20 January, 2023, by Sherri Mastrangelo
ChatGPT is a dialogue and search tool launched by OpenAI this past November, 2022, that is currently free for everyone to try. It is an AI program, or Artificial Intelligence model, that they have trained to understand humans. It’s like having a conversation with a search engine like Google, but instead of a list of websites returned after your query that you then have to browse, you get an immediate response with the information you needed. You can even follow up on your original question, because this AI will remember what you were talking about.
On social media, I’ve seen people use ChatGPT to help write essays, diagnose patients, write poetry, and answer challenging questions. With such amazing access to instant and relevant information at your fingertips, what would you want to know?
Of course my first thought was “Can this AI help me with my genealogy research?”
And the answer is - yes! There are definite benefits, though it can’t pull up individual records (yet). I’ll explain, and share some of the questions I asked ChatGPT, along with it’s responses.
If you have tried MyHeritiage’s apps like Deep Nostalgia that brought still photos to life, or their more recent AI Time Machine that transforms your selfie into multiple versions of yourself throughout time, then you have already played around with AI.
If you have used Google Translate to discover what your foreign language record says, you’ve used AI.
What’s more, if you have ever used Ancestry.com, you’ve likely used some of their AI features like handwriting recognition technology. Ancestry also uses machine learning algorithms to provide relevant search results and to match family trees, as well as with computer text recognition to pull and display information from records.
AI can definitely be a useful tool to help us with our research, so let’s see what this ChatGPT can do!
Question 1
ME: Can you do genealogy research?
ChatGPT: As a computer program, I am not capable of doing genealogy research myself. However, I can assist you with information and guidance on how to conduct genealogy research and where to find various types of records to aid you in your search.
I can help you learn what resources are available, both online and offline, and help you understand how to use them effectively to research your family history. This can include online genealogy databases, archives and libraries, historical societies, and government offices. I can also provide tips and advice for analyzing and organizing your findings, as well as for communicating with relatives or other researchers who may be able to provide additional information about your ancestors.
Additionally I can answer specific questions you might have about the different types of records, how to read them and interpret the information, as well as the best practices for genealogy research.
Question 2
ME: What can you find out about the Libby family, early settlers of Maine?
ChatGPT: The Libby family is an early settler of Maine and there’s a lot of historical information that can be found about them.
Genealogy: According to the genealogy records, The Libby Family was among the first settlers of Maine. They were farmers and fishermen, and some of them were also involved in shipbuilding and trade. Many Libby families were among the early settlers of various towns along the Maine Coast, such as Brunswick, Bath, Damariscotta, and Belfast.
Historical Records: According to the historical records, there were also Libby’s involved in the revolutionary war and were soldiers, there are records of their involvement in the war, and some of them received land grants for their service.
Libby Island: Libby Island, located in the Penobscot Bay, Maine, was named after the Libby family who were among the first settlers of the island. The island was settled by the Libbys in the 1700s, and the family still owns much of the island to this day. The island has a long history of farming and fishing, and also has a lighthouse that is still operational.
Libby Family papers and papers of the Libby Island Company: The Libby Family Papers and the Papers of the Libby Island Company are held at the Maine Historical Society and contain letters, diaries, photographs, ledgers, and other documents that provide a glimpse into the daily lives, business activities, and social history of the Libby family and their descendants, as well as the history of the island and the company that controlled it.
Libby House: Libby House is a historic house located in Portland, Maine, that was built by a member of the Libby family in 1856. The house is an example of the Italianate style of architecture and is now a private residence.
It’s worth noting that much of the records of this family as with many early setters, were informal and not necessarily recorded in the same way that we do now. Additionally, not all records have been digitized or made available online. But, with some persistence and creativity, you may be able to uncover valuable information about the Libby family, early settlers of Maine.
Wow! This was a lot of information - some of it new. Of course we don’t know if any of this is related to MY Libby relatives, but it’s a lot of great new research opportunities, or “clues” for me to look into!
Question 3
Me: What Catholic churches existed in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1909?
ChatGPT: In 1909, Lawrence, Massachusetts had a number of Catholic churches that would have existed at that time. Here are a few examples:
1. Holy Rosary Church: This church was established in 1884, it is located on Hampshire Street, and served the Catholic community of the city.
2. Immaculate Conception Church: This church as established in 1868 and is located on Haverhill Street. It was the first Catholic church in Lawrence, and it served the city’s large Irish and French Canadian population.
3. St. Patrick Church: This church was established in 1873, it is located on Lawrence Street and it served the Irish Catholic community of the city.
4. St. Mary’s Church: This church was established in 1887, and it is located on Union Street and it served the Polish Catholic community of the city.
5. St. Anne’s Church: This church was established in 1910, after the death of your ancestor, is is located on Bradford Street, it served the French Canadian Catholic community of the city.
It’s worth noting that this list is not exhaustive as there may have been other Catholic churches in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1909 as well. It’s also possible that churches that existed in 1909 may have closed, merged or changed since that time and new churches have been created. Additionally, some churches may have been established to cater to a specific community. So to confirm the existence of a specific church in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1909 and to know more about their history, it’s recommended to consult local historical societies, church archives, and local newspapers from the time.
I’m actually very impressed by this response, and I think these kind of question / answer sets could be very helpful to our genealogy research! Not only did it save me time from browsing websites online, but it provided more information than I requested with the date it was established, where it was, and which community it served.
I also want to point out in #5 for St. Anne’s Church, ChatGPT says “this church was established in 1910, after the death of your ancestor” in response to my query about churches existing in 1909. No where in my question did I say this was for genealogy research, or that my ancestor died in 1909, I just gave it a date. The AI simply remembered we had been discussing genealogy! And it also assummed that since I was looking for records in 1909, a church established in 1910 would be worth mentioning with that caveat - which is helpful, but could also lead to mistakes in my research. Nobody died in 1909!
Obviously, be careful when using this program and find the records or primary sources for any information gained.
Question 4
Me: What ethnicity is the surname Duncan?
ChatGPT: The surname Duncan is of Scottish origin, and it is derived from the Gaelic personal name “Donnchadh”, which means “brown warrior” or “dark-haired warrior”. The name was borne by a 8th century king of Scotland and since then, it became a popular surname along Scottish families. It was adopted as a first name among the Normans after the Norman conquest of England, and it is now common in Scotland and also in England, Ireland, and in other places were people of Scottish descent have settled. The Duncans were primarily concentrated in the Lowlands of Scotland, but they also have a strong presence in the Northern and Western regions of Scotland.
This one was cool. I could see myself using that kind of question to get some basic starting points on my research, or to help if I have a brick wall or basic knowledge of an ancestor. As the Duncan family I’m currently researching lived in Nova Scotia, I’ll look more into Scottish communities in that area as well as look for waves of Scottish, English, and Irish settlers.
Question 5
Me: How do I find marriage records in New Hampshire before 1850?
ChatGPT: Finding marriage records in New Hampshire before 1850 can be challenging, as record keeping was not as standardized as it is today. Here are some suggestions for finding marriage records from that time period in New Hampshire:
1. Check the New Hampshire State Archives: The New Hampshire State Archives holds many historical records for the state, including marriage records. You can search their collection online or visit the archives in person to view original records.
2. Check county records: Many county records from before 1850 have been preserved and may be held at the county clerk office or historical society.
3. Search church records: Many churches in New Hampshire have records that date back to the 1700s or earlier. These records can include baptism, marriage, and burial records. Contact the church or the diocese to inquire about the availability of records.
4. Search online databases such as FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com, which have a large collection of historical records, including marriage records for New Hampshire.
5. Check local newspapers from the time period, as marriage announcements were often printed in them.
6. Reach out to historical or genealogical societies in New Hampshire to inquire about marriage records, they may have records not found elsewhere or have additional information.
It’s important to keep in mind that many records from this time period may be incomplete or have been lost over time. The process can be challenging.
This is a great research strategy, and a good refresher if you’re stuck. If you are faced with a brick wall ancestor it might be worth asking ChatGPT to see if it comes up with any research avenues you may have overlooked.
I asked many other questions, but the results were pretty similar.
To summarize, this particular AI model, ChatGPT, cannot research genealogy databases or pull individual records, but it can definitely help you come up with a research strategy and give you more context for your research.
Finally, how would you cite ChatGPT as your source? When I asked, ChatGPT offered this:
ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I am not a published source in the traditional sense, so there is no proper way to cite me. However, if you need to reference information that I’ve provided in a research paper or other written work, you could include the information as a personal communication in your works cited page.
Here’s an example of how you could cite me:
“Information provided by OpenAI’s Assistant.” Personal communication. Date.
Personally I would also include the website link, which I’ll share below.
If you would like to try ChatGPT, sign up for a free account here: https://chat.openai.com/
Feel free to come back and share your results, I’d love to know your thoughts and experience!