Over the past year, I’ve been exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can help me in my genealogy research and I have to say, I’m impressed. AI isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and it seems to be getting better all the time. While I still rely on traditional records, archives, and good old-fashioned digging, I’ve found that AI can be a powerful partner in my family history work. These are ten practical ways I’ve personally used AI, plus example prompts you can try for each one.
1. Transcribing Handwritten Records
AI handwriting recognition tools help decipher hard-to-read cursive, especially in older wills and letters.
Prompt Example:
Analyze this historical will. Provide a summary of the key provisions, identify named individuals (heirs, executors, witnesses, etc.), describe the relationships and any notable social or legal language, and point out anything unusual or historically significant. Transcribe the inventory list. Use only the information provided. Do not add anything. Create a docx document.
2. Translating Foreign-Language Documents
Many of my maternal ancestors early records are in German. AI translations give me a readable first draft.
Prompt Example:
“Transcribe this 1845 baptismal record for Johann August Fredrich, from this scanned image from German into English."
3. Extracting Information from Records
AI helps extract information from various certificates like Birth, Marriage, Death, Draft Registration, Census Records, etc. This prompt is very detailed because I want to capture all the information on the certificate. I check that the transcription is accurately extracted and then include the extraction in the notes section for that fact in Roots Magic.
Prompt Example:
Please
extract the key information from this Indiana death certificate of Caroline White. Only extract the information given, if no information is available for a fact leave it blank. Format the extracted data in a bullet list for each certificate with
clearly labeled fields such as:
Name of Deceased
Date of Death
Place of Death
Age at Death
If married, spouse name
Cause of Death
Dates attended by Doctor
Occupation (if listed)
Birth Date and Place
Parents' Names and Birthplaces
Informant
Burial or Cremation Info
Funeral Home (if listed)
Certificate Number or Registration Info
Any other relevant notes
Also include a proper citation/source for each certificate (e.g., [State] Death Certificate, Year, Certificate Number, Repository or Archive).
Create a separate DOCX file for the certificate with this information, suitable for downloading.
4. Organizing Genealogical Information
I use this for family files I may have been sent from other researchers via email, in a journal, or from a website. It saves me time and all I have to do is check the information for errors before adding it to my Roots Magic software.
Prompt Example:
“I have a genealogical file with
family history data. Please help me extract key details (like names,
birth/death dates, places, relationships), identify any patterns (such as
migration trends, occupations, or naming conventions) without adding anything
not in the upload and create a docx document."
5. Providing Historical Context
Understanding the world my ancestors lived in helps make their stories richer and more accurate. I have done this for my lighthouse ancestor, railroad engineers, postmaster, and other historical times.
Prompt Example:
“What was daily life like for a farmer in Manistee county, Michigan in the 1870s? Include common crops, economic conditions, and typical family routines. Provide your sources and return in a docx file for downloading.”
6. Describing Photographs
AI can help with identifying possible time periods based on clothing, hairstyles, and background. Describing family history photographs is a favorite use of AI for me.
Prompt Example:
“Here is a picture of Adeline "Addie" Glover, age 5, describe this image providing a paragraph that could be useful when publishing the story in a family history blog. Create a docx file for downloading."
7. Summarizing Long Documents
When a record is long, I ask AI to give me a summary to decide if it’s worth full transcription. I use this for information articles as well as long land and probate records. Recently, I came across a court case and summarizing it helped me to identify important details in the case.
Prompt Example:
“Summarize this 24-page court case from 1908. Key details I’m looking for include names of people, relationships, residences, and key information. Add a timeline of events and create a source. Return a docx file for downloading."
8. Outlining Family History Blog Posts and Presentations
AI helps me brainstorm structure and flow when planning a post, article, or talk.
Prompt Example:
“I want to write a blog post about my great-grandmother’s life in rural Howard county, Indiana. She was born in 1835 Germany, immigrated to the United States in 1859, raised eight children, and ran a farm alone after her husband died. Outline a blog post with headings and key points?”
9. Locating Unfamiliar Record Types
When I’m stuck, AI can suggest fresh sources to check based on location and time period.
Prompt Example:
“I’m researching an ancestor who lived in Gorsin, Bromberg, Posen, Preussen, from 1805 to 1861. I’ve already checked family records, baptismal and marriage records via church records. What other record types and resources might be useful for this time and place? Create a docx document. Then, I add this to my research plan for Christoph Fredrich.
10. Polishing and Proofreading Writing
Even the best writing can use a little editing. I run my work through AI for grammar and clarity. I used to use Microsoft Word editor, but I like using ChatGPT now.
Prompt Example:
“Please proofread the following paragraph for grammar, clarity, and flow keeping my style of writing. Suggest any improvements." I copy and paste the writing example. As I get better at writing and using AI I notice I have less edits.
A Few Thoughts to Remember
- AI can lend a hand. It’s not perfect, but when paired with human insight and good research practices, it becomes a powerful tool in the genealogist’s toolkit.
- Double check your work whether it is a extraction, transcription, or a summary. Just as you do in genealogical research you must do with AI created material. Don't take AI's product to be 100% accurate. Once I was creating a timeline for my father's military service. All my facts stated he was in the Army. AI returned information saying he was in the Air Force, which was the Army Air Corps at that time.
- Try and try again. If AI didn't return what you expected you can add to the prompt until it does. Again, the more you use AI the more it will get to know your style and anticipate what you want.
- You can add a role to your prompt. Example: As a genealogist, As a blogger, etc. I only use this for specific roles that are identified by the prompt.
- If AI is returning information based on its research and not yours, ask for sources. Analyze these sources as you would when researching.
- Remind AI not to add information to your prompt return. This rules out inaccuracies.
- Add how you want to access the information returned by AI. Do you want paragraph form, outline, spreadsheet, timeline, etc.? Just let AI know. If you forget, which I sometimes do, just add it.
- Don't be afraid of AI. It’s not perfect, but when paired with human insight and good research practices, it becomes a powerful tool in the genealogist’s toolkit.
AI Disclosure Statement
This blog post used the assistance of artificial
intelligence (AI) tools at ChatGPT4o. While the content reflects my ideas, writing,
and research. the AI was used for grammar and spelling editing, and the creation of the summary.
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