • 38:43

Episode 150 - Lisa's 50 Fablous Family History Favorites

Episode 150 - Lisa's 50 Fablous Family History Favorites

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 150 In celebration of this 150th episode and my 50th birthday, I bring you: A Birthday from Long Ago 50 Fabulous Family History Favorites  Websites: 1. Familysearch.orgThey are the leaders in free online records. While it’s tempting to just start typing in ancestors name for searches and hoping for the best, a strategic genealogist determines what type of record they want to find for a question about their ancestor, and then uses the catalogue to determine if Famil

Feb 5, 2013 • 40:42

Episode 149 - A Blast from the Past Episodes 7 and 8

Episode 149 - A Blast from the Past Episodes 7 and 8

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode: # 07        Original Publish Date:  April 8, 2007 The April 15 tax deadline is looming: did you know that The Civil War income tax was the first tax paid on individual incomes by residents of the United States? by Cynthia G. Fox on the subject called Income Tax Records of the Civil War Years.  It appears on the National Archives website and is excerpted from the Prologue Magazine Winter 1986 edition, Vol. 18, No. 4.  GEM #1:  Anna-Karin’s Genealogical Podcast An

Jan 25, 2013 • 59:47

Episode 148 Quick Genealogy Gems You Can Use

Episode 148 Quick Genealogy Gems You Can Use

Welcome to the first episode of 2013, and there is certainly a lot already going on this year, and this episode is packed with genealogy news, your emails and of course gems tucked in along the way. NEWS: One of the longest running and best known websites is Cyndislist at cyndislist.com. The website is run by Cyndi Howells, and for over 16 years she has meticulously catalogued all of the websites that are devoted to genealogy.  Anyone can go to cyndislist.com for free and follow the topic links

Jan 6, 2013 • 46:22

Episode 147 - A Virtual Genealogy Gems Christmas Open House

Episode 147 - A Virtual Genealogy Gems Christmas Open House

Jump on the sleigh and make the rounds with me to friends of the podcast. We'll making surprise stops at listener's homes, drinking hot cocoa with long time friends  of the show and genealogy experts, visiting with the newest member to the Genealogy Gems team, and my Grandson Davy will even make a guest starring appearance!

Dec 15, 2012 • 46:13

Episode 146 - Maureen Taylor's New Film Project, Genealogy News, and A Fabulous Use for Google Alerts

Episode 146 - Maureen Taylor's New Film Project, Genealogy News, and A Fabulous Use for Google Alerts

In this episode we discuss the latest genealogy news, one listener's fabulous use of Google Alerts, and Maureen Taylor's new history film project.  NEWS: Google Earth 7Google as just released Google Earth version 7. Google Earth is an amazing tool for genealogy so new enhancements are always welcome! This new version enables you to explore a number of cities around the world in 3D, from Long Beach, California, to Rome, Italy. The 3D imagery uses the enhanced modeling capabilities, previously fou

Dec 8, 2012 • 1:12:26

Episode 145 - Blast From the Past Episodes 5 and 6

Episode 145 - Blast From the Past Episodes 5 and 6

In this episode I’ve got another blast from the past for you.  We have reached deep into the podcast archive and retrieved episodes 5 and 6. In Episode 5 we touch on using the video website YouTube for genealogy, and then I walk you through how to Bring Sites Back From the Dead with Google. Then we wrap things up with a cool little way to Spice Up Your Genealogy Database. In episode 6 I have a gem for you called Cast a Shadow on Your Ancestors, and we cover the free genealogy website US GenWeb

Nov 24, 2012 • 42:45

Episode 144 -  Digitize, Organize, and Archive

Episode 144 - Digitize, Organize, and Archive

Today's gem focuses on a challenge that we all face as family historians – getting organized, archiving all of our stuff, and digitizing materials an d photos. I know that’s biting off a big chunk, but it’s such an important one. And in this episode I’m going to start to break it down for your with the help of the Family Curator, Denise Levenick who has written a book called How to Archive Family Keepsakes.  She’s got lots of practical advice to share. NEWS: FamilySearch recently announced that

Nov 8, 2012 • 1:05:58

Episode 143 - Mobile Scanning, Heroic Stories, and Old Postcards

Episode 143 - Mobile Scanning, Heroic Stories, and Old Postcards

In this episode you will hear how one man’s passion for geography and history were saved from destruction, and you’ll find out what a portable scanner can do for your genealogy research and mobility. My Latest Travels I wrapped up my recent round of travels last week with a trip to Sumner, Washington where I spoke at the Autumn Quest Annual Seminar sponsored by the Heritage Quest Library. It was a packed room and we spent the day talking about how to find your family history in newspapers, using

Oct 22, 2012 • 49:36

Episode 142 - Family History Bloggers

Episode 142 - Family History Bloggers

Have you ever wondered how the Internet works?  I mean, how data from your computer actually makes to another computer somewhere else around the world? I found a very cool video that really manages to explain a very complex process that happens in a matter of seconds in a way that actually makes a lot of sense. And yet while it made sense, after I watched it it was almost harder to believe that it really works at all because it’s so amazing. Even if you are typically a person who doesn’t bother

Oct 10, 2012 • 51:07

Episode 141 - Antiques Roadshow, and What to Include and Not to Include in Your Family Tree

Episode 141 - Antiques Roadshow, and What to Include and Not to Include in Your Family Tree

In this episode we are pulling back the curtain on the Antiques Roadshow, as well as talking a bit about what to include and not include in your family tree. I’m just back from Odessa Texas where I presented a full day seminar at the Permian Basin Genealogical Society. I got to enjoy a big dose of Texas hospitality and had an absolutely wonderful time. Next up I’m heading to Kelowna British Columbia for the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society Conference where I will be again doing four pres

Sep 25, 2012 • 44:09

Episode 140 - A Blast from the Past Episodes 3 and 4

Episode 140 - A Blast from the Past Episodes 3 and 4

Published Sept 11, 2012 Enjoy a Blast from the Past with Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 140. You'll hear episodes 3 and 4 from 2007. Show Notes EPISODE 3 - Originally Aired March 11, 2007 A big thanks to Bill Puller of the Genealogy Tech Podcast, for mentioning the Genealogy Gems Podcast in his March 7 blog.   New to Podcasting?    GEM:  GOOGLE ALERTS & EBAY FAVORITE SEARCHES (aka eBay Alerts)   GOOGLE ALERTS: Check out Bill Puller’s podcast of the Genealogy Tech Podcast You can create a thous

Sep 11, 2012 • 44:36

Episode 139 Going Back to Family History School

Episode 139 Going Back to Family History School

Published August 29, 2012 Let's get ready to go back to school - family history school! And I've got some exciting new to tell you about! Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #139 brought to you by two times Grandma Lisa Louise Cooke.  Yes, indeed my second little Grandson was born on August 15, 2012 about 2 ½ weeks early, and he and his mommy my daughter Vienna are doing marvelously. His name is Joseph, and we’ll all be calling him Joey which I absolutely adore, and even better his middle name is Coo

Aug 29, 2012 • 59:42

Episode 138 - Food and Family History Part 2

Episode 138 - Food and Family History Part 2

Published August 8, 2012 In the last episode we took a big bite of food family history, and in today’s episode I’ve got part 2 of my interview with Gena Philibert Ortega, author of From the Family Kitchen: Discover your Food Heritage and Preserve Favorite Recipes. MAILBOX: From Alvie in Lakeland Florida: “Would it be possible to share the recipe for the cookie - was it a sour cream cookie?  The one your husband loves.  My wife loves to bake cookies to share and she has all sorts of recipes and f

Aug 9, 2012 • 45:22

Episode 137 - Food and Family History, and NetVibes Update

Episode 137 - Food and Family History, and NetVibes Update

Published July 22, 2012 In this episode author Gena Philibert Ortega and I talk about her new book From the Family Kitchen: Discover your Food Heritage and Preserve Favorite Recipes. Who doesn’t love yummy home cooking? There is a lot to be learned about our ancestors, and in particular those elusive female ancestors, through a study of our culinary history.  We’ll be talking about the invaluable genealogical records that are so often over looked, ways that you can really dig in to your fabulous

Jul 22, 2012 • 58:19

Episode 136 - Life After iGoogle

Episode 136 - Life After iGoogle

Published July 8, 2012 Everyone is concerned about Google pulling the plug on iGoogle, but in today's episode I have a fantastic solution for you. And you will find the companion video at my and as the video bonus content in the .  And the new has been launched! It’s here! I promised you it was coming and it has. The brand new website is up and running at genealogygems.com and at lisalouisecooke.com. You’ll find Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems in both places. The old site was 5 years which

Jul 8, 2012 • 42:37

Episode 135 - Linda Chavez of Finding Your Roots

Episode 135 - Linda Chavez of Finding Your Roots

Published June 19, 2012 In this episode we’re going to follow up on Episode #133 and my interview with Henry Louis Gates about his show Finding Your Roots with an conversation with one of the celebrities profiled on the show, Linda Chavez.   NEWS: FamilySearch FamilySearch announced that it hit the halfway point for creating a searchable index for the 1940 U.S. census, which has been an unprecedented genealogical community effort made up of more than 125,000 volunteers More states will be added

Jun 19, 2012 • 57:03

Episode 134 A Blast from the Past

Episode 134 A Blast from the Past

June 11, 2012 Episode 134: You asked for it!  Here's a blast from the past: Episodes 1 & 2 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast! Episode 01 February 25, 2007 by Lisa Louise Cooke My goal in creating this podcast is to provide you with inspiration and innovation to help you get the most of out your research time.  There's never enough time to work on your family tree, is there? So when you have some precious moments to dig into your roots, you want to be mining gold nuggets, not dead ends.  Genealogy

Jun 11, 2012 • 36:16

Episode 133 - Interview with Henry Louis Gates Jr on Finding Your Roots May 19, 2012

Episode 133 - Interview with Henry Louis Gates Jr on Finding Your Roots May 19, 2012

May 19, 2012 Discover what Dr. Henry Louis Gates hope to convey in the final episode of his series Finding Your Roots.   NEWS: I just returned from NGS and had a chance to visit with many listeners including: Lisa Lisson of the Are You My Cousin? blog    and Debra writes the Deb’s Research blog     I also taught classes while there.  My first class was on using the iPad for Genealogy, and while I think the students learned a lot, I know I certainly did. Folks were coming up to me throughout the

May 19, 2012 • 42:04

Episode 132 - Bonnets and Hats, and The Genealogy Widower

Episode 132 - Bonnets and Hats, and The Genealogy Widower

Published May 3, 2012 Decipher your ancestor’s head gear with Maureen Taylor (AKA The Photo Detective) with tips from her new book Bonnets and Hats. And then grab your spouse for a genealogical musical number. NEWS: Thanks for the Shout Outs: Going the Extra Yad by Emily Garber  at the blog   FamilySearch Update The 1940 U.S. census indexing project was launched this April as part of a broad . - Over 85,000 volunteers have already completed 20 percent of the census project. - A record number

May 4, 2012 • 53:25

Episode 131 - 1880 Defective, Dependent and Delinquent Census Schedules

Episode 131 - 1880 Defective, Dependent and Delinquent Census Schedules

April 26, 2012   NEWS: The big news is Ancestry.com’s acquisition of Archives.com My Classes at the Genealogy Jamboree Conference: TH-001 - Conversation with the Author: Steve Luxenberg and Annie's Ghosts TH-013 - Common Surname Google Search Strategies SA-020 - Sharing The Joy: Projects That Will Captivate The Non-Genealogists In Your Life SA-034 - The Google Earth Scavenger Hunt – Fascinating Family History Fun! SA-040 - 10 Ways to Add Volume to Your Family History with Video  MAILBOX: Ashley

Apr 26, 2012 • 51:00

Episode 130 - RootsMagic 5, APG, the 1940 Census and more

Episode 130 - RootsMagic 5, APG, the 1940 Census and more

Published April 16, 2012 In this episode learn more about APG, find out what’s new with RootsMagic 5, and get started searching the 1940 census.   NEWS: Diane Haddad and I just spent some time on the Family Tree Magazine podcast going over everything that’s been happening with the release of the 1940 census.  Diane is the Managing Editor of Family Tree Magazine and writes the Genealogy Insider blog, and she’s been doing a terrific job covering the records release, indexing efforts and early find

Apr 16, 2012 • 1:01:33

Episode 129 - Running Away to Home with author Jennifer Wilson

Episode 129 - Running Away to Home with author Jennifer Wilson

Published March 22, 2012 Genealogy Gems Book Club: Our featured book is Running Away to Home by Jennifer Wilson. In this book, Jennifer takes us on a once and a lifetime genealogical journey where she walked in her ancestors shoes and lived among their descendants. : and help support the free Genealogy Gems Podcast.    Thank You!   Visit Jennifer Wilson’s website:     About Jennifer: Jennifer Wilson has been writing for 15 years for folks like Esquire, National Geographic Traveler, Better Home

Mar 22, 2012 • 50:43

Episode 128 - WDYTYA Wrap Up and brightsolid

Episode 128 - WDYTYA Wrap Up and brightsolid

Published March 9, 2011 In this episode we'll talk to Chris van der Kuyl, CEO of brightsolid. By Andrew Martin of the History Repeating Blog Mark Olsen of  MyHeritage / World Vital Records WDYTYA recap at the MyHeritage blog Else Churchill and her team from the Society of Genealogists in the UK really do a brilliant job organizing the classes for Who Do You Think You Are?   NEWS: I’m honored that my Genealogy Podcasts and Blogs 101 class is included in the group. I really enjoyed introducing

Mar 9, 2012 • 50:44

Episode 127 - Nick Barratt of the UK Who Do You Think You Are?

Episode 127 - Nick Barratt of the UK Who Do You Think You Are?

Published Feb 21, 2012 In this episode you'll hear from UK presenter and historian Nick Barratt.   GEM: Listener Betty Wynn Betty talks about how she uses my book   GEM: Interview with Nick Barratt   “Dr Nick Barratt obtained a PhD in history from King's College London in 1996, editing the 1225 Exchequer pipe roll and several Exchequer receipt rolls from the 1220s when the National Archives: Public Record Office maintained a site at Chancery Lane. On joining the National Archives: Public Recor

Feb 21, 2012 • 29:46

Episode 126 - RootsTech Wrap Up and Find A Grave

Episode 126 - RootsTech Wrap Up and Find A Grave

Published Feb 10, 2012 In this episode we cover the latest news from RootsTech 2012, my video interview with Nick Barratt, and an in depth look at Find A Grave with the website's creator, Jim Tipton. NEWS: Watch the recording of my presentation website. It’s part of the Saturday Recap Video. Roots Tech was the public debut of my new book Everything You Need to Know About How to Find Your Family in Newspapers and I just want to thank everyone for the amazing response.  It’s really obvious that a

Feb 10, 2012 • 1:01:02

Episode 125 - Interview with Shirley Gage Hodges and Lisa's New Newspaper Book

Episode 125 - Interview with Shirley Gage Hodges and Lisa's New Newspaper Book

Published Jan 24, 2012 In this episode Genealogist Shirley Gage Hodges will share her genealogical wisdom with you as well as talk about her status as "perennial student." NEWS Marilyn attended my class called Inspiring Ways to Captivate the Non-Genealogist in Your Life and wrote in “I attended your class during the Arizona Family History Expo.  I enjoyed it very much!” Hear Me in Persongo to the Genealogy Gems Website at and Seminars in the menu. That’s what I do to be sure I’m in the right pl

Jan 24, 2012 • 47:51

Episode 124 - New Google Search, Newspaper Research

Episode 124 - New Google Search, Newspaper Research

Published Jan 10, 2012 What’s Black, and White and READ all over?  Your Ancestors in old newspapers! In fact, your ancestors could be anywhere!  Most likely they were mentioned at some point in their own local paper, but they might also show up in a neighboring towns paper, or in a paper located thousands of miles away. Nothing is more exciting than finding information in an old newspaper that adds to your family history!  And I’ve been working feverishly on a new book that I can finally tell yo

Jan 10, 2012 • 1:01:14

Episode 123 - Taking Family History to Young and Old in the Community

Episode 123 - Taking Family History to Young and Old in the Community

Published Dec 10, 2011 This Sha Sha has been busily working to finish making Davy’s birthday present since his big birthday number 2 is coming up on Dec. 15.   In Genealogy Gems Podcast I told how I decided to make Davy a Blues Clues card table playhouse.  You remember throwing a blanket over a card table when you were a kid and it became a play house on a rainy day, right?  Well this one was a bit challenging because there is no pattern for a Blue’s Clues playhouse so I just made it up as I we

Dec 10, 2011 • 1:04:35

Episode 122 - Chat with a Forensic Genealogist

Episode 122 - Chat with a Forensic Genealogist

Published Nov 27, 2011 In this episode you are going to hear from Forensic Genealogist Leslie Lawson.   Genealogy News   Return of Who Do You think You Are? NBC has just announced that the TV series Who Do You Think You Are? will be returning to television screens here in the U.S on Friday, February 3 at 8pm.  Since this falls at the same time as the RootsTech conference I wouldn’t be surprised if they plan a group screening for attendees.   RootsTech 2012 The winner of the free RootsTech 201

Nov 27, 2011 • 51:39

Episode 121 - Mysteries in Family History - Steve Luxenberg author of Annie's Ghosts Part 2

Episode 121 - Mysteries in Family History - Steve Luxenberg author of Annie's Ghosts Part 2

Published Nov 3, 2010 In this Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 121 and part 2 of my interview with Washington Post editor Steve Luxenberg, author fo Annie’s Ghosts.  From the emails, Tweets and Facebook posts I’ve received from so many of you, it sure looks like you enjoyed part 1 of the interview in episode 120 as much as I enjoyed doing it.  Jenna at the Seeking Surnames blog tweeted “the Annie’s Ghost podcast was great!  It’s a close runner up to the Sha Na Na Guy as my favorite!” Jenna is refe

Nov 3, 2011 • 37:31

Episode 120 - Annie's Ghost with Author Steve Luxenberg

Episode 120 - Annie's Ghost with Author Steve Luxenberg

Published Oct 20, 2011 Fire up your Kindle!  In this episode I'm going to introduce you to the author or a riveting book full of secrets, family history, and discoveries!   GEM: Interview with Steve Luxenberg, author of Annie's Ghosts We’re going to mix things up a bit in this episode, and I want to start off with an email I received recently from Jay in New York who writes:   “I have been catching up with all of your family history podcasts. Over the years I have collected a wealth of informa

Oct 21, 2011 • 59:51

Episode 119 Thousands of Memories - Childhood, Grandparents & Beyond

Episode 119 Thousands of Memories - Childhood, Grandparents & Beyond

Published Oct 5, 2011 When you were little did you play in card table tents or forts?  I sure did. When I was wandering around the house complaining of being bored on a rainy day, my mom would pull out the old folding table used for card games, throw an old blanket over it, pull out some old pots and pans and hand them to me and tell me to go play house.  Something magical seemed to happen when I crawled under the fabric walls.  My imagination would let loose and I could happily play for hours.

Oct 6, 2011 • 58:31

Episode 118 - Grandmas & Grandpas, Free Transcription Software, PERSI, and more

Episode 118 - Grandmas & Grandpas, Free Transcription Software, PERSI, and more

Published Sept 17, 2011 Everyone has a special name for grandparents in their family.  In ours we have Nanna, Grandma, and even Pat-Pat.  I look forward to the day my grandson Davy calls me Grandma.  While I wait, tell me the unusual terms of endearment used in your family for grandparents.  Email or leave a voice mail and be included on the show:  (925) 272-4021   Listen to the episode:   NEWS: FamilySearch has added millions of new records of both Confederate and Union soldiers who served in t

Sep 17, 2011 • 46:31

Episode 117 Should Your Genealogy Research Flourish?

Episode 117 Should Your Genealogy Research Flourish?

Published Sept 6, 2011 Are you having a Picnic?  Problem In Chair Not In Computer! r - says Google  They had a recent failure but Google says it wasn’t the car it was a PICNIC! See the photos at Kiera posted on my Facebook wall after the webinar saying  “I listened to your Webinar on Google Tools today. I wanted to hit myself over the head for not having those tips sooner. I've put them to use today, and already, they're helping me immensely! A million thanks!!!!!!!!”   Book Lisa to Spe

Sep 6, 2011 • 50:51

Episode 116 - Recorded LIVE at Jamboree

Episode 116 - Recorded LIVE at Jamboree

Published August 20, 2011 This special episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast was recorded in front of a live audience at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree held in June 2011 in Burbank, CA. My special guests are Allison Stacy, publisher of Family Tree Magazine, and Paula Sassi, Certified Graphologist.  Paula analyzed the handwriting of Allison's ancestor Amelia Essel.  Writing sample:   She also interpreted the handwriting of John Owen Dominis, the ancestor of our contest wi

Aug 20, 2011 • 1:07:31

Episode 115 - How to Travel to Your Ancestors Homeland

Episode 115 - How to Travel to Your Ancestors Homeland

Published August 6, 2011 In this episode you're going to learn the details that go into planning a trip to your ancestor's homeland. NEWS: called Monday Midwest Family history Expo posted on 8/1/11.  GEM: More Online Newspapers This week the Library of Congress updated Chronicling America to include newspapers from 3 new states added to the program in 2010 and additional coverage for 1836-1859. New Mexico, Tennessee and Vermont are now included with 22 other states and the District of Columbia

Aug 6, 2011 • 54:41

Episode 114 - Online Security, Records Roundup, Genealogy Blogging

Episode 114 - Online Security, Records Roundup, Genealogy Blogging

Published July 21, 2011 Git yer lasso and git ready for the Genealogy Records Roundup in this episode. Then I’ll show you how to improve your online security, introduce you to family history blogger Becky Jamison, and share my own person story of genealogical serendipity. Records Round Up The Library and Archives Canada has announced the launch of an updated version of its finding aid to locate electoral districts in its federal voters' lists collection from 1935 to 1980. This updated version pr

Jul 21, 2011 • 46:51

Episode 113 - Family History Writing Inspiration with Author John Paul Godges

Episode 113 - Family History Writing Inspiration with Author John Paul Godges

Published July 4, 2011 In this episode you'll pick up tips for family history writing success from John Paul Godges, the author of Oh, Beautiful, An American Family in the 20th Century.   Jamboree   Genealogy Gems Podcast LIVE! featured Allison Stacy, publisher of Family Tree Magazine and Handwriting Expert Paula Sassi   Click the “Like” button on the   Genealogy Gems Facebook Fan Heather Wilkinson Rojo’s letter dated May 11, 1887 written by her first cousin 4 times removed John Owen Dominis w

Jul 4, 2011 • 1:06:16

Episode 112 - Helping Kids Embrace Family History

Episode 112 - Helping Kids Embrace Family History

Published June 20, 2011 Get ready to be inspired while you listen to kids embracing their family history at the Kid's Camp lead by Charlotte Bocage.  In this episode you'll hear from the instructors, kids, parents and grandparents that all shared a very special day exploring the joy of genealogy. Genealogy Gems Podcast App users can also check out Bonus Content:  Genealogy Blogger Elyse Doerflinger of shares with the kids her favorite place to go digging for records Get the Get the

Jun 20, 2011 • 44:36

Episode 111 - Military Records, Britains Home Children and Google News

Episode 111 - Military Records, Britains Home Children and Google News

Published May 28, 2011 This week we did a 90 minute and the response has been fantastic.   I’ve had so many emails from those of you who attended, and I can just read the excitement in your words.   After the Google Search Tips and Tricks webinar Penny wrote: "Loved your last webinar for RootsMagic.  I had the reputation for being pretty sharp with Google searching, but you leave me in the dust."   And Eileen wrote: "Fantastic webinar! I can't wait to try it out!"   And after the Google

May 28, 2011 • 47:46

Episode 110 - Turn of the Century Divorce, and The Photo Detective at Who Do You Think You Are?

Episode 110 - Turn of the Century Divorce, and The Photo Detective at Who Do You Think You Are?

Published May 17, 2011 In this episode we cover little white lies told at the turn-of=-the-century about divorce, and The Photo Detective Maureen Taylor joins us from Who Do You Think You Are? Live in London.   "Like" the     NEWS:    National Archives EStore Opens Online Click the Bargain Vault link in the menu    The National Archives UK 9 June 2011, they will be taking part in #AskArchivists Day along with other archives from around the world. #AskArchivists on      A new service hel

May 17, 2011 • 1:01:16

Episode 109 - The Civil War

Episode 109 - The Civil War

Published April 30, 2011 In this episode listeners chime in on Ancestry online trees, Lisa shares an inspiring story, and talks with Mike Litterst of the National Parks Service about the Civil War 150th Anniversary web site.   NEWS:   FamilySearch Over at , with their most recent additions to the website they are now up to 600 free    Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree App iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad: you get the app from the iTunes app store by searching for "genealogy" or 'jambor

May 1, 2011 • 50:46

Episode 108 Census Tips and Tricks

Episode 108 Census Tips and Tricks

Published April 8, 2011 In this episode we cover Census Records Tips and Tricks.   MAILBOX:   "Keep coming up with these gems, you never know where they may lead!" from Angela who asks about Date Discrepanies and Lookalikes  “All of her life my grandmother was sure that she hadn't been told the whole truth about her birth.”   Garry in British Columbia wrote in about A Gem Found in the    Letitia in Ashford, England writes “Picnic: Problem In Chair Not In Computer!”    Phyllis from Porl

Apr 8, 2011 • 46:56

Episode 107 - Free Webinars and Dick Eastman on Cloud Computing

Episode 107 - Free Webinars and Dick Eastman on Cloud Computing

Published March 25, 2010   Dick Eastman joins Lisa in this episode to discuss Cloud Computing.   Season 2 of the is coming this March 28, 2011   featuring interviews with many of the experts who attended the RootsTech conference.    Curt Witcher's visionary look at "."      Brian Pugh of FamilySearch called       Big Thank Yous To: Le Maison Duchamp    The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox Book Reviews: Available at the Genealogy Gems Store at Lulu press:   Craig Manson of the Genea

Mar 25, 2011 • 59:21

Episode 106 - Who Do You Think You Are? Live in London, and Jan Gow on Creating Your Own Family History Reference Library

Episode 106 - Who Do You Think You Are? Live in London, and Jan Gow on Creating Your Own Family History Reference Library

Published March 8, 2011 Who Do You Think You Are? Live in London was fantastic!  I can't wait to tell you all about it in this episode!  Like the Genealogy Gems Podcast on Facebook Above: The gates at Hinchingbrooke House forged by Harry Cooke GEM: Create your own Family Reference Library and Catalogue with Jan Gow Recorded at the RootsTech conference in Salt Lake City Resources mentioned in the interview: Hooked on Genealogy Tours PO Box 25-025 Auckland 1130 New Zealand Phone:  64 9 521

Mar 9, 2011 • 40:36

Episode 105 - Interview with Josh Taylor of NEGHS, Genealogy News and More

Episode 105 - Interview with Josh Taylor of NEGHS, Genealogy News and More

Published Feb 8, 2011  In this episode Lisa chats with Josh Taylor of NEHGS about genealogy, technology and the future. Tips for Getting the Most from a Conference 1. Sit up front 2. Introduce themselves to the people sitting next to them 3. Attend classes that wouldn’t normally attend.  Try new topics, and let the presenters really lay out the topic and see how it might apply to their own research. Genealogy’s Star Blog article:   Unveiled their new website which features Illinois Resou

Feb 8, 2011 • 58:31

Episode 104 - Technology and Genealogy Converge

Episode 104 - Technology and Genealogy Converge

Lisa's New Book is Here!   Genealogy Blog:     Lisa's Upcoming Appearances:   All day seminar on Google at the in Southern California conference Feb 10-12 in Salt Lake City to speak on Google Search Strategies   Tips to Avoid Disappearing emails First go to your spam folder and select the emails you want and then click the Not Spam button – it may be called something else in your email, but most services have one.  Create a Contact In your email system for the sender of the email.

Jan 25, 2011 • 59:11

Episode 103 - New Google Gems for Genealogy!

Episode 103 - New Google Gems for Genealogy!

Published Jan 5, 2011 NEWS: 1916 Candian census of the Prairie Provinces at the Library and Archives Canada You can access the digitized images of the 1916 census online in two different ways: by Province, District Name, District Number, and Sub-district Number. Using the ," you can browse the microfilm reels page by page.   New Video on the Civil War from NARA Inside the Vaults: Discover the Civil War In this video just under 4 minutes the creators of NARA’s Discovering the Civil War exhibit

Jan 5, 2011 • 39:31

Episode 102 - The 2nd Season of the Generations Project with the Executive Producer Kendall Wilcox

Episode 102 - The 2nd Season of the Generations Project with the Executive Producer Kendall Wilcox

Published Dec 23, 2010 NEWS: Lisa's Upcoming Speaking Engagements: Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE Conference in London Lisa will be speaking on Sunday Feb. 27, 2011 at noon. Use the Promotional code SOG2425 to purchase discounted tickets. , January 21 & 22, Mesa Convention Center The Whittier Area Genealogical Society , January 29, 2011 in Columbus, OH, March 31 - April 2, 2011 in Edmonton, Canada, April 16 & 17, 2011 Southern California Genealogical Society in Burbank, CA, June 10 - 12, 2011

Dec 23, 2010 • 1:06:11

Christmas Stocking Instructions.doc

Christmas Stocking Instructions.doc

...

Dec 8, 2010 • 0:00

Episode 101 - Getting Certified as a Genealogist

Episode 101 - Getting Certified as a Genealogist

Published Nov 20, 2010 T   Mesa Family History Expo January 21 & 22, 2011Mesa Arizona Convention Center.   - Effective Use of Technology Thursday, January 27th  -  Saturday January 29th  9:00AM- 5:00PM New England Historic Genealogical Society 99 Newbury St. Boston MA, 02116 Ancestry  Thegenealogist.co.uk reached an agreement with The National Archives, UK to acquire and publish online the 1911 England and Wales Census. The complete set of 1911 Census records go live on Ancestry.com by county,

Nov 20, 2010 • 58:21

Episode 100 - A Celebration!

Episode 100 - A Celebration!

Published Nov 7, 2010 In this episode we take a sentimental journey back over the first 100 episodes of The Genealogy Gems Podcast including some of Lisa's favorite gems and interviews, show milestones, and listener messages. Fave Gems: Google Site Search - Vehicular Forensics - The Band Venice - Lisa's story and Heritage quilts - Handwriting Analysis and Leatherheads - Irene Johnson, Genealogist and star of the Ancestors series on PBS - and Lisa Kudrow, Who Do You Think You Are? - Kenda

Nov 7, 2010 • 1:08:41

Episode 99 - LIVE from the Calif Family History Expo!

Episode 99 - LIVE from the Calif Family History Expo!

Published Oct 21, 2010 Join us as we highlight and explore the beautiful online magazine   be sure to check out the Bonus Content Video!!  LINKS to websites mentioned in this episode: Craig Manson's Shades Contributor Blogs: Denise Levenick - r Sheri Fenley - Maureen Taylor - Denise Olson -   Thanks to our wonderful prize donors! Bruce Buzbee of Rootsmagic.com maker's of: Rootsmagic 4 Family Atlas Personal Historian Family Reunion Organizer     Genealogy Gems :

Oct 21, 2010 • 41:01

Episode 98 The Journey Takers, New Sweepstakes, and Liquid Galaxy for Google Earth

Episode 98 The Journey Takers, New Sweepstakes, and Liquid Galaxy for Google Earth

Published Oct 7, 2010 Episode 98 - The Journey Takers NEWS: Thank you to the Genealogy Bloggers who blogged about the new Google Earth for Genealogy Volume II DVD: Dick Eastman - Randy Seaver - Thomas MacEntee -   Diane Haddad      Jenna posted on Facebook about the recent Google Earth for Genealogy edition of the Premium Podcast: "Premium Episode 55...two thumbs up!"     on interview with Susan Kitchens     MAILBOX:   Simona MacAngus wrote in to say she loves the “You have a fantas

Oct 7, 2010 • 1:00:06

Episode 97 - Recording Family History Interviews

Episode 97 - Recording Family History Interviews

Sept 23, 2010 Lisa share her latest research breakthrough with Google Earth, and Susan Kitchens joins her on the show to talk about recording family history interviews.     NEWS: The Genealogy Gems Podcast is featured in Elyse Doerflinger's article called Podcasts: Download Your Genealogy! which appears in the of Internet Genealogy magazine. at the Library of Congress just announced they have added 380,000+ historic newspaper pages including 3 new states: Louisiana, Montana, and South Carolin

Sep 23, 2010 • 55:31

Episode 96 Scanner Options, Photograph History, and a Listener chats with Lisa

Episode 96 Scanner Options, Photograph History, and a Listener chats with Lisa

Published Sept 8, 2010 Upcoming MilestoneGenealogy Gems Podcast Listener Denise Coughlin posted on Lisa's Facebook wall the other day and said "I realized as I was filling up my mp3 player for the rest of the work week is about to hit 100!!  Congrats and keep 'em coming!!"  To celebrate, call the voice mail line - 925-272-4021 - or record and email an mp3 file with a message for the 100th episode.  We can have a sort of virtual birthday party for the podcast! Coming Soon!Google Earth for Geneal

Sep 8, 2010 • 38:11

Episode 95 Paper Preservation and Answers to Ancestry Family Trees

Episode 95 Paper Preservation and Answers to Ancestry Family Trees

Published August 24, 2010 NEWS: Genealogy Gems Podcast has been selected for inclusion in the brand new podcast director for the Blackberry launched by Research in Motion known as RIM.   Listener Rick Rissmiller wrote in:"GREAT news about the Blackberry app. Right now I download from i-tunes each week and save on my laptop then connect the blackberry and transfer so I can listen as I do thing around the house. I am a new lsitenere and have downloaded all of your previous podcasts and each week

Aug 24, 2010 • 52:06

Episode 94 Janice Nickerson of Who Do You Think You Are Canada

Episode 94 Janice Nickerson of Who Do You Think You Are Canada

Published August 5, 2010 NEWS:   Canadian Census    at the Vancouver Sun online about why genealogists are up in arms about the new restrictions on Canadian census information.       National Archives UK Take a listen to the National Archives UK podcast episode  that explores the creation of the census, with the mass organisation of enumerators, temporary clerks, permanent civil service clerks and registrars, and according to the podcast webpage, it includes fascinating stories that lie behind

Aug 5, 2010 • 1:01:46

Episode 93: Genealogy Blogger Craig Manson on What is Knowable in Family History

Episode 93: Genealogy Blogger Craig Manson on What is Knowable in Family History

Published July 21, 2010 NEWS:   By Schelly Talalay Dardashti   Film:  Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldbert .  The Goldbergs came to radio in 1929 and didn’t finish it’s TV run until 1955.       “Gertrude Berg who created the character Molly Goldberg was shown in polls to be the second most respected woman in America, after Eleanor Roosevelt.”   at The Museum of Broadcast Communications     Genealogy Bank.com has added millions of family history records. The records included obituaries

Jul 21, 2010 • 44:06

Episode 92 Genealogist and Author Dave Obee

Episode 92 Genealogist and Author Dave Obee

Published July 5, 2010 The LIVE Genealogy Gems Podcast #91 has been reformatted for the iPod.  You may need to delete the downloaded episode from iTunes and download it again by clicking the GET button to get the reformatted video. "Attend the Jamboree virtually" by checking out these online resources: The Blog posts about Jamboree: "I especially enjoyed her presentation on Google Earth for Genealogy" by Craig Manson by Joan Miller by Schelly Dardashti Blog by Cheryl Upcoming Conference

Jul 5, 2010 • 59:56

Episode 91 Recorded LIVE at Genealogy Jamboree 2010 - Videocast

Episode 91 Recorded LIVE at Genealogy Jamboree 2010 - Videocast

Published June 17, 2010 On Saturday June 12, 2010 we presented the Genealogy Gems Podcast show in front of a live audience at the Southern California Genealogy Society .  Our intention was to record the audio through the sound system, but alas there was a glitch.  However, all was not lost.  I did hand our volunteer helper and Premium listener Susan Moss my Flip Video Camera and thankfully she captured much of the show.  (Thank you Susan!!)  So please keep in mind that this is videotaping on the

Jun 17, 2010 • 16:40

Episode 90 - News, Mail & Part 2 of Family Forensic Files with Dr. Robert Leonard

Episode 90 - News, Mail & Part 2 of Family Forensic Files with Dr. Robert Leonard

Published June 2, 2010 NEWS: New images and webpages at the Canadian Genealogy Centre at the Library and Archives Canada website. Ocean Arrivals 1919-1924 have been digitized and are available online through the Microform Digitization Facebook Updates Privacy Settings Learn more about the new settings by watching their new series of blog post Happy 2nd Birthday Check out on the Genealogy Insider Blog MAILBOX: Nora wrote in looking for tips on finding records from an institution that has

Jun 2, 2010 • 1:02:21

Episode 89 - Forensic Linguistics for Genealogy

Episode 89 - Forensic Linguistics for Genealogy

Published May 21, 2010 Google Earth for Genealogy NEWS Free Records at Footnote You'll find newspapers ranging from small towns to major cities and dating all the way back to the 1700s. Watch the webinar recording of the Getting the Scoop on Newspapers Webinar in . New Records at They have recently added 166 newspapers from 42 states here in the U.S. Search for newspapers at . AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NE, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, V

May 22, 2010 • 56:21

Episode 88 New Stuff at Google Search and Criminal Records

Episode 88 New Stuff at Google Search and Criminal Records

NEWS: Findmypast.com has expanded its collection of British military records with the release of the Royal Marine Medal Roll 1914-1920. They have also announced their take over of It will be relaunched as  (using this linked image helps makes this free podcast possible - thank you!) Ancestry has launched a new wiki that includes two books - The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy and Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.  The wiki can be found at the Ancestry also ha

May 5, 2010 • 1:01:06

Episode 87 - Scouting for Ancestors

Episode 87 - Scouting for Ancestors

Stay tuned for upcoming Genealogy Gems Webinars: "I have participated in other webinars but your relaxed and friendly style really make it fun!"- Martha Zervoudakis   "Thank you so much. It was wonderful. I could almost see you standing in front of the classroom. Please do more!" - Joan Sanaker     NEWS: FamilySearch New indexing projects announced. Recently Completed Projects: Deutschland, Baden, Achern, Kirchenbucher, 1810 to1869 Part B France, Paris, Registres Protestants, 1612 to 1906 Part

Apr 24, 2010 • 43:01

Episode 86: The Generations Project

Episode 86: The Generations Project

Note to Users: New Wallpaper Bonus Content this episode! A big THANK YOU to the in Jackson, Ohio for sharing Genealogy Gems with their website visitors.  Footnote Update Their Interactive Census will remain free to the public through April 30, 2010 They've also added new content and ehanced their image viewer! Family History Expos Update To get reconnected with Family History Expos go to http://www.fhexpos.com Lisa's Big News The new  video series is now available! You'll be amazed what Go

Apr 9, 2010 • 50:41

Episode 85: Research in an Area Not Tackled Before on the Podcast

Episode 85: Research in an Area Not Tackled Before on the Podcast

Who Do You Think You Are? airs on Friday nights at 8:00 p.m. on NBC. Premium episode 43 features Lisa Kudrow in part 2 of a behind the scenes question and answer (available for a limited time.) British Records: 1883 - 1900 are now available at National Archives UK at the National Archives Genealogy Gems Podcast "Now this is what genealogy is all about!" Download the FREE at Rootsmagic GEM:  Interview with Susanna deGroot, PLCGS Great websites for Dutch research: (

Apr 2, 2010 • 51:11

Episode 84 - New Family Search, Tribute to Fess Parker

Episode 84 - New Family Search, Tribute to Fess Parker

The Genealogy Gems Podcast is Three Years Old This Month!   THANK YOUS on genealogy podcasts   Renee Huskey wrote in her Free Stuff Friday post about the     Recently Completed Projects Argentina, Balvanera. Registros Parroquiales 1833 thru 1934 [Parte A] Canada, British Columbia.  Deaths, 1872 thru 1986 [Part 4] Jamaica.  Civil Births, 1878 thru 1899 [Part A] Norway.  1875 Census [Part 1 U.S., Florida. 1910 Federal Census U.S., Georgia. 1910 Federal Census U.S., Indiana, Cl

Mar 21, 2010 • 1:01:51

Episode 83 - Answers to Your Questions

Episode 83 - Answers to Your Questions

All 6 videos are also part of Family Tree Magazine's   Lisa’s recent blog posts about the new TV series Who Do You Think You Are?         Upcoming Conferences: Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree June 11 - 13, 2010 Marriott Los Angeles Burbank Airport Hotel and Convention Center   Ontario Genealogical Society May 14 - 16, 2010 Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 15 is the last day to take advantage of their early-bird registration rates.    MAILBOX:  Marian asks about and c

Mar 8, 2010 • 52:56

Episode 82: Yearning to Know More?  Listen to Part 2 with Irene Johnson.

Episode 82: Yearning to Know More? Listen to Part 2 with Irene Johnson.

Share Who Do You Think You Are? with Friends and Family Share Genealogy Gems Podcast with your friends and family   Who Do You Think You Are? premieres on NBC on Friday, March 5 at 8:00 pm.   NEWS:    Lisa will be speaking at the in Toronto Canada being held may 14 through the 16, 2010 at the Doubletree by Hilton at the Toronto Airport.      Veterans History Project Marks Tenth Year with Events and Initiatives The Veterans History Project was created in 2000 by Congress as a national docume

Feb 21, 2010 • 50:01

Episode 81: Lisa Kudrow is on the podcast! Who Do You Think You Are?

Episode 81: Lisa Kudrow is on the podcast! Who Do You Think You Are?

MAILBOX:   for the Genealogy Gems Podcast e-Newsletter You’ll get Lisa's 20 page e-book called 5 Fabulous Research Strategies for the Family Historian free in your welcome email.  Follow the techniques in the e-book and you’ll better results with your Google Searches when you’re online doing your research!   And if by chance you have already signed up you haven’t been receiving the newsletter be sure and add genealogygemspodcast at gmail dot com to your email contact list so that your email

Feb 14, 2010 • 49:26

Episode 80: Genealogy News, Mail and an Interview with Irene Johnson

Episode 80: Genealogy News, Mail and an Interview with Irene Johnson

THANK YOU to all the genealogy bloggers who got the word out about the new Genealogy Gems iPhone app which is now available in the :   Kimberly Powell of the     Miriam Robbins Midkiff of     Schelly Dardashti of the   Amy Coffin of the   Lisa has gotten great feedback from those of you who have already downloaded the .      Apple Announces the iPad   at the BBC       Thank You:        Ancestry Magazine Closes It’s Doors Ancestry Magazine will be publishing it’s last issue in March of 20

Feb 5, 2010 • 54:11

Episode 79 - LIVE broadcast from Family History Expos in Mesa, AZ

Episode 79 - LIVE broadcast from Family History Expos in Mesa, AZ

This episode is a LIVE presentation of The Genealogy Gems Podcast presented at the in Mesa, Arizona on Friday, January 22, 2010. Lisa introduces her Stage Manager (and daughter!) Lacey Cooke. 2013 Update: the Genealogy Gems Toolbar has been discontinued. GUEST: Gena Philibert Ortega, Worldvitalrecords - www.worldvital.com Genealogywise - www.genealogywise.com   GUEST: Thomas MacEntee, Geneablogger The Top 10 Genealogy Blog Myths   This LIVE show is sponsored by Lisa chats with Bruce Buzbee

Jan 26, 2010 • 58:16

Episode 78: A New Year and a New App, News, Mailbox & a Musical Gem

Episode 78: A New Year and a New App, News, Mailbox & a Musical Gem

Happy New Year!! Contest Winners Announced: The winner of the FTM Organize Your Genealogy Life CD: Carroll Berryman The winner of the 2 day admission ticket to the Mesa, AZ Family History Expo: A.C. Ivory of UT 2nd winner: Patty Mitchell of AZ. Lisa will be speaking at the in Toronto, Canada May 14 through the 16th of 2010 at the Doubletree Hilton at the Toronto Airport The Armchair Genealogist: By Lynn Palermo  can now be automatically downloaded to iTunes. For more information sign in and g

Jan 5, 2010 • 51:57

Episode 77:  Have a Great Ancestral Hair Day

Episode 77: Have a Great Ancestral Hair Day

NEWS: for the Genealogy Gems Free e-Newsletter Footnote.com - In honor of Pearl Harbor Day  they are making their interactive available for free for the month of Dec 2009.   MAILBOX:  Michael in Irvine, CA writes in about The Genealogy Gems Toolbar.  2013 Update: The Genealogy Gems Toolbar has been discontinued. Listener Gordon Churchill writes in to ask about using compiled genealogical records in his research. Podcast: Listener about the new ABC show "Find My Family" which aires on Monday

Dec 9, 2009 • 53:51

Episode 76 - FamilySearch Head Genealogist David Rencher Part 2

Episode 76 - FamilySearch Head Genealogist David Rencher Part 2

Are you ready for Christmas yet? If you would like to help out the podcast while you shop, just click the box below... ...to access the and look for your first item.  When you do that Genealogy Gems will get credit for anything you buy while you're on the Amazon site - and you don't pay anything extra!  Thank you! NEWS: RootsMagic, Inc. announced the immediate availability of , free desktop genealogy software based on their award-winning RootsMagic 4 system. RootsMagic Essentials contains many

Nov 30, 2009 • 32:56

Episode 75 - The Future of Digital Records with David Rencher, Head Genealogist at FamilySearch

Episode 75 - The Future of Digital Records with David Rencher, Head Genealogist at FamilySearch

New to the Podcast?  Click the media player on the right to begin listening or .  ( to learn more about how to download and subscribe to podcasts in iTunes.  to watch a video tutorial) News: Attend one of Lisa's classes: Lisa will be speaking at the , Arizona on January 22 & 23, 2010 Archived Premium episodes are now included in   2013 Update: The Genealogy Gems Toolbar has been discontinued. MAILBOX:  Listener Megan Kyser asks if  the podcast might have a DNA episode someday?  and  she adds

Nov 10, 2009 • 43:01

Episode 74 - An Amazing Story Featuring DeadFred

Episode 74 - An Amazing Story Featuring DeadFred

Sit back and enjoy this episode about a Gem of a web site:    Founder Joe Bott tells us what drove him to create the site and some amazing and inspiring stories of Ancestors found! Here's a link to the photograph of that Karen Hammel found on the DeadFred web site. Our Dog Howie was featured in BARK! magazine (below)

Oct 30, 2009 • 33:56

Episode 73 - It's All About You and Genealogy!

Episode 73 - It's All About You and Genealogy!

NEWS: Lisa covers digitized newspaper records recently posted at the Library of America's web site As well as news from including new records, the new social networking with records feature, and updated to their Member Connect Feature. Watch Lisa's 2 part video series on Member Connect with David Graham of Ancestry.  Go to the at YouTube and Click on the Videos section. of The Genealogy Gems Podcast at Facebook.    MAILBOX:Lisa stops by Mike O'Laughlin's to ask the Irish research expert for

Oct 9, 2009 • 58:56

Videocast: Episode 73 Genealogy News Segment

Videocast: Episode 73 Genealogy News Segment

Something new this week...I'm trying out a videocast of the Genealogy News segment of The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 73. Click the video file attached to these show notes (which ends with the "mp4" extension) to play on your computer or download to your Video iPod from iTunes (should be available in iTunes Oct. 8 mid day) I want to hear from you! Did you watch the videocast? Do you enjoy getting your genealogy news this way? Did you download it to a Video iPod? Email your comments to genealo

Oct 8, 2009 • 11:10

Episode 72 - Probate Records and Genealogy Serendipity with Jana Broglin, Google Books, Genealogy Wise

Episode 72 - Probate Records and Genealogy Serendipity with Jana Broglin, Google Books, Genealogy Wise

News: Read Lisa's Blog post "" by Tamie Dehler, Tribune-Star  Mailbox: A listener writes in to share her experience with Genealogy Wise Join the at Genealogy Wise. Check out the free program that listeners are raving about.  GEM: Probate Records with Jana Broglin, CG How to Find Probate Records: Research the local jurisdiction Find where wills are filed Look in Index of Testators or General Index to Wills Request the packet Jana's Tips: Don't overlook Vouchers / Receipts Ask for numerous s

Sep 24, 2009 • 44:01

Episode 71:  Part 2 of Ancestry's Member Connect, and Geneablogger Lee Drew

Episode 71: Part 2 of Ancestry's Member Connect, and Geneablogger Lee Drew

And at this conference I am debuting a brand new item that I've been working on for months and it's ready, and it will be available for the first time at the .  It's actually inspired by you - you know you are all such gems to listen in to the show, and I was thinking about that, and it just seemed to me that there ought to be something wonderful to wear that shows off what a real genealogy gem you are.   So this weekend I'm making available for the first time the Genealogy Gem rhinestone jewe

Sep 6, 2009 • 47:01

Episode 70 - A Tool for Connecting with Researchers Online

Episode 70 - A Tool for Connecting with Researchers Online

Google announced last week that it has quadrupled its searchable archive of historical news articles, many of which are free to access.From the The National Archives just announced that it has launched what it calls a Narations blog.  The is going to focus on online public access to records of the U.S. National Archives MyHeritage.com, has announced the release of Family Tree Builder 4.0.   The Family Tree Builder software is available for about Google's new improved search BBC News  MAILBO

Aug 19, 2009 • 44:46

Episode 69: Interview with Tony Burroughs, Family History Memories with Genealogy Blogger Lee Drew

Episode 69: Interview with Tony Burroughs, Family History Memories with Genealogy Blogger Lee Drew

NEWS: For the month of August 2009 Footnote.com is providing free access to the 1930 census images.  To get the free access just go to   and register with your email address.  by Diane Haddad at Family Tree Magazine.  National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections  (NUCMUC) is celebrating it's 50th year. National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections is a free Library of Congress program.  Information about the manuscript collections of participating US libraries is being entered into the

Aug 2, 2009 • 42:21

Episode 68: Interview with Thomas MacEntee, GenealogyWise, Newspaper Webinar

Episode 68: Interview with Thomas MacEntee, GenealogyWise, Newspaper Webinar

NEWS: The Genealogy Guys are going to be at the Federation of Genealogical Societies conference in Little Rock, AR  Sept 2-5 2009 recording their show before a live audience on Sept 3 at 3:30 pm. Listen to Drew Smith interview Lisa on the Genealogy Guys Podcast   The Library of Congress has launched "The on iTunes U, featuring historic video and sound recordings.  Lisa discusses the start up and rocky road of the new social networking website for genealogists called Genealogy Wise by familylin

Jul 18, 2009 • 47:51

Episode 67: What Happened at Jamboree, Interview with Randy Seaver the Man Behind the Blog

Episode 67: What Happened at Jamboree, Interview with Randy Seaver the Man Behind the Blog

For more info on next year's Jamboree: Read Lisa's Blog Posts about this year's Jamboree: Listen to Lisa's one on one interview with Tukufu in   NEWS: Genealogy Gems Premium eLearning Members can watch the webinar  in the members-only area. Lisa's article called Grave Transformations appears in the September 2009 issue of Family Tree Magazine on news stands now. Watch the video for step-by-step instructions. GEM: Interview with Randy Seaver, Genealogy Blogger Randy's Blogs:

Jul 6, 2009 • 57:21

Episode 66: An Important Anniversary, Records and Websites Updates

Episode 66: An Important Anniversary, Records and Websites Updates

Published June 7, 2009 GEM: 65th Anniversary of D-Day I've written a  about the D-Day anniversary that includes an article that appeared in the Yorkshire Post about how the memory of WWII is slipping through the cracks of time.  In my own family my grandfather's brother Elzie Cecil Moore who we called Uncle Elzie participated in the invasion of Normandy and received the bronze star and a purple heart for a shot he took to his shoulder during the invasion.  Shortly after that he received a second

Jun 7, 2009 • 32:46

Memorial Day Special Episode (Enhanced with Images)

Memorial Day Special Episode (Enhanced with Images)

This special Memorial Day episode is dedicated to the men and women who lost their lives defending our country. (This podcast episode is an Enhanced Version which will include images that will appear on your Video iPod screen or in iTunes artwork area.  Download the mp4 file to your hard drive or download in iTunes)

May 23, 2009 • 6:03

Memorial Day Special Episode (Audio Only)

Memorial Day Special Episode (Audio Only)

This special Memorial Day episode is dedicated to the men and women of the armed forces who lost their lives defending our country.(This podcast episode is audio only)

May 23, 2009 • 6:03

Episode 65: Interview with one of the Genealogy Guys George Morgan, Mother's Day

Episode 65: Interview with one of the Genealogy Guys George Morgan, Mother's Day

Published May 11, 2008 MAILBOX: Lisa reads an email from Mark Winter in Hixson, TN TIP:  "I use my digital camera to help document my findings.  It is also very helpful in copying photographs so I don't have to take the originals.” QUESTION:  “I have had several relatives ask for book of the family.  In a podcast do you discuss considerations in what kind of "book" to produce?” ANSWER: The Genealogy Gems Podcast I cover publishing family history books using Kodak Gallery.  I think these books a

May 11, 2009 • 43:41

Episode 64: Online Source Citations, GOOGLE Tip, Stephen Danko, Maureen Taylor

Episode 64: Online Source Citations, GOOGLE Tip, Stephen Danko, Maureen Taylor

April 26, 2009 Get a free copy of my e-book 5 Fabulous Google Strategies for the Family Historian as a thankyou for NEWS:  Lisa discusses 9 newspaper databases being launched by Genealogy Bank  MAILBOX FOLLOWUP:  Russ Worthington's answers to a listener's question on familial relationships in Family Tree Maker.    Listen to GEM: Online Downloadable Source Citations It's A Gem of An Idea!  Mark Tucker who writes the ThinkGenealogy blog posted a provocative video on April 20, 2009.  The blog po

Apr 26, 2009 • 43:16

Episode 63 History Detectives: A Conversation with Tukufu Zuberi

Episode 63 History Detectives: A Conversation with Tukufu Zuberi

Published April 12, 2009 SHOW NOTES Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast The Genealogical Proof Standard is a tool that the pros use and I really want to encourage all researchers professional or not, to follow it as well because it causes you to stop and think before passing on information.  In episode 23 I'm providing you with a free downloadable research worksheet that incorporates the elements of the GPS while prompting you to find and even more importantly document those sources.  N

Apr 12, 2009 • 38:34

Episode 62:  Let's Go Genealogical Channel Surfing!

Episode 62: Let's Go Genealogical Channel Surfing!

March 28, 2008 . The show is all about making improvements and changes in your life and I got a chance to share what genealogy has meant in my life and how it can be a positive journey for everyone regardless of their background.   Jim Mowatt over at the HistoryIne podcast invited Lisa to be a part of the show.  Jim has always been a macro history guy, but he has finally caught the genealogy bug and he invited me to come on and give a pitch to his listeners about why researching their own family

Mar 28, 2009 • 42:28

Episode 61: A Sneak Peek at GenSeek, Part 2 of Interview with Darby Hinton, and more...

Episode 61: A Sneak Peek at GenSeek, Part 2 of Interview with Darby Hinton, and more...

Published March 14, 2009 I am just back from attending the Family History Expo in St. George Utah.  And once again my Google classes were packed!  In fact I got word that both my Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems Parts 1 and 2 classes broke attendance records. Here are some of the folks you're going to hear from on today's show- We talked about how to set up a genealogy iGoogle page, Google Alerts, Site Search and a wide range of brand new Google tools that can be used to move your research f

Mar 14, 2009 • 47:01

Episode 60: Interview with Darby Hinton of the TV series Daniel Boone & new history TV show

Episode 60: Interview with Darby Hinton of the TV series Daniel Boone & new history TV show

Published March 2, 2009 In this 60th episode we celebrate the two year birthday of the Genealogy Gems Podcast.  And Lisa's very special guest is Darby Hinton who played the son of Daniel Boone on the hit TV series Daniel Boone that ran from 1964 to 1970.   Darby is currently working on a television pilot for a new series called Hinton Living History. In today's episode is part one of Lisa's interview with Darby, who talks about his TV career which started before he could even walk.  Darby has ap

Mar 2, 2009 • 44:10

Episode 59:  Focus on Genealogy Education

Episode 59: Focus on Genealogy Education

Published Feb 15, 2008 Family Reunions I'd love to hear from you if you've held a family reunion.  What kinds of activities did you plan, and what kinds of things did you wish you had thought of back in the planning stage?  I've been toying with the idea of having a family reunion on my mom's side of the family, but I could really use some good advice on the subject.  So   if you've organized a family reunion before and tell me about your experiences.  Conferences: The Southern California Geneal

Feb 15, 2009 • 48:30

Episode 58 - Exciting New Records, Income Tax History, & Family History Valentines

Episode 58 - Exciting New Records, Income Tax History, & Family History Valentines

Published Jan 31, 2009 #1  Diane Haddad's Family Tree Magazine The latest edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture has been published over at Small-leaved Shamrock   The next edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture will be a St. Patrick's Day "virtual parade" online. Anyone who would like to particiate is welcome, whether or not they have Irish roots.  For more information on how to participate or to check out the latest carnival head over to . Recent Genealogy Gems New

Jan 31, 2009 • 42:50

Episode 57 - Genealogy Jamboree, Photo Care with the Practical Archivist

Episode 57 - Genealogy Jamboree, Photo Care with the Practical Archivist

GEM: Profile America  Jan 12 Frisbees     GEM: Profile America Jan 13 Fuller Brush  GEM:  Interview with Sally Jacobs, The Practical Archivist PHOTO Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcastBe sure and listen to my other family history podcast called where in each episode what you need to know step-by-step to climb your family tree.  Also in at YouTube

Jan 11, 2009 • 41:25

Episode 56 - The 2009 Genealogy Gems Christmas Podcast

Episode 56 - The 2009 Genealogy Gems Christmas Podcast

Published Dec 13, 2008 GEM: Name That Tune I'll See You In My Dreams was a big hit for Cliff Edwards who also performed it on the ukuele.  In fact he was known as "Uulele Ike." If you think you know the name of today's mystery song,  call and leave the answer on the voice mail line at 925-272-4021.    Dec. 24, 1968   In 1968 the three man crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans in history to orbit the moon.  Their hastily-planned mission saw them enter lunar orbit on Christmas Eve after a three

Dec 14, 2008 • 42:26

Episode 55 - Census Records You've Probably Never Used But Should with Curt Witcher

Episode 55 - Census Records You've Probably Never Used But Should with Curt Witcher

Published Dec 1, 2008 Welcome all the NEW listeners who discovered the show at the Family History Expo in Mesa, AZ.  We're so glad you"re on board!  Watch this video to learn how to use the free iTunes software (you don't need an iPod to use it!), and subscribe to this podcast for free. Then watch this video to learn more about how to use the podcast website.   Watching Family History Expo TV is like your own Video Conference!  If you were lucky enough to go youâll get to see the folks you may

Dec 1, 2008 • 37:25

Episode 54 - A Riveting Story of DNA & Genealogy, And Family Traditions To Start Now

Episode 54 - A Riveting Story of DNA & Genealogy, And Family Traditions To Start Now

Published Nov 2, 2008 I am very happy to announce that  I just launched my brand new podcast called .   The new show really captures two areas of focus that are really sort of outside the focus of this show.  First, I wanted to do a show that anybody could stumble upon and with absolutely no prior experience in genealogy be able to listen to and enjoy and that would walk them step by step through the process of doing family history research.  It's like a long term free seminar that you can list

Nov 2, 2008 • 48:57

Episode 53 - Virginia Halloween History, World Vital RecordsTips, Name That Tune!

Episode 53 - Virginia Halloween History, World Vital RecordsTips, Name That Tune!

Published Oct 20, 2008   Lisa with her prized pumpkin   by WHRO FM radio:  Stories based on ghostly legends and lore of Hampton Roads, Virginia.  Thanks to my friend Michelle Gabriele-Harrell producer off the Halloween Haunts podcast. In iTunes: and the in iTunes  iGoogle UpdateiGoogle has been discontinued.    WorldCat:  I also wrote a blog recently called and I wanted to mention that there is going to be a Free seminar Oct 28 at 2PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific online sponsored by WorldCat so

Oct 20, 2008 • 44:50

Episode 52 - Heading Over The Pond: Unique records you can use.

Episode 52 - Heading Over The Pond: Unique records you can use.

Published Oct 6, 2008 "And this year I hit the jackpot when I was able to track down one of his long lost cousins who had a treasure trove of family history tucked away in the rafters of her garage." (Below: Bill and cousin) all about how to tap into your inner private eye to find those long lost living relatives.   Albert Farrington and chorus from 1914 sing "Rule Britannia"  GEM: Interview with Rick Crume Websites Rick refers to in the show:   and in   - new interface with New Family Searc

Oct 6, 2008 • 39:19

Episode 51 - FGS Interview, Census Abbreviations, Mac Help, Genealogy Sayings

Episode 51 - FGS Interview, Census Abbreviations, Mac Help, Genealogy Sayings

Published Sept 22, 2008 about my trip to FGS.    Sign up for the I enjoyed hanging out at the booth in the Exhibit Hall with editor Allison Stacy and Managing Editor Diane Haddad.  While you're at the you might want to click the SUBSCRIBE button which allows you to be notified when new videos are published so you donât have to check periodically.  My article "" is now out in the November 2008 issue of Family Tree Magazine.  GEM: Interview with Jim Beidler - Chair of FGS 2008 Conference Ji

Sep 22, 2008 • 32:24

Episode 50 - Family History Daydreaming, Interview with Tim Russell of Prairie Home Companion and Handwriting

Episode 50 - Family History Daydreaming, Interview with Tim Russell of Prairie Home Companion and Handwriting

Published Aug 15, 2008 Welcome to the 50th Episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast! The Louise Carousel - GEM:  Profile America August 16, 1862  Birthdate of Amos Alonzo Stagg GEM:  A Little DayDreaming with Genealogy Podcasters Bill Puller of the Mike O'Loughlin of   GEM: Interview with Tim Russell of the Prairie Home Companion Tim Russel of radio show Prairie Home Companion's Listen to Tim on Minnesota's news station, where he is the entertainment editor weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m.

Aug 15, 2008 • 57:03

Episode 49 - Interview with America's Sweethear Kathy Lennon Part 2, Train Robbery History, and Contests

Episode 49 - Interview with America's Sweethear Kathy Lennon Part 2, Train Robbery History, and Contests

Published June 12, 2008 Episode 49 SHOW NOTES Coming in August:  Want to know what it was like to work with Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, and one of my favorites Lily Tomlin?  Then tune in next month to episode 50.  I'll be chatting with the wonderful voice actor from the radio show and movie A Prairie Home Companion.  Above:  Tim Russell and Garrison Keillor We talk about his love of family history and antiques, his amazing career in a very nostaligic profession of being a ra

Jul 13, 2008 • 1:06:07

BONUS Episode: 4th of July Celebration

BONUS Episode: 4th of July Celebration

July 4, 2008 EPISODE SHOW NOTES: This special episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast is dedicated to the men and women serving in the U.S. military Patrick Henry's speech performerd by Harry E. Humphrey on Edison Blue Amberol, 1912  The Continental Congress - The You Are There radio show took historic events and dramatized them with "live radio" coverage style.  C1947-1950  The Star Spangled Banner performed by Thomas Chalmers and chorus (including Elizabeth Spencer).  Edison Records, 1915  Wa

Jun 28, 2008 • 36:46

Episode 48 - Exclusive Interview with Kathy Lennon, Contest Winner, Newsletter update

Episode 48 - Exclusive Interview with Kathy Lennon, Contest Winner, Newsletter update

Published June 14, 2008 GEM: Another look at the Handwriting of Our Ancestors Melissa Roberge's great grandfather Robert W Hicks GEM: An Interview with Kathy Lennon Listen to Part One of my exclusive interview with one of America's Sweethearts, and let me tell you, she is a gem!  You know Kathy Lennon from her more than 50 years with the Lennon Sisters, but you may not know that she is also an avid family historian.    Lennon Sister - Premium Members post your stories  in the Forum for

Jun 14, 2008 • 36:10

Episode 47 - Winner announcement, handwriting analysis, great website and more!

Episode 47 - Winner announcement, handwriting analysis, great website and more!

Published May 15, 2008 The Free Monthly Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 47 SHOW NOTES... "Great aunt Polly" is at the top of page The University of Wisconsin / The nineteen hundred and eight badger Volume XXII (1908) Book II: classes, pp. 122 GEM:  Childhood Memories   Captain Kangaroo... ...and more recently....    The "DOO BEE SONG" came from this album from my childhood collection GEM: Family Tree & MeInterview with Shirlene Dymock GEM: Girding Your Loins with James MowattYou can find The

May 15, 2008 • 42:48

Episode 46 - A Listener's Leatherhead, Handwriting Analysis, & GG Premium Launch

Episode 46 - A Listener's Leatherhead, Handwriting Analysis, & GG Premium Launch

Published Apr 16, 2008 Episode 46  : To quote their email "The Generations Network, Inc. is encouraging consumers to validate and verify the legitimacy of a website before providing credit card information or paying for services." This is good advice.  You know the rules on the Internet really shouldn't be much different than the rules in our daily lives.  Find out about someone"s character and background before you hang out with them, and get referrals for unknown companies from people you trus

Apr 17, 2008 • 1:01:25

Episode 45 - Prison stories & research, Google customization, & Free British Records

Episode 45 - Prison stories & research, Google customization, & Free British Records

Published Mar 31, 2008 Episode 45 SHOW NOTES MAILBOX:  Email from Linda Kvist in Sweden that includes a fun story about an immigrant who didn"t immigrate: "They were somewhat surprised that my father did contact them. In the church examine rolls it said that my dads grandfather emigrated to the US! He left the place and never came back. We know he never got to the US though. He met he's wife and the settled down in the area where she was born. So, in a way, we solved a clue for them as well!"

Apr 1, 2008 • 34:29

Episode 44 - Canadian Border Crossings, U.S. Census Bureau, Godfrey Library, & Digital Preservation

Episode 44 - Canadian Border Crossings, U.S. Census Bureau, Godfrey Library, & Digital Preservation

Published Mar 14, 2008 Sign up for the free  where you'll also find out what's coming up on future episodes and get announcements first.  My Own Grandpa Video:                                                  The Family History Silhouette Cake          MAILBOX:  Roxanne Diakow Moos wrote to say that she visited an aunt and uncle in Saskatchewan Canada, and they took her to visit the old homesteads of two sets of great grandparents.  "To others who look at my family history album and see those

Mar 14, 2008 • 32:18

Episode 43 - Genealogy at Borders, & New U.S. Census History Site

Episode 43 - Genealogy at Borders, & New U.S. Census History Site

Published Mar 1, 2008 Thank you to Genealogy columnist Kimberly Powell of About.com  for listing the Genealogy Gems Podcast in her recent column called . The newest addition to the Cooke household: Vinney :  The British newspaper the Daily Mirror will soon be making available .  MAILBOX:    Lisa at the ranch her great grandparents worked it in 1918. GEM:  Interview with Dylan Barrell, Director of Digital Business for about the new Borders Concept stores that will feature genealogy. Upcoming B

Mar 1, 2008 • 46:54

Episode 42 - Family Tree Magazine, Genline, and another great Venice song

Episode 42 - Family Tree Magazine, Genline, and another great Venice song

Published Feb 21, 2008 Episode 42 SHOW NOTES of Genealogy Gems on her Feb. 12, 2008 episode.  And Dear old Myrt also listed of the Genealogy Gems podcast in her weekly Best of the column under Podcast.    Visit Venice at MAILBOX: Gary Falsken recommends the history podcast "" hosted by The Podcast Network. GEM: Interview with Allison Stacy, editor of featuring the Family History Expo   GEN: Interview with Kathy Mead of You know this episode is very special to me because it fall on the firs

Feb 21, 2008 • 20:30

Episode 41 - Valentines Day Special

Episode 41 - Valentines Day Special

Published Feb 13, 2008 Episode 41  SHOW NOTES  A table full of listeners joined me at the Friday night banquet.  Jack Duffy and his daughter Anna Marie, Mark Baldwin, and Sue  and Albert Sevy all joined my husband and I and we had a grand time.  - at the Search for ancestors website - Thanks to George Morgan of the for talking about the Genealogy Gems Podcast on their Jan 16, 2008 podcast.  MAILBOXFrom Betty:   features several spots for Christmas Seals featuring celebrities such as Rosemary C

Feb 13, 2008 • 41:28

Episode 40 - A little fun, my inheritance, & quilt care and display

Episode 40 - A little fun, my inheritance, & quilt care and display

Published Jan 30, 2008 PODCAST SHOW NOTES The Genealogy Gems News Blog: And be sure and vote on the new poll question:  Thanks to the     and   for their recent acknowledgements of The Socks To America Video.  Watch MAILBOX:   (Left to right they are Guy M. Denton, Gladys V. Denton, Dorothy J. Denton and Guy V. Denton.) "Guy V. Denton 1895-1959 purchased this quilt from a lady from Arkansas who was traveling through Howard, KS.  It's obvious that it was not made with new materials as it did n

Jan 30, 2008 • 56:14

Episode 39 - Heritage Quilts, History Podcasts, Mail & More

Episode 39 - Heritage Quilts, History Podcasts, Mail & More

Published Jan 20, 2008 SHOW NOTES   If you are new to the podcast, be sure that you go back to the new Genealogy Gems subscription listing that you created in your podcast directory and click that GET ALL button.  Clicking the SUBSCRIBE button will only give you the most recent show and future shows.  By clicking GET ALL all the previous episodes will download for you.   Go to the official Genealogy Gems Website and be sure and sign 1890 census:   MAILBOX: Diana Larson wrote to recommend the A

Jan 20, 2008 • 48:47

Episode 38 - A special 1 hour episode including an interview with Venice

Episode 38 - A special 1 hour episode including an interview with Venice

Published Jan 6, 2008 We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years and my wish for you is that you and your family are happy and healthy.  Sequence and Dutch Blitz:It's is a fast-paced card game that I understand was created by Werner Ernst George Muller, a German immigrant from Bucks County,Pennsylvania. The game is supposed to be very popular among the Pennsylvania Amish and Dutch community.  It's a lot like playing speed solitare with three other people all at the same time.  The Genealogy

Jan 6, 2008 • 1:00:40

Episode 37 - SHOW NOTES - Double The Search! And How Our Ancestor's Made A Difference.

Episode 37 - SHOW NOTES - Double The Search! And How Our Ancestor's Made A Difference.

Published Dec 19, 2007 THE MAILBOX:  Follow up to & the Passport Database at Ancestry...Will Haskell told us about his grandfather, Merrill Haskell, traveled to Russia in 1919 in his work as a public accountant for the YMCA.  Merrill Haskell's Passport application - but the woman's photo on the left doesn't match. A turn of the page reveals his grandfather! GEM: itunes GET ALLWhen you subscribe in iTunes to the podcast, only the most recent episode will download to your computer or iPod, so b

Dec 19, 2007 • 31:37

Episode 36 - Passport Lessons and Family History & Sound Recordings

Episode 36 - Passport Lessons and Family History & Sound Recordings

Published Dec 10, 2007 SHOW NOTES Exclusive Kodak Gallery Discount: 20% OFF Photo books, Calendars & Cards through Dec. 11, 2007!  Go to the for more information and to find the link to Kodak Gallery. Got an iTunes Account? If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd appreciate it if you left a 5 Star positive review at the Genealogy Gems iTunes page.  This link will take you there: .  Thanks! NEW:  The Book Has Gone Digital! Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies is now out of print. GEM:  U.S.

Dec 10, 2007 • 24:44

Episode 35 - Through The Looking Glass

Episode 35 - Through The Looking Glass

Published Nov 30, 2007 Episode 35 Show Notes    . Check out the genealogy quizzes at   YAHOOOOO - there's a genealogy gal on the Genealogy Gems Listener page!  Beth Green answered my call on Episode 30 and emailed a Simpsonized Version of herself.   GEM:  A Little Help From Your FriendsMy Top Three Tips for Tapping into the Strengths of Others:  Tip #1  Swap brick walls Try swapping brick walls with another researcher and look them over with a fresh pair of eyes.  I like to think of it as bein

Dec 1, 2007 • 29:02

Episode 34 - A Thanksgiving Celebration, & more...

Episode 34 - A Thanksgiving Celebration, & more...

Published Nov 18, 2007 EPISODE 34 SHOW NOTES: New videos for you at the Genealogy Gems website: Genealogy for the next generation: Getting started documents for "" & "" by Venice. A very moving video highlighting a collection of photographs at the Library of Congress' American Memory collection taken by in the early 19th century.    MAILBOX: Wreath by creative podcast listener Linda Kvist, Sweden           review  Create your own Family History Christmas Wreath by watching the An email fr

Nov 18, 2007 • 26:55

Episode 33 - Census, Blogs, Silhouettes, Gadgets, oh my!

Episode 33 - Census, Blogs, Silhouettes, Gadgets, oh my!

Published Nov 11, 2007 Episode 33 Show Notes The New Newsletter: iGoogle: Update: iGoogle has been discontinued Upcoming Conference Appearance: FamilySearch and My Ancestors Found have just announced that they are co-sponsoring the Family History EXPO at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George UT on Feb. 8 & 9 2008.  I'm very excited to let you know that I'll be teaching a class on how to use Google for your family history research.  GEM:  This old dog learned a new trick or how I got in tou

Nov 11, 2007 • 39:37

Episode 32 - Listener Mailbox and Invite Your Ancestors to Christmas!

Episode 32 - Listener Mailbox and Invite Your Ancestors to Christmas!

Published Nov 4, 2007 Episode 32 Show Notes Listener Mailbox, and Invite Your Ancestors to Christmas!  The Mailbox:  Email From Dave Green: "Attached (is) a find on ebay. I hadn't thought to look there for family mementos. I typed in the tiny town of Fiat, IN and it came back with a matchbook from the store my grandparents had owned there!  Thanks for the valuable gem." Email from Judy in Memphis: Hi, Lisa, a few weeks ago I contacted you and said I was going to do the this Christmas. I thou

Nov 4, 2007 • 11:09

Episode 31 - Free Access to Historic Media & Next Generation Genealogy

Episode 31 - Free Access to Historic Media & Next Generation Genealogy

Published Oct 28, 2007 EPISODE 31 SHOW NOTES Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies. The book has been discontinued . A special little .  Update: iGoogle has been discontinued. The website is evolving every day with new content, so be sure and visit regularly at   Be sure to click on the Link.  And you'll also find lots of other great tips that we've talked about to make Google work harder for your genealogy research. Please do let your research friends and your local genealogy society kn

Oct 28, 2007 • 29:17

Episode 30 - Ali Selim Director of the Movie Sweet Land

Episode 30 - Ali Selim Director of the Movie Sweet Land

SHOW NOTES for Episode 30 Published October 21, 2007  Website News:  New this week you will find a search box on the left side of the under the navigation menu.  I hope that you will use it and find it helpful in getting to where you want to go.  GEM: Interview with Ali Selim, Director of Sweet Land? In episode 29 I told you about a wonderful movie that I saw recently called . It's a film about Norwegian immigrants in rural Minnesota following WWI.  I feel so passionate about it not only becaus

Oct 22, 2007 • 34:03

Genealogy Gems Videocast: Sweet Land

Genealogy Gems Videocast: Sweet Land

Video Cast: An interview with the award-winning director of the film Sweet Land, Ali Selim.   Sweet Land is a story about family history, focusing on Norwegian immigrants in Minnesota circa 1920.  If you love historical fiction, and quiet thoughtful movies that you can watch with your entire family, then this is the videocast for you.  is available on DVD, and the beautiful nostalic music soundtrack is available through .  Take it from your friend, you'll love it. P.S. Rather read?  Try

Oct 13, 2007 • 9:25

Episode 29 - Genealogy and DNA

Episode 29 - Genealogy and DNA

Published Oct 7, 2007 Episode 29 SHOW NOTES GEM: I had the opportunity to talk with Anna Swayne of the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation recently.  Listen as we walk through this emerging area of genealogy step-by-step and get a solid overview of how DNA testing can assist us in our family history research.  Suggested Reading: Megan Smolenyak & Ann Turner by Colleen Fitzpatrick  - SMGF's founder, James LeVoy Sorenson, was featured in a USA Today article in June. The article focuses on

Oct 7, 2007 • 25:06

Episode 28 - Genealogy Cold Calling, Sweet Land

Episode 28 - Genealogy Cold Calling, Sweet Land

Published Oct 2, 2007 Episode 28 Show Notes The first Genealogy Gems videocast was published last week:   Also available in the Genealogy Gems app.  Subscribe to the FREE Genealogy Gems Podcast ! Not only can you send video emails super quick and easy, but you can select one of their animated characters that you supply the voice for. Anytime you access Amazon through the links on my website and purchase any item on the Amazon site, you are supporting this podcast which I really appreciate!  Than

Oct 2, 2007 • 47:36

Sock It To Your iPod!

Sock It To Your iPod!

The First Genealogy Gems Videocast: The Socks to America.(click POD icon at left or the mp4 file at end of this posting to view.Please allow a few extra moments video file to load) This is the documentary spoof (or should I say "sockumentary") video about the immigration of the fictitious Sockish-Americans.  Currently featured on Roots Television, the video is now available for FREE download onto your video ipod exclusively with this unique video podcast.  Now you can "Sock It To Yourself" anyt

Sep 25, 2007 • 3:08

Episode 27 - Interview with DearMYRTLE

Episode 27 - Interview with DearMYRTLE

Published Sept 22, 2007 EPISODE 27 SHOW NOTES MAILBOX RE: WorldVitalRecords - is now part of RE: Judy's email chose "The Socks to America" as their homepage video last weekend.   Burning podcast episodes to CD: You can still do this, but why not just show folks at your genealogy society how to download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app so that they can enjoy it too? Thanks! Genealogy Societies are also welcome to use excerpts from my in their society newsletter when they include the following au

Sep 22, 2007 • 34:59

Episode 26 - Organizing Your Internet Favorite Bookmarks

Episode 26 - Organizing Your Internet Favorite Bookmarks

Published Sept 10, 2007 EPISODE 26 SHOW NOTES I'll be at the Northern Utah Genealogy Jamboree in Ogden this Saturday September 15, 2007.  (Listen to Episode 25) Gem:  Organizing Your Internet Favorite BookmarksTo Rename Bookmarked Websites in your Internet Explorer Favorites: In Internet Explorer click the yellow star with the green plus sign Click Organize Favorites  Click to highlight the website link that you want to rename Click the RENAME button. Type the new name Press Enter key A more c

Sep 10, 2007 • 8:43

Episode 25 - German History Videos, Newspapers

Episode 25 - German History Videos, Newspapers

Published Sept 4, 2007 Book Announcement:  Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies from Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast is out of print. Please visit the for current book titles.  Newspapers:   The genealogy databases once included in World Vital Records is now part of . Gem:  Some newspapers carry a history section or a 'looking back'  column where they run old articles.  World Vital Records only had a sampling of years from the past newspapers that are digitized.  But the colum

Sep 5, 2007 • 35:14

Episode 24 - A Tour of Genealogy Gems TV

Episode 24 - A Tour of Genealogy Gems TV

SHOW NOTES Episode 24  Published August 26, 2007 The National Archives and Records Administration has taken the leap and raised their record reproduction fees.  The don't become effective until October 1, 2007, so youâve go a window of opportunity to order records at the old lower prices.  .   - Create a Family History Calendar.  Consider highlighting an ancestor each month.  It would make a wonderful holiday gift.  My book Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies from Season One of the Gen

Aug 27, 2007 • 25:14

Episode 23 - Home Movie Hunt and Brick Walls

Episode 23 - Home Movie Hunt and Brick Walls

Published August 19, 2007 Episode 23 SHOW NOTES The Mailbox: According to alert listener Richard, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests can receive acknowledgement letters from the US Dept. of Homeland Security / US Citizen and Immigration Services in just two weeks.  Richard's requests were placed on a speedier "simple track."  This means that response time has been drastically cut from the six months it took me to receive answers about 5 years ago.  This is good news for genealogists!  Be

Aug 19, 2007 • 18:22

Episode 22 - Turn Your Video iPod into a Family History Tool

Episode 22 - Turn Your Video iPod into a Family History Tool

Published August 12, 2007 THE MAILBOX "I also wanted to share a couple of photographs with you, she says.  During your third episode, you talked about creative ways to display your family history treasures, and I wanted to share with you something absolutely wonderful my aunt did for me. When my grandmother had to downsize and move into an assisted living facility, my aunt stumbled upon a beautiful silk baby dress and a pair of leather button-up baby shoes that had belonged to my grandmother.  S

Aug 12, 2007 • 27:37

Episode 21 - FOIA Follow Up, Full of Life, Thanks for the Memories

Episode 21 - FOIA Follow Up, Full of Life, Thanks for the Memories

SHOW NOTES   Published August 5, 2007 Lisa's Movie Pick:  Full of Life (1957).  It's a really heartwarming movie about immigrants and their American born children that you can watch comfortably with your kids and your grandkids.   The novel by John Fante is still available:     GEM:  Freedom of Information Act Follow Up Email from Richard Hrazanek:  "I loved the tip about requesting your ancestor's immigration file through the Freedom of Information Act. Do you know if you can do the same thi

Aug 5, 2007 • 18:24

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a podcast? Podcasting, a word combining a reference to Apple's "iPod" and "broadcasting", is a method of publishing audio files to the Internet, and allowing folks like you to subscribe (usually free)  so you can receive new shows automatically. (More on how to do that below) It first became popular in late 2004, and has grown tremendously in popularity since then.  The beauty of a podcast show is that, unlike a radio show, you can listen whenever and wherever you want to.  And if you mi

Mar 14, 2007 • 0:00

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