More AI for Genealogy
In response to requests from attendees, we’re having a follow-up to our recent webinar on using AI for genealogy.
We will cover:
- More detailed prompt suggestions and a discussion of using AI chat for genealogy problem-solving and analysis—while keeping in mind the limitations of AI.
- Non-English example of transcription and translation.
- Short case studies based on actual documents and transcriptions.
As always, our presentation will be practical and easy-to-follow. We assume you already know basic genealogy terminology and methodology. Enhancing sound genealogy practices is our prime directive, not being easily impressed by every new bit of shiny technology.
Handout included so listeners can focus on understanding and not on taking notes.
Order now for immediate download
Where Did the Farm Go?
order recording for $15
This presentation discusses ways real estate may have left your ancestor’s possession and how to find those records. Learning how your ancestor’s property passed from their hands has the potential to provide significant genealogical information not always easily obtainable elsewhere. It’s not always as simple as searching for a deed of sale. Not every record can be located easily online and not every transaction was an actual deed signed by your ancestor. Our focus is on United States records from the 17th century through recent times. Detailed handout that parallels the presentation included.
Michael has over thirty years of research experience with land, court, and probate records and in providing genealogical instruction at a variety of levels.
Using AI’s ChatGPT for Genealogy (Responsibly)
There’s a lot of fun and learning you can do without every creating made up stories. AI is one tool that can really help with your research. We’ll avoid the hype and leave that to others!
We’ll use chatbotapp.ai. We will focus on responsibly and creatively using ChatGPT for genealogy with a focus on sound genealogy methodology. Our presentation will be practical, down-to-earth, and usable. There’s more to using AI than simply having it generate a family history. That’s not what will we do in this presentation.
We will look at a variety of ways to use the chatbot to interact with: transcriptions of individual records, groups and sets of transcribed records, PDF scans of records (typed and handwritten) biographies, other genealogical records as time allows. We will focus on using the Chatbot as a research assistant and virtual colleague and not a glorified Google search by an effective creation of questions and by actually interacting with the Chatbot instead of reacting to it. We will see how to formulate questions to have the Chatbot perform mundane tedious tasks, create summaries and tables, serve as an online genealogical assistant, and more. The Chatbot will transcribe documents and while imperfect, discussions can be had with the Chatbot to improve the transcription. We will not be discussing using a Chatbot to automatically create a family history or create histories. Our focus will be on using the Chatbot for assistance with other genealogical tasks. We’ll show numerous examples of prompts and ChatGPT conversations.
Order a recording of the presentation and handout for $18
Rooting Around for Farmers
Learn more about your rural ancestors with our hour-long presentation
Immediate download–handout included $20
Michael shares 30 years of experience researching his own farming ancestors
This presentation will discuss sources that should be fully utilized in a researcher’s search for more about their farming ancestor. We will look at sources and materials that provide direct and indirect information about your farming ancestor and their farming operation. Local, state, and federal sources will be covered in addition to non-governmental records. There is information available to help you gain more insight into your farming ancestor’s life and lifestyle. Material will be applicable to farm landowners in addition to tenant farmers and farm laborers. This session presumes a basic understanding of local records, including land records
Get “Rooting Around for Farmers” today—webinar purchase–immediate download (handout included)
Brick Walls A to Z 2024
now $17
In this presentation, we’ll look at a list of current ways in 2024 to break through those genealogy brick walls running from approaches beginning from A to Z. This session is geared toward advanced beginner or intermediate genealogists, keeping in mind that anyone can have gaps in their knowledge. We’ll look at ways that are free or easy on the pocketbook. Approaches are down-to-earth, practical, and easy to implement and understand and will be illustrated by short practical examples. 2024 may be winding down, but your genealogy research probably is not. Discover the best ways to break through those research problems and get motivated to take another look at ones you’ve put on the back burner. Our approach will be in the style of Genealogy Tip of the Day, we’ll be short and to the point…with the goal of jump-starting your research. Focus will be on United States research problems with some discussion of immigrant research.
Full Text Searching at FamilySearch Labs
comments:
“really enjoyed the presentation”
“shouldn’t have been searching when you were talking”
Learn clever search techniques!
order for immediate download-$18
This presentation will discuss the full text search at FamilySearch Labs of US land, US probate, and other records. The following will be included: ·
Search techniques and strategies.
Tracking your searches—this is crucial.
Organizing and tracking results and located items.
Determining exactly what it is you found.
Downloading images and essentials for citation.
Top Tips from Genealogy Tips of the Day
order for immediate download $16
This light-hearted informative presentation discusses the best of Genealogy Tip of the Day. We’ve pulled the tips that generated the most interest and response from readers and put them into one presentation complete with illustrations. We won’t be reading the tips (you can do that yourself).
Instead, we’ll be discussing them in a little more detail in an engaging and relaxed fashion and including a handout that includes a link to each specific tip mentioned.
Attend live with your favorite beverage or listen to the recording with your morning cup of coffee. Live attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the concepts discussed. Recording purchasers are welcome to email questions about content to Michael after they’ve listened to the presentation.
Order a copy of the presentation for $16 download immediate
Math for Genealogists
purchase for immediate download $16.50
Topics included: Calculating probate fractions, dates and ages, Wolframalpha for genealogists, land measurements, money, and more. The math will be low-key, but ignoring the numbers can cause you to miss ancestral clues. Michael was a community college math instructor (teaching from basic arithmetic to calculus) in another life and brings that experience to the presentation. There is no math prerequisite for this class, but you are required to be interested in improving your genealogical skills and getting as much from ancestral numbers as you can!
Get the scoop on the numbers today!
10 Questions Before they Pass
Intro price of $15 (regularly $20)–download immediate
presentation and handout included
As fewer and fewer of my own family’s “old generation” remains and as I transition into that older generation myself, I’ve become more aware of the questions and family history details that really matter.
This session will cover questions you should ask that relative before they pass. These are things that over the forty years I have been involved in genealogy research that I wish I had started asking and doing much sooner than I did. We will focus on getting people to remember what they can, ways to capture that information, and what you should do to maximize the chance that you obtain as much family history information from that relative as you can–while doing it in a relaxed and comfortable environment.
We will also see why you yourself should be one of those relatives who gets asked these ten questions and much more.
