How can ChatGPT can be used in family history research?

 I learned about ChatGPT a few weeks ago but between a family vacation and catching up on work I have not had a lot of time to learn about this potential resource. 

ChatGPT is a language model AI. It is designed to understand natural language and generate responses that are within context. ChatGPT is trained on a massive amount of data from the internet and can generate human-like responses to a variety of prompts. ChatGPT has been shown to be capable of answering complex questions, completing sentences and paragraphs, and even writing articles and stories. It has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with computers and AI systems.

I decided to ask ChatGPT, "In your opinion what are the best ways for me to use ChatGPT in Family History?" This is the result.

As an AI language model, ChatGPT can be used in various ways in family history research. Here are some of the best ways to utilize ChatGPT:

1. Ask ChatGPT specific questions related to genealogy and family history. ChatGPT can help you find information about a specific ancestor, give you tips on how to research, and provide guidance on how to navigate genealogy websites.
2. Use ChatGPT to transcribe and translate historical documents. ChatGPT can help you transcribe and translate old handwriting, which can be a helpful tool in deciphering old records.
3. Have ChatGPT assist in writing family history stories. ChatGPT can provide creative writing prompts and even help you with the writing process to craft engaging and informative family histories.
4. Use ChatGPT to help break through research roadblocks. ChatGPT can suggest alternative research strategies or sources to help you overcome research roadblocks that you may encounter.
5. Utilize ChatGPT to analyze DNA results. ChatGPT can help explain DNA results, provide interpretations, and suggest next steps in your genetic genealogy research.
6. Have ChatGPT help with language translation. ChatGPT can assist in translating foreign language documents or interpreting information in foreign languages.
7. Use ChatGPT to help with organizing and digitizing family history materials. ChatGPT can provide guidance on how to organize and digitize family photos, documents, and other materials, making them more accessible for future generations.
8. Use ChatGPT to help plan family history research trips. ChatGPT can suggest repositories to visit, provide travel tips, and even help you plan out your itinerary.
9. Have ChatGPT provide recommendations for genealogy education resources. ChatGPT can suggest online courses, books, and other educational resources to help you learn more about genealogy and family history.
10. Use ChatGPT to help with collaborative research efforts. ChatGPT can assist in organizing and facilitating collaborative research efforts with other family members or researchers.

Overall, ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in genealogy and family history research, helping to overcome research roadblocks, providing guidance, and suggesting new avenues of exploration.

I liked the answers ChatGPT gave but somewhat doubted its ability to help in each of the ways. I realize one of the limitations of ChatGPT is the user who asks the question. I asked about the third recommendation from the list above. I asked, "Please provide creative writing prompts and help me with the writing process to craft engaging and informative family histories." This was the result.

Certainly! Here are some creative writing prompts and tips to help you craft engaging and informative family histories:

1. Write a letter from the perspective of one of your ancestors. What might they want to tell their descendants about their life and experiences?
2. Create a timeline of your family's history, including major events and milestones. Use this as a basis for writing short stories or vignettes that bring those events to life.
3. Write a "day in the life" story from the perspective of one of your ancestors. What was a typical day like for them? What challenges did they face?
4. Imagine that you're interviewing one of your ancestors for a news article or a family history book. What questions would you ask? What would be the most interesting or surprising things they might have to say?
5. Write a family recipe book, including stories about the origins of each recipe and memories associated with the dishes.

Tips for the writing process:

1. Start by gathering as much information as possible about your family history. This might include photos, documents, and stories passed down through generations.
2. Organize your information in a way that makes sense to you. Consider creating an outline or a timeline to help you keep track of important events and details.
3. Be sure to fact-check your information to ensure accuracy. You can use online resources like census records, genealogy websites, and historical archives to verify details.
4. When writing, try to incorporate sensory details and vivid imagery to bring your ancestors and their experiences to life. Use dialogue and quotes from family members to add authenticity and personality to your stories.
5. Don't be afraid to experiment with different formats and styles of writing. For example, you might write a series of short stories, a letter, or a cookbook. Be creative and have fun with it!

Remember, the most important thing is to tell your family's story in a way that is engaging and meaningful to you and your loved ones.

I think this advice is really good and easy to follow. I then asked about the first recommendation from the best ways to use ChatGPT. "I have a genealogy brick wall that ends with my ancestor James Trotter from St. Helena Parish, Louisiana about 1815.  Please give me tips on how to research him, and provide me guidance on how to navigate genealogy websites in order to find sources I can use to get past this brick wall." Here is the reply.

Researching ancestors from the early 19th century can be challenging, but there are several strategies and resources you can use to try to break through your brick wall. Here are some tips to help you research James Trotter from St. Helena Parish, Louisiana:

1. Start with what you know: Begin your research by gathering as much information as possible about James Trotter and his family. Collect any documents, letters, or photographs you have from family members, and ask relatives for their recollections about James and his life. Look for clues in family stories, naming patterns, and locations where your ancestor lived, worked, or worshiped.
2. Consult census records: Census records can be a rich source of information about individuals and families, including their names, ages, birthplaces, occupations, and relationships to one another. Look for James Trotter in the 1820, 1830, and 1840 U.S. census records for St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Be creative in your spelling and try different variations of his name or possible misspellings.
3. Search for vital records: Birth, marriage, and death records can provide vital clues about James Trotter's life and family. Check vital records for St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, and surrounding areas. Be aware that vital records may not exist for the time period you are researching, and may not include all the information you are seeking.
4. Look for land records: Land records can provide valuable information about where your ancestor lived, worked, and owned property. Check for land patents, deeds, and other land transactions involving James Trotter and his family in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.
5. Check probate records: Wills, estate inventories, and other probate records can provide information about your ancestor's family relationships, property, and possessions. Look for probate records for James Trotter and his family in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.
6. Consult local histories: Local histories and genealogies may provide valuable background information about James Trotter and his family, as well as clues to other potential sources for research. Check for published works about St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, and other relevant areas.
7. Join genealogy societies: Genealogy societies can provide resources and support for your research, as well as opportunities to connect with other researchers who may have information or leads that can help you break through your brick wall.
8. Use online resources: Genealogy websites such as Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and MyHeritage.com can provide access to a wide range of records and resources, including census records, vital records, land records, and more. Be aware that some of these websites may require a subscription or payment to access certain records or features.
9. Utilize DNA testing: DNA testing can provide clues to your ancestry and potential connections to other individuals or family lines. Consider taking a DNA test and uploading your results to websites such as AncestryDNA or MyHeritageDNA, which may provide matches and other leads to help you break through your brick wall.

Navigating genealogy websites can be overwhelming, but there are a few tips that can help:

1. Start with a plan: Before diving into a genealogy website, identify what you are looking for and what sources or records you need to search. Develop a research plan and focus on one ancestor or family line at a time.
2. Use advanced search features: Most genealogy websites have advanced search features that allow you to narrow down your search results by location, date, record type, and other criteria. Use these features to refine your search and make your results more relevant.
3. Read the website's help and FAQ sections: Many genealogy websites have detailed help sections that can provide guidance on how to navigate the site, search
4. Look for community sources: Another way to locate information about your ancestor is to look for sources that are connected to the community they lived in. Local histories, newspapers, church records, and local government records can all be excellent sources of information about your ancestor and their family. Check out websites such as Chronicling America or local genealogy societies for access to these types of records.
5. Check other genealogy websites: Don't limit yourself to just one genealogy website. Check out different websites and databases that may hold information on your ancestor. Some popular genealogy websites include Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, FindMyPast, and RootsWeb.
6. Utilize DNA testing: DNA testing can also help you break down brick walls in your research. By testing with multiple companies, you can potentially find DNA matches that have information about your ancestor and their family. Additionally, DNA testing can help you confirm or refute potential family connections and narrow down potential areas of research.
7. Seek out expert help: If you have exhausted all your options and still can't find information about your ancestor, consider seeking out expert help. Professional genealogists or genetic genealogists may be able to provide new insights into your research and help you find the missing pieces to your family history puzzle.

By following these tips and utilizing genealogy websites and resources, you can increase your chances of breaking down your genealogy brick walls and learning more about your ancestor James Trotter from St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.

I think these are also great tips for researching but I was hoping for more specific information about my third Great-Grandfather. There is little information about James Trotter so I asked about his son, my second Great-grandfather, Samuel Thomas Trotter. "Please write a life history for the Samuel Thomas Trotter who was born 15 February 1860 in Greensburg, St. Helena, Louisiana, United States. Please include a timeline of his life events. Please also include citations for the information presented." (Information for my ancestor can e found on FamilySearch here: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/KWCX-HZ6). Here is the response. 

Samuel Thomas Trotter was born on February 15, 1860, in Greensburg, St. Helena, Louisiana, to parents James Trotter and Mary Jane Bates. He was the fourth of seven children born to the couple.

In 1870, Samuel was living with his parents and siblings in Greensburg, St. Helena, Louisiana, according to the US Census. His father, James, worked as a farmer, while Samuel was listed as attending school.

By the 1880 US Census, Samuel had moved out of his parents' household and was living in Amite, Tangipahoa, Louisiana, working as a farmer. In 1883, at the age of 23, he married Sallie W. Galloway in Tangipahoa, Louisiana.

Samuel and Sallie had at least nine children: Thomas, Clarence, Viola, Mary, Fannie, Bessie, Ophelia, Samuel, and John. By the 1900 US Census, the family had moved to Chesbrough, Jackson, Louisiana, where Samuel worked as a farmer.

In 1910, Samuel and his family were still living in Chesbrough, Jackson, Louisiana, and he was still working as a farmer. By 1920, the family had moved to Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Samuel was listed as a laborer in a lumber yard.

Samuel Thomas Trotter died on October 3, 1936, in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 76.

Sources:

1. "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M87P-Y6B : 26 July 2019), Samuel Trotter in household of James Trotter, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 10, family 78, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,030.
2. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDXV-2FH : 20 August 2017), Saml. Trotter, Amite, Tangipahoa, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 37, sheet 172D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0475; FHL microfilm 1,254,475.
3. "Louisiana, Marriages, 1816-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4W2-6T2 : 4 December 2014), Samuel T. Trotter and Sallie W. Galloway, 02 Dec 1883; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 1,291,605.
4. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSPC-2Q2 : accessed 27 April 2021), Samuel Trotter, Police Jury Ward 3, Jackson, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 49, sheet 8B, family 158, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,569.

In the above information only the first sentence was correct. The rest of the information, highlighted in red,  was not correct or about my Samuel Thomas Trotter, his spouse or children. None of the sources are for my ancestor or relatives and the links in the citation do not link to the information provided in the citation. In this specific case ChatGPT is not a great source for writing information but only suggestion strategies.