Saturday, October 26, 2024

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Ask an Artificial Intelligence Agent To Create a Research Plan

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!


Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)   Form a research question and ask an Artificial Intelligence agent to create a genealogy research plan for you. 

2)  Share the plan. How well did AI do? Is the plan useful or too basic?

3)  Share your research question and the plan and your comments in your own blog post or on your Facebook page.  Be sure to leave a link to your report in a comment on this post.

 [thank you to Linda Stufflebean for suggesting this topic!] 

Here's mine:

I selected Perplexity.ai to do this task, since it can provide web sources.  [Other free AI agents to try are  OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o, Anthropic's Claude,    Microsoft's CoPilot, Google's Gemini, Meta's AI.]

Here is my prompt:  Please form a genealogy research plan and share it based on this research question:  Who were the parents of Anna Grieser who was born 17 Nov 1859 in St Louis Missouri, married John Brocke on 24 April 1877 in Nebraska, and died 19 March 1936 in Latah, Idaho.  

The Perplexity response was:
To investigate the parents of Anna Grieser, born on 17 Nov 1859 in St. Louis, Missouri, we'll need to develop a comprehensive genealogy research plan. Here's a structured approach to tackle this question:
Initial Data Gathering
Review Known Information
  • Anna Grieser's birth: 17 Nov 1859, St. Louis, Missouri
  • Marriage: 24 April 1877 to John Brocke in Nebraska
  • Death: 19 March 1936 in Latah, Idaho

Research Strategies

1. Vital Records Search
  • Obtain Anna's birth certificate from St. Louis, Missouri (1859)
  • Locate the marriage certificate from Nebraska (1877)
  • Acquire the death certificate from Latah, Idaho (1936)
2. Census Records Examination
  • Search 1860 and 1870 U.S. Census records for St. Louis, Missouri
  • Look for Anna living with her parents
  • Examine 1880 and later censuses for additional family information
3. Church Records Investigation
  • Identify potential churches in St. Louis area (1859)
  • Search for baptismal records around Anna's birth date
4. Immigration and Naturalization
  • Check passenger lists and immigration records for Grieser family
  • Look for naturalization papers for potential parents
5. Land and Property Records
  • Search for Grieser family land transactions in St. Louis (1850s-1860s)
6. Newspaper Research
  • Look for birth announcements in St. Louis newspapers (late 1859)
  • Search for obituaries of Anna and potential parents
7. Cemetery and Burial Records
  • Investigate Anna's burial location in Latah, Idaho
  • Look for family plots or nearby Grieser graves
8. Probate and Will Records
  • Search for wills or probate records of potential Grieser parents in St. Louis

Expanding the Search

Sibling Research
  • Identify potential siblings of Anna Grieser
  • Use their records to find parental information
Grieser Family Study
  • Conduct a broader study of Grieser families in St. Louis area
  • Look for patterns or connections to Anna's family
DNA Testing
  • Consider DNA testing to find genetic relatives
  • Use DNA matches to build out family tree

Record Keeping and Analysis

  • Document all findings meticulously
  • Create a timeline of events for Anna and potential family members
  • Analyze conflicting information and resolve discrepancies
By following this research plan systematically, we can increase our chances of identifying Anna Grieser's parents. The key is to start with the most reliable sources (vital records) and gradually expand the search to other documents and resources.
Perplexity offered 7 sources for review:
How well did AI do? Is the plan useful or too basic?

I think that Perplexity did this task fairly well.  The research plan hit the obvious suggestions in the right order.  But the plan is rather basic.  

An experienced researcher would suggest: 
  • Looking for clues for Anna's birth and married surnames in the marriage location and the death location.
  • Searching for other records between the birth and death dates in the places where the family resided.
  • Finding family mentions in published books, periodicals, archival manuscripts, historical societies and/or genealogical society publications.
  • If the available records (e.g., census records) suggest parents names, then finding those parents life events and the other children of the suggested parents may be helpful.  For example, my research showed that Anna's father died in 1879 in Latah, Idaho, and her mother died there in 1920. 
Who is Anna (Grieser) Brocke (1859-1936)?  She is my wife's great-grandmother.  I chose her for this challenge because I haven't written a lot about her.  Her death certificate does not provide  her fther's given name, and it misspells her mother's maiden name.  The 1860 and 1870 US census records provide parents names as Ignatius and Catherine Grieser.  Ignatius Grieser (1835-1879) and Katherine (Gute) Grieser (1837-1920) were born in Germany, married in 1858 in St. Louis, and died in Latah County, Idaho.  

NOTE:  Claude AI gave me a good response, and provided a list of record repositories, expected challenges, and source criteria.  ChatGPT-4o provided more detail than Perplexity, suggested autosomal DNA testing, but no sources or suggested repositories.  Meta AI provided a response similar to Perplexity, along with a step-by-step research plan and potential record sources.  Co-Pilot's response was similar to Perplexity's, and also suggested social media.  Google Gemini AI said it couldn't do this task.  Interestingly, none of the agents suggested online family trees or a Google/Bing/DuckDuckGo/other web search.  

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Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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Ask AI: "How Should a Genealogist Publish Digital Reports and Books?"

I'm asking questions of the available Artificial Intelligence tools about genealogy and family history research in order to see if I'ver missed something in my unending pursuit of my ancestral families.  

1)  Today, my Prompt is:  You are an experienced genealogist and archivist. How should a genealogist and family historian publish (on paper or online) digital reports and books about his ancestral family lines (some back 12 generations) in significant detail (names, parents, children, dates, places, events, notes, sources, photos, documents)?

Why do I ask this question?  I have a family tree with over 73,800 profiles in my 37th year of research - including ancestral families, descendants of 4th and 5th great-grandparents, surname studies (Seaver, Carringer, Auble, Vaux, and others) etc.  The ancestral families are fairly well researched, many with genealogical sketches and research notes.  They are all in my own Ancestry Member Tree, my own MyHeritage family tree, and over 52,000 of the profiles are in FamilySearch Family Tree, and the ancestors are in WikiTree and Geni.  

So how should I disseminate this information so that it lives on after my demise (besides on my blog which may have a relatively short after-life)?  I have shared ideas about this challenge before - see for instance, Rabbit Holes With Randy - Adding Life Stories to FamilySearch Family Tree.

                                                     (image created by Microsoft Designer)

 I submitted the above Prompt to the free AI tools on OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o, Anthropic's Claude, Microsoft's CoPilot, Google's Gemini, Meta's AI, and Perplexity.

2)  In my opinion, by far the best and most complete answer I received was from OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o:

Publishing detailed genealogical reports, whether in print or online, involves careful planning and organization to ensure accuracy, readability, and accessibility. Here’s a guide to help you publish a comprehensive digital report about your ancestral family lines:

1. Structure and Organization

A genealogical report must be logically organized to present generations clearly and make it easy for readers to follow individual family lines.

a. Pedigree Format (Ancestor Tree)

  • Start with the most recent generation (yourself or a known ancestor) and move backward.

  • For each individual, list names, birth, marriage, and death details.

  • Use a numbering system like Ahnentafel (ancestor table) for clarity. This system numbers the person at the starting point as 1, their father as 2, mother as 3, and so on.

b. Family Group Sheets

  • For each family, create a family group sheet that lists the parents, their children, and key life events for each individual.

  • Include a section for “Notes” where additional context or stories can be added for each family.

c. Chronological or Thematic Sections

  • Consider dividing the report by time period or geographic locations (e.g., “The Carringers in Pennsylvania (1800-1850)”).

  • You could also organize by significant events (e.g., “Immigration from Europe” or “Military Service”).

2. Content and Detail

a. Names, Dates, and Places

  • Include full names, birth, marriage, and death dates, and places for each individual.

  • Consistency in date formats (e.g., “22 Oct 1800” instead of “10/22/1800”) is critical.

  • Indicate variants of names or locations when applicable (e.g., "Carringer, also spelled Kerringer").

b. Biographical Notes

  • Add brief biographies for each ancestor, including life events, migrations, occupations, and stories.

  • Contextualize with historical background if applicable (e.g., “During the Civil War, the family moved…”).

c. Sources and Citations

  • Cite every fact with its source: census records, birth/death/marriage certificates, wills, military records, land deeds, or oral history interviews.

  • Use genealogical standards for citations, such as “Evidence Explained” by Elizabeth Shown Mills.

  • For online reports, provide links to sources if they are digitized.

d. Photos, Documents, and Maps

  • Attach relevant images: photos of ancestors, homes, gravestones, original documents (wills, deeds), and maps showing migration routes.

  • Label each image with detailed captions and dates.

  • In online versions, you can include zoomable images or interactive maps.

3. Writing Style

a. Clear and Concise Language

  • Avoid overly technical jargon. Write in a way that is accessible to both genealogists and family members.

  • Include storytelling elements where possible to bring the narrative to life, while maintaining a focus on documented facts.

b. Balanced Presentation

  • Balance facts with personal stories or anecdotes to make the report engaging.

  • Provide historical context for events (e.g., “Their move to Iowa in 1850 coincided with the westward expansion...”).

4. Publishing Format Options

a. Printed Book

  • If you choose to create a book, consider a professional layout with a mix of text, charts, and images.

  • Use genealogical software to generate family trees, pedigree charts, and reports.

  • Have the book professionally bound or use a service like Blurb, Lulu, or Shutterfly for print-on-demand.

  • Print copies for family members, libraries, and historical societies.

b. Online Options

  • Personal Website/Blog: Create a website or blog to showcase your research. Tools like WordPress, Wix, or Weebly offer customizable templates.

  • Genealogy Platforms: Publish on genealogy websites like Ancestry, FamilySearch, or MyHeritage, where you can link documents, share stories, and invite family to collaborate.

  • PDFs: Convert your report into a downloadable PDF with embedded images, footnotes, and clickable links for online sharing.

  • E-books: Consider publishing an e-book through platforms like Amazon Kindle or Google Books for wider access.

5. Visual Tools and Aids

a. Charts and Graphs

  • Include descendant charts or relationship charts to show family connections at a glance.

  • Use timeline charts for each family or individual to highlight significant events.

b. Maps and Migration Routes

  • Use tools like Google Maps or Mapbox to create interactive maps tracing ancestral migration patterns.

c. Videos or Audio

  • Incorporate video clips or audio recordings of oral history interviews or family memories if you have them.

  • These can be embedded in online reports or linked via QR codes in printed versions.

6. Consideration of Privacy

a. Living Persons

  • For privacy reasons, omit sensitive details (e.g., birth dates) about living individuals.

  • Ensure that you have permission from living family members before sharing their stories or personal data.

7. Collaborative Elements

If you publish online, consider including:

  • A family forum or discussion area for readers to contribute stories, memories, or corrections.

  • DNA Matches: Link to relevant DNA test results or matches that support your research conclusions.

8. Final Steps: Review and Share

  • Proofread thoroughly, especially the facts, dates, and sources.

  • Beta-test the online version by sharing with a small group to ensure functionality and readability.

  • Once you’ve published the report, promote it to family, genealogical societies, and relevant communities (local historical societies, ancestry groups).

By following these guidelines, your genealogical reports will not only be rich in detail but also professional, engaging, and useful for future researchers.

The other AI tools were not as detailed, but did offer several thoughts that ChatGPT-4o did not. 

Perplexity.ai is the only AI tool that provided resources in their response:

4) In general, I think the ChatGPT-4o answers to the prompt are reasonable. While most experienced genealogists are aware of these methods and resources, many inexperienced and occasional genealogists are not.   In my opinion, the answers are relatively terse and could be more fully explained.  That could be done by using the Chat function on the AI tools (and I probably will ask them in the future)!

The Perplexity suggestions are to blogs, social media, software sites, and videos.  These are probably not the best available sources.

There must be more online references to this topic, and I know there are published books that cover this subject.   Please tell me in comments if you have suggestions!

5)  What methods and resources did the answers to the question miss, or should be explained better?  Please tell me in comments!

6)  What other questions should I (we?) ask the AI tools for genealogy research and publishing?  Please tell me in comments!

7)  :  All "Ask AI" posts are listed on the "Artificial Intelligence Posts" page on this blog.  
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Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver


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