The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta, CoPilot, GenSpark and Perplexity) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.
Mark Thompson, one of the two experts on The Family History AI Show podcast, has created a number of custom prompts and they are available for researchers to use to help their understanding and use of AI.
One of Mark's custom prompts is "Mark Thompson's Historical Photo Analyzer" which can be used on ChatGPT4.
Here is one of my family historical photographs:
1) I asked Mark's custom prompt: Please describe and analyze this photo of a San Diego family and home.The prompt and photo elicited this response from ChatGPT4:
This
is a fascinating historical photograph, likely from the late 19th or
early 20th century, showing a San Diego family posing in front of
their home. Below is a detailed analysis of the image.
Photo Analysis:
Observation
|
Rationale
& Interpretation
|
|
Large
wooden two-story house with Victorian design elements
|
The house
features a hipped roof, a wraparound porch with decorative trim,
and a rooftop railing—elements typical of late 19th-century
Victorian architecture. The mix of horizontal and vertical siding
also suggests this era.
|
Handwritten
inscription: "H.A. Corning, Cor 30th & Hawthorn St"
|
This
suggests that the house is located at the corner of 30th and
Hawthorn Street in San Diego, likely owned or lived in by H.A.
Corning. The handwriting appears to be from the same period as
the photo.
|
Family
members positioned in front of the house
|
This was a
common practice in early photography, where families proudly
posed with their homes. Their body language suggests formality
but also a sense of pride in their property.
|
Clothing
suggests late 19th century
|
The woman in
the foreground wears a long dress with a high collar and puffed
sleeves, typical of the 1890s. The man in the center wears a
three-piece suit, common for formal portraits of this era. The
young girl’s dress and hat also reflect Victorian children’s
fashion.
|
Horse-drawn
carriage on the left
|
Indicates
the pre-automobile era, reinforcing the estimated date of the
image. The presence of a carriage suggests the family had some
level of wealth.
|
Setting
appears semi-rural or suburban
|
The yard has
a garden with young trees and bushes, suggesting early
development in this area of San Diego. There are other houses in
the background, but they are spaced apart, indicating a suburban
or newly developed residential area.
|
Sharp
shadows and bright lighting
|
Likely taken
around midday, given the strong contrast in the shadows. This is
consistent with sunny Southern California weather.
|
Photograph
mounted on a card with visible aging
|
The
photograph is mounted on what appears to be a standard album card
from the late 19th or early 20th century, with edges showing
signs of wear and discoloration.
|
Points of Uncertainty:
Who exactly is in the
photo? While the inscription mentions "H.A. Corning,"
it is unclear which individual is H.A. Corning or if the whole
family belongs to them.
Date of the photograph?
Based on clothing and architectural style, it likely dates from the
1890s, but further research into city records could provide a more
precise date.
Current status of the house? It would be
interesting to see if this home still exists at 30th & Hawthorn
in San Diego or if it has been replaced.
Final Thoughts:
This is a classic example of a late 19th-century American family
home portrait, showcasing not just the family members but also their
property and lifestyle. It reflects the pride of homeownership during
a time when San Diego was rapidly expanding. If you have any
additional context or details, I’d love to dig even deeper into its
history!
2) I made a second prompt: Can you describe each of the people in the photograph? Can you
describe and analyze the house and the yard?
The ChatGPT4 response was:
Absolutely! Let’s break it down into three sections: the people,
the house, and the yard.
People in the Photograph:
Person
|
Description
& Analysis
|
|
Man
in center (likely H.A. Corning?)
|
A
distinguished-looking man with a beard, wearing a dark
three-piece suit, white shirt, and a bowler hat. He stands
confidently in the yard, possibly the head of the household. His
formal attire suggests this was a posed portrait, typical for
property or family documentation.
|
Woman
in white dress (foreground, left side)
|
She wears a
high-collared, long-sleeved white dress with a fitted bodice and
possibly lace or decorative elements. Her hat is adorned with a
ribbon or flowers, which was fashionable in the 1890s. Her
posture is formal, but she is slightly turned toward the young
boy next to her, suggesting a motherly relationship.
|
Young
boy next to the woman
|
He wears a
knee-length outfit with long stockings and a hat. His clothing is
typical for young boys in the late 19th century, when they often
wore short pants before transitioning to full-length trousers in
adolescence. He appears relaxed but is clearly aware of the
camera.
|
Man
standing on the porch (left side)
|
Dressed in a
dark suit, he has a more casual stance with one foot on the porch
step and a hand in his pocket. His positioning suggests he may be
a relative, guest, or even a household employee.
|
Elderly
woman on porch (center-right)
|
Dressed in a
dark, long dress with a bonnet or hat, she stands with her hands
clasped, looking directly at the camera. She might be a
grandmother or another elder relative. Her conservative dress
suggests a more traditional or modest style.
|
Man
in hat standing near porch railing
|
Wearing a
suit and hat, possibly another family member or a friend. His
relaxed stance suggests he is comfortable in the setting, but his
placement is more distant from the central figure.
|
Young
girl in light-colored dress (right side of porch)
|
She wears a
patterned dress with long sleeves, common for young girls of the
era. She stands near the porch with a relaxed but attentive
posture. Her presence reinforces the idea that this is a
multi-generational family portrait.
|
Man
handling the horse and carriage (far left)
|
Wearing work
clothes and a hat, he is likely a hired hand or a member of the
household responsible for transportation and farm work. His role
is essential, but he stands apart from the family, indicating a
different social status.
|
The House:
Feature
|
Description
& Analysis
|
|
Two-story
wooden house with Victorian influences
|
The house
has a hipped roof with a decorative railing on top, often found
in late 19th-century homes. The trim details, porch supports, and
multi-textured siding reflect the era’s architectural trends.
|
Wraparound
porch with decorative trim
|
The porch
features delicate woodwork, giving it an elegant yet practical
appeal. The wraparound design suggests the home was built for
both comfort and ventilation, which is important in a warm
climate like San Diego.
|
Windows
with ornamental awnings
|
The
second-floor windows have decorative awnings or eaves, likely for
shade and aesthetic appeal. This detail is common in
Victorian-style homes.
|
Multiple
doors and porch access points
|
The house
has at least two visible entrance points, suggesting a functional
layout where different family members or guests could enter from
various sides. This could also indicate separate living areas or
a business function (e.g., boarding house or office space).
|
The Yard and Surroundings:
Feature
|
Description
& Analysis
|
|
Garden
with plants and young trees
|
The yard is
well-maintained, with organized garden beds and what appears to
be young orchard trees or decorative shrubs. This suggests the
family valued landscaping, possibly growing food or flowers.
|
Low
fence or garden border in foreground
|
A simple
wire or wooden fence encloses part of the yard, indicating an
effort to protect plants from animals. It might also serve as a
boundary for children or pets.
|
Dirt
paths and natural landscaping
|
Unlike
today’s manicured lawns, the yard appears to have dirt paths
and natural elements, common for homes in developing suburban or
rural areas.
|
Horse
and carriage on the left side
|
A working
carriage with a well-groomed horse suggests the family had access
to transportation, which was a sign of moderate wealth at the
time. The horse looks healthy and well-kept, indicating good
care.
|
Background
houses and structures
|
A few other
homes or buildings are visible in the distance, suggesting that
this is part of a growing neighborhood rather than complete rural
isolation. |
Final Thoughts:
This photo captures a moment in time that showcases not only a
family but also their home, status, and way of life in late
19th-century San Diego. The family’s formal yet proud posing
suggests they saw this house as an achievement worth documenting. The
presence of multiple generations, hired help, and a well-maintained
property tells us they were likely well-off in their community.
Would you like me to research more about H.A. Corning or the
location to see if the house still exists today?
Then I looked more carefully at the photograph because the information above had some errors. "H.A. Corning" is actually my great-grandfather Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946) - the handwriting is unclear. The "young girl" on the right side of the photo is a mature woman, and there is no horse handler on the left side of the photo (perhaps he is invisible?).
3) I looked over on the right side of the photograph and saw something I had not noticed before. So I asked this: There is what appears to be a mechanical device on the far right
side of the house at ground level. The kitchen is on the other side
of the wall. What do you think this might be?
Here is the ChatGPT4 response:
Good eye! That mechanical device at ground level on the far right side of the house is intriguing. Given that the kitchen is on the other side of the wall, I have a few educated guesses about what it might be:
Possible Identifications:
Possible
Device
|
Rationale
& Explanation
|
Water
pump or cistern system
|
In the late
19th century, many homes, especially in growing cities like San
Diego, did not yet have fully integrated municipal water systems.
If the kitchen was on the other side, this could be a hand pump
or early plumbing system for supplying water directly to the
kitchen.
|
Wood
or coal stove venting system
|
Kitchens in
this era commonly had large cast-iron stoves that burned wood or
coal. Some had external venting systems to help remove excess
heat and smoke, especially in warmer climates like San Diego.
This could be part of an air intake or exhaust system.
|
Early
gas or hot water heater
|
By the late
1800s, some homes had rudimentary gas water heaters. If this home
had an early gas line, this might be an external fixture related
to heating water for the kitchen.
|
Ash
or waste chute
|
Some
Victorian homes had small exterior chutes for disposing of stove
ash, kitchen waste, or coal remnants. If this is a chute, it
might have led to an outdoor ash bin or waste area.
|
Well
access or cistern cover
|
If the home
had a well or underground cistern, this could be a hatch or pump
used to access stored water. Wells were still common in homes
that didn’t have fully developed plumbing infrastructure.
|
Most Likely Explanation:
Given the positioning next to the kitchen, the most probable
options are a water pump/cistern system or a stove venting
system. If the home was among the more modern ones in the
area, it could be an early gas-powered water heater.
Would you like me to try and research whether San Diego homes in
that period had specific plumbing or heating innovations that could
help pinpoint this?
It looks to me that the contraption next to the house has a barrel and some pipes. I think it is a small pump with water in the barrel that goes to a sink or bucket in the kitchen. I don't think that they had a well.
The house also had a widow's walk, with a view to the southwest of San Diego Bay and to the east of the local mountains. There is a small chimney on the back side of the house which may be for a fireplace in a bedroom. There is also a metal pole attached to the widow's walk that may be a lightning rod (its not a radio or TV antenna, those devices hadn't been invented yet) or perhaps a flagpole. Unseen or mentioned is a spiral (?) staircase up to the second floor and widow's walk in the central part of the house.
4) As you can surmise, there are a number of additional questions that ChatGPT4 could answer about "my" house, but this post is already long enough.
5) How did the custom prompt and ChatGPT4 do on this query? It seems to be well-trained on houses and clothing. While it transcribed the man's name in the handwriting wrong, misidentified the age of the woman on the right, and saw a phantom male on the left, I think it did very well in describing the clothing, the house, the yard, and especially telling me about the mystery mechanical device. I wonder what it would say the horse's name was? I couldn't resist and asked ChatGPT4: For a family horse:
- Old-fashioned classics: Bessie, Nellie, Daisy, or Dolly (for mares)
- Strong, dependable names: Charlie, Prince, Jim, or Jack (for geldings or stallions)
- Nature-inspired names: Chestnut, Blaze, or Stormy
- Playful or affectionate names: Buddy, Brownie, or Star
The people in the photograph from the left to right are:
- Abbie Ardelle "Della" (Smith) Carringer (1862-1944), wife of Henry Austin Carringer and mother of Lyle Lawrence Carringer.
- Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1977), son of Henry Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer.
- David Jackson "D.J." Carringer (1828-1902), husband of Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer and father of Henry Austin Carringer and Harvey Edgar Carringer.
- Henry Austin "H.A." Carringer (1853-1946), son of D.J. and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer, husband of Della (Smith) Carringer, and father of Lyle Lawrence Carringer.
- Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer (1832-1901), wife of D.J. Carringer and mother of Henry Austin Carringer.
- Harvey Edgar Carringer (1852-1946), son of D.J. and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer, andbrother of Henry Austin Carringer.
- Abbie A. (Vaux) Smith (1844-1931), mother of Della (Smith) Carringer.
6) This house was on the northeast corner of 30th Street and Hawthorn Street (in 1900 they were Ella Street and Watkins Street), was built by Henry Austin Carringer, and was completed in about 1898. The D.J. Carringer family came to San Diego in 1898. Since Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer died in December 1901, and D.J. Carringer died in January 1902, this photograph can be dated as before December 1901. Lyle is a young boy, aged 6 to 8. The yard is blooming but the trees and bushes are relatively small. I have always said the photograph was from 1898 to 1901, or about 1900.
I have no idea who owned the other buildings in the photo background. I think the building on the far left is on the Carringer property and it may be a garden or greenhouse. Abbie (Vaux) Smith may have owned the building just to the left of the house on the same block. D.. Carringer also had a house on the northwest corner of the next intersection to the north (now 30th Street and Ivy Street).
The house in this form is no longer located on the corner of 30th and Hawthorn. In 1927, they moved the house to the north about 50 feet, and added rooms and staircases to convert it into a two story building with an upstairs apartment and a downstairs apartment. Then they covered the entire building with stucco. I grew up in the upstairs apartment between 1947 and 1968.
I found this photograph pasted into an Ohio county history book which Della and/or Lyle used for a scrapbook. I cut it out with a razor blade and digitized it. It is one of my most precious family photographs.
I really wish that I could have a seance or a dream discussion with all of these folks. I didn't really talk to my grandfather a lot about his family, but they left a wealth of photographs and some papers.
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Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver
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