This was one of the most enjoyable presentations I have given in thirty years

We had a great live session for what's one of our most popular presentations!

We focus on making AI your virtual research assistant and getting away from the AI hype

Get in on the fun!

Clear explanations!

Introductory price of $18

through 8 November

download immediate--handout included

Regular price will be $25.

Focus is on research, not on cuteness and creating clearly fake images.

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!

with Michael John Neill

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--intro price!

Information on other presentations and products below!

Brick Walls A to Z 2024

with Michael John Neill

save $8--regularly $25

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.

Get your Genealogy Tip of the Day T-shirt!

Bay (shown below)

Hemp (shown below)--lettering will be white

Full Text Searching at FamilySearch Labs

"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.

·       Essentials for citation.

Brush up on the records before the presentation with our previously recorded sessions.

US Probate Records

This presentation will provide an overview of probate records in the United States. Included will be a discussion of the purpose of probate, the general flow of the probate process, typical records created, and terminology. Order for immediate download after purchase-$10.

Local US Land Records

This presentation provides an overview of local US land records—generally those kept at the local courthouse in the county (or occasionally city) where the property is located. Included will be an overview of terminology and title, discussion of different types of deeds, typical deed content, and recording process and records organization. Order for immediate download after purchase--$10.

Genealogy Trip Planning

order for immediate download-$16

This presentation will discuss planning a trip to a genealogy library or an area of former ancestral residence. Michael has lead numerous trips to Salt Lake City and Ft. Wayne in addition to having taken numerous personal research trips. The following will be included:

• Organizing materials
• Logistics to consider
• What do to at home before you leave
• Document reproduction and organization
• Determining priorities
• Where to reach out before trip

Citations: Why, How, and What Am I Even Looking at?

order for immediate download $16

This is not a webinar that will run through 100 citations and how to create them (but we will look at some).

We will start with an overview of why genealogists create citations (it’s not just so you can “go back and get it again”), distinguishing between different documents and records so they can be cited accurately, determining what that image is of that popped up on a search, and seeing the difference between original and derivative (and why it matters some times more than others).

We will look through some sample citations—including ones for home sources and family ephemera. We will see how to get the crucial elements needed for a citation and realize that it’s not the end of the world if yours are not perfect.