sale 26 May 2025 coupon code is save50now–save 50%
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.
Purchase now for immediate download.
Platting Metes and Bounds Properties with DeedMapper
This presentation is an introduction and overview of DeedMapper–which will take the math out of platting and drawing property outlines.
DeedMapper will plat out multiple properties described in metes and bonds, allow the user to position the properties, and manage the data and the mete and bounds descriptions. No protractor or straightedge is required—nor do you have to remember high school geometry.
We will show how information is entered, how properties are platted, how parcels can be moved and positioned. We will also discuss concerns with data entry and information consistency.
In this session, we will look at deeds from Kentucky, Virginia, and Maryland. Additionally there will be one “fitting it together” example and one “what’s left over” example. Our primary method of instruction will be via example.
Presentation will be clear, concise, and will be just informal enough to encourage understanding. Our goal is not to make you surveyors or mathematicians, but to allow you to use this tool to enhance your use of land records in mete and bounds states. There are times where the answer to your genealogical problem is buried in a metes and bounds description.
Michael John Neill has been genealogist for over forty years, has a master’s degree in mathematics, was a community college math instructor for thirty years, and has done extensive work in land and property records.
Order now for immediate download. Handout included with both.
Ostfriesen Genealogical Research
Confused about your Ostfriesen ancestors?
This presentation will cover specific issues related to researching ancestors from the ethnic region of modern-day Germany known as Ostfriesland. There are certain nuances to researching ancestors from this region that are not necessarily true about other regions and that can stump researchers unfamiliar with them. Discussed will be naming practices, patronymics, surnames, compiled records, civil and church records, immigration to the United States, newspapers, and more.
We will also look at a few actual Ostfriesen immigrant research problems.
Michael John Neill is half-Ostfriesen by ancestry and has researched his Ostfriesen ancestors for over forty years.
Order recording and handout for immediate download for $20.
Researching US Newspapers
This presentation will discuss finding copies of newspapers (digital and microfilm), searching newspapers (digital and manual searches), saving images, organizing images and your search process, and creating citations.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tract Books
This presentation will discuss what the BLM tract books are (they keep track of complete and incomplete federal land transactions), how to search them (focusing on manual searches for when the index does not work), what clues can be gathered from these records, accessing additional records suggested in the tract books, documenting your searches of these books.
Researching Female Ancestors
This presentation discusses approaches and techniques for determining an ancestor’s maiden name and locating “missing” females. Geared towards the advanced beginner or intermediate researcher, it focuses on American records and sources before World War I. The content is not specific to any one time period and many of the approaches can be refined for different locations or types of records. Concepts discussed will include:
- overview of women’s legal rights;
- property ownership;
- inheritance;
- citizenship;
- and strategies for making the most from what you can find.
If you are stymied on your female ancestors–and half your ancestors are female–this presentation may give you the insight you need.
Using Land Deeds on FamilySearch
FamilySearch has local land records from a variety of locations in the United States. In this presentation, we will see how to determine what land deeds are available for a specific location, how to access and search those records (including full-text searches, searching using original indexes, and manual searches), making certain you have downloaded all the images comprising a specific record, downloading the title card/book cover, determining what you really are looking at, and general research strategies.
We will also talk about navigating the images on FamilySearch as well.
- Order for immediate download–$20–includes handout and presentation
Using Probate Records on FamilySearch
FamilySearch has probate records from a variety of locations in the United States. In this presentation, we will see how to determine what probate materials are available for a specific location, how to access and search those records (including full-text searches, searching using original indexes, and manual searches), making certain you have downloaded all the images comprising a specific record, downloading the title card/book cover, determining what you really are looking at, and general research strategies.
We will also talk about navigating the images on FamilySearch as well.
Order for immediate download–$20-includes handout and presentation.
How Errors Get In Records
This session, aimed at advanced beginning researchers (or anyone beyond that state) will focus on ways that “errors” creep into genealogical records–focusing on actual records and not compiled genealogies. We will focus on original records discussing ways mistakes into those records, determining what record is being looked at, when mistakes might not be mistakes at all, and ways to handle mistakes when they have been discovered.
Naturalization: An Un-Natural Process
This presentation focuses on US records of naturalization. Includes a discussion of Colonial era naturalizations as well as those into the 20th century. Emphasis will be on records that were created, how those records fit into the larger naturalization process, and how to access and interpret those records. A variety of records and research situations will be used to illustrate key principles and concepts.
Presentation does not include lengthy introductions, constant product inserts, or repeated attempts to sell other products.
Genealogy Brick Walls from A to Z
Our most popular presentation of the year packed full of information and ideas.
Order for immediate download-regular price $18
This presentation:
- will discuss 26 ways to break those genealogy “brick walls” with one for each letter of the alphabet–actually added a few extras
- is aimed at advanced beginner or intermediate genealogists, we will look at ways to get around those stumbling points that seem insurmountable.
- targets American genealogists
- is also a good review of techniques for those who need some reminders or brushing up of their research process.
Ideas are practical, down-to-earth, and easy to follow. Handout included.
Order immediate download for $18
Beginning German Research
This session will focus on starting your German research. The session will include an overview of German genealogical sources (both online and offline), naming patterns and concerns, maps and other geographic finding aids, basics of terminology and handwriting, and more. Intended for those who have not really started researching their German ancestors in Germany.
Purchase this session for immediate download ($18)
Beginning Irish Research
This session focuses on starting your Irish genealogical research. This session will begin with an overview of the importance of completely researching the Irish immigrant in the United States.
Ireland-specific topics will include:
- Irish civil records–overview and search strategies
- Irish religious records–overview and search strategies
- Irish political jurisdictions, their relationships with each other, and what you need to know
- Overview of record destruction–sorry, it’s a reality
- Overview of Irish names
- Overview of Irish migrations
- Reaching out to others who may be able to help and networking strategies
Intended for those who have not done extensive Irish research.
Order for immediate download–handout included–$18
