Lisa Stokes Heritage Research

01/28/2026

January Is National Hobby Month

Many of us start genealogy as a hobby. A name here. A record there.

Then one day, you realize you care deeply about accuracy. About clarity. About whether someone else could retrace your steps.

That’s usually when citations start to matter.

If genealogy is your hobby, your passion, or something in between, learning to cite well protects the time and heart you’ve already invested.

Click here to receive my free Citation Template Bank Starter Kit: https://lisa-stokes-heritage-research.kit.com/master-citation-template

01/14/2026

Fresh Start for Your Citations

Every January, I feel the pull to clean things up and get organized. New planners. Organized cupboards. Fresh goals.

If your genealogy citations feel messy or inconsistent, this is your sign to start fresh. You don’t need to redo everything you’ve ever cited. Just start where you are and commit to the next citation being a little clearer than the last.

Small, consistent steps add up to confident research with thorough citations.

Learn about my eCourse, Genealogy Source Citations Simplified, and start a citation refresh today! Discover here:

Do you feel dread when you hear the mention of genealogy source citations? Does crafting solid genealogy reference notes overwhelm you? If so, join me to simplify and clarify the process of crafting clear and consistent source citations!

01/10/2026

New Year, New Learning Opportunities

Ready to build stronger research skills and preserve meaningful stories? Check out these two excellent ways to invest in your genealogy education this year.

Scandinavian Research

If Scandinavian records feel overwhelming—handwriting, patronymics, or farm books—Cracking the Scandinavian Ancestry Code: Strategies for Genealogical Success, coordinated by Scandinavian expert Torhild Shirley, AG®, through the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, offers practical strategies and expert guidance. Registration closes January 16. Register here: https://academy.ugagenealogy.org/courses/

Preserve Your Legacy

Looking to write and share your own life story? Family History Catalysts, Caron Primas Brennan, MBA, and Cynthia Heidorn, PhD, CG®, offer a Guided AutoBiography (GAB) course beginning in February 2026. Register here: https://www.familyhistorycatalysts.com/

11/30/2025

Last chance to save $60 off Genealogy Source Citations Simplified!

This is the last reminder about the Black Friday sale on my eCourse! Here's what one of my students said after taking the course:

“Before taking Genealogy Source Citations Simplified, I struggled to understand how to write accurate and consistent citations, even after hours of study. Lisa Stokes’ course changed that completely. Her clear explanations and step-by-step approach made complex concepts easy to grasp and apply. I now feel confident creating citations on my own. This course was a turning point in my genealogy education, it truly simplified what once felt overwhelming.”

— Lora Butterfield, Genealogy Student

If you have been on the fence about purchasing the course, now is the time. I won’t do another sale like this for a while, so use the code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout by December 1st to apply the discount. Happy Holidays!

You can purchase the eCourse here. https://genealogysimplified.teachable.com/p/genealogy-source-citations-simplified

11/26/2025

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m feeling deeply grateful for the people who have supported me along this journey.

🧡 To my wonderful Genealogy Source Citations Simplified students—thank you for your enthusiasm, dedication, and curiosity. You inspire me every day, and make teaching a joy.

🧡 To my incredible course helpers and beta testers—your insights, encouragement, and behind-the-scenes efforts make everything possible.

🧡 And to my family—thank you for your endless love, patience, and belief in what I do.

Grateful hearts make strong roots. Wishing everyone a season filled with gratitude and connection!

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/21/2025

The Black Friday sale is officially here! 🎉

For one week only, you can get $60 off Genealogy Source Citations Simplified. Enroll for just $165 (regularly $225).

This course is designed to help you:

📚 Understand citation principles without the confusion

🕒 Save time with clear, practical steps

🧩 Build confidence in documenting your sources

📝 Access the GSCS template bank to simplify your work

😊 Learn at your own pace and revisit lessons anytime!

Here's how Genealogy Source Citations Simplified helped Dan with his citations:

"I have gained so much from Lisa’s Genealogy Source Citations Simplified course that I’ve now created close to a dozen citation templates on my own.

I finally feel confident crafting citations, and it’s all thanks to Lisa's course. Her method truly simplifies a process that once felt so daunting.”

Looking for a meaningful gift for a fellow genealogist? You can also gift this eCourse to a friend or family member who’s ready to take their research to the next level!

Use the code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout 👉 https://genealogysimplified.teachable.com/p/genealogy-source-citations-simplified

11/17/2025

Black Friday is almost here!

I’m excited to share that next week, you can get $60 off my course, Genealogy Source Citations Simplified — that’s just $165 (normally $225)!

But don’t just take it from me — here’s what Kim, one of our students, had to say about the Genealogy Source Citations Simplified eCourse:

“Writing source citations stressed me out! When I was taking a genealogy research program, I had so much anxiety trying to follow the hundreds of examples they provided, and it only left me more confused.

Once I came across Lisa’s Genealogy Source Citations Blog Series in 2022, I was so intrigued by her method. When I learned she created an eCourse, I immediately signed up — and I’m so glad I did!

Lisa’s methods really connect with me, and having access to her template bank is a lifesaver. Thanks to Lisa, I no longer stress over writing source citations.”

Inside the course, you’ll:

✅ Understand citation principles without the overwhelm

✅ Build confidence in documenting sources

✅ Save time with step-by-step guidance and ready-to-use templates

If citations have ever felt confusing or intimidating, this is your chance to finally master them — with clarity, structure, and support.

You can even gift the course to a genealogy friend this holiday season!

Mark your calendars — the sale goes live November 21st. Stay tuned for the official discount code!

11/14/2025

How to Create a Family Bible Citation

Your ancestor’s Bible holds more than scripture—it preserves handwritten records of births, marriages, and deaths, along with a chain of ownership that strengthens your research. My latest blog post, Family Bibles: Preserving and Citing a Family Treasure, explores how to cite family sources such as a family Bible.

Citing a Family Bible isn’t the same as citing a published book. Be sure to include:

✅ The family it records

✅ The specific page or section (e.g., “Births,” “Deaths”)

✅ Who owns it now

✅ The provenance—how it passed through the family

Without provenance, you’re missing the link that connects the Bible to your ancestor—and that weakens your source’s credibility.

👉 Download my free Citation Templates for Family Sources here:

https://lisa-stokes-heritage-research.kit.com/rootstech-2025

10/30/2025

This Halloween, Don't Let Your Cemetery Research Rest in Peace 🪦

There's something haunting about walking through old cemeteries---rows of weathered stones, names carved in granite, stories waiting to be told.

However, when you can't visit in person, cemetery websites become your virtual tour of the graveyard. Whether it's a local historical society site or a municipal cemetery database, these online resources are goldmines for genealogists.

Here's what you need to know: a cemetery website citation is different from a gravestone index or a photograph. You're citing the website itself---the information it provides, who maintains it, and where it lives online.

Keep your ancestors from becoming lost souls in your research and cite the cemetery website in your research log.

Ready to stop guessing and start citing like a pro? My course, "Genealogy Source Citations Simplified," walks you through templates for every source type---from the straightforward to the spooky complex.

Learn more: https://genealogysimplified.teachable.com/p/genealogy-source-citations-simplified

10/22/2025

Your Ancestors Are Waiting to Be Cited Properly 👻

Halloween isn't just about ghosts and goblins---it's prime time to remember those who came before us. And if you've been searching cemetery indexes for your ancestors, you know how quickly those findagrave.com and billiongraves.com links pile up.

But here's the thing: a cemetery index isn't the same as a gravestone photograph. The index is a database entry---someone else's transcription. And that means your citation needs to reflect what you're actually looking at.

Don't let your ancestor's memory fade into the fog. Cite that gravestone index correctly so future researchers (and future you) can retrace your steps.

Want more citation templates to keep your research from haunting you later? Join my course, Genealogy Source Citations Simplified, and learn to cite any source with confidence.

Learn more: https://genealogysimplified.teachable.com/p/genealogy-source-citations-simplified

10/17/2025

As of October 15th, the price of Genealogy Source Citations Simplified has officially increased to $225. This change reflects the rising costs of the tools and resources that keep the course high-quality and up-to-date.

If you didn’t enroll before the increase, don’t worry. There’s something to look forward to! The final sale of the year is in a few weeks, so keep an eye on my socials for updates!

What’s one thing you wish you understood better about genealogy citations? I'd love to hear from you!

10/13/2025

Your Gravestone Photos Deserve More Than to Haunt Your Hard Drive 📸🪦

You made the pilgrimage. You walked through the cemetery, found your ancestor's stone, and snapped that perfect photo as the autumn leaves fell around you. Now what?

That photograph sitting on your computer isn't just a pretty picture---it's a privately held source that documents your ancestor's final resting place. And it needs a citation that preserves when you took it, where the stone is located, and who holds the image.

Without a proper citation, that gravestone photo becomes just another mystery file in your research folder. Don't let your hard work vanish into the digital graveyard.

Want to master citations for all your family sources---photos, letters, heirlooms, and more?

Check out my free Family Sources citation template bank and printable guide to help you cite a photograph in your possession: https://lisa-stokes-heritage-research.kit.com/rootstech-2025.