Family Locket

Tips for Using the New FamilySearch Simple Search Tool

FamilySearch introduced a new tool at RootsTech 2026 called “Simple Search.” The webpage entices us with the statement: “Search billions of full-text images using everyday phrases-no search form required.” Find Simple Search from the home page of FamilySearch under FamilySearch Labs > View Experiments. If you’ve never visited the FamilySearch Labs page, you’ll see several experiments that are in testing phases. The screenshot below shows three of the eight experiments currently in the labs. When […]

By Diana Elder April 18, 2026 Research Tips

RLP 405: Interview with Mark and Steve of the Family History AI Show

Nicole and Diana open the episode by discussing Claude in Chrome for Pedigree Triangulation before introducing their interview with Mark and Steve about AI, who host the Family History AI Show. Mark Thompson also runs the Making Family History blog, and Steve Little writes on his Substack, Vibe Genealogy AI. Steve is the AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society. They both teach widely about AI topics and family history, including their own courses. […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer April 13, 2026 Podcast

Meet Leo: The Handwritten Text Recognition Platform Built for Researchers

I recently had the opportunity to discuss Leo, a groundbreaking handwritten text recognition (HTR) platform with its creator, Jon Cooper. Jon gave me a hands-on demonstration, using a variety of documents that I selected specifically to see how Leo handled some common challenges genealogists face in their research. Go to the end to see the video! This blog post was written with the assistance of AI based on the transcript of the video. The Origins […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer April 6, 2026 Artificial Intelligence, Research Tips

RLP 404: RootsTech 2026 Class Takeaways

This episode features listener takeaways from the recent RootsTech 2026 conference. Diana discusses the overall positive impressions of the event, noting the high quality of the presentations and the unanimous message about disclosing the use of AI and double-checking its work. Nicole and Diana review several classes on AI, including transforming family history into song, understanding AI’s role in archival stewardship, and mastering the basics of AI for genealogy. They share lessons on using AI […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer April 6, 2026 Podcast

A Visual Tagging System for DNA Matches

We’re excited to share this guest blog post by Jon Smith – a member of our Research Like a Pro Study Group. Overview A genealogist who applies a visual and numbering tagging system to DNA matches gains a powerful tool for organizing and interpreting genetic data across multiple testing platforms. This system uses color coding and numerical labels to map each DNA match to a specific ancestral line, enabling faster analysis and more reliable conclusions. […]

By Jon Smith April 2, 2026 DNA, DNA Tools, Research Tips

RLP 403: Transforming Court Records Research with AI – Analyzing

Diana and Nicole discuss the analysis phase of their AI-assisted research into the 18th-century court orders between Samuel Daniel and the Roystons in Colonial Virginia. They explain how AI helps them understand complex legal terms like “imparlance,” “covenant,” “trespass upon the case,” and “replevin bond” within the context of the court cases. Going through a case-by-case analysis, they trace the legal strategy that began after apprentice John Royston ran away from Samuel Daniel in 1770. […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer March 30, 2026 Podcast

RLP 402: Transforming Court Records Research with AI: Finding and Logging

In this episode, Transforming Court Records Research with AI: Finding and Logging, Diana and Nicole discuss how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the challenging process of working with historical court records. Diana introduces the topic by explaining that while court records are treasure troves of genealogical information, they are often unindexed and difficult to read, featuring archaic legal terminology. She presents a case study of her research to identify Samuel Daniel of Middlesex County, Virginia. She […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer March 23, 2026 Podcast

Branching Out: Using Your Genealogy Software to Manage Your Research

Diana and Nicole have been trailblazers in the use of Airtable to document the Research Like a Pro process. But did you know that your desktop genealogy software could also be a powerful tool for organizing and capturing the RLP steps as well? In this post, I’ll share how I’ve adapted the features of RootsMagic to support and advance my research. Note: I’m currently using the most recent version (RM11) but previous versions may also […]

By Michelle Dickens March 22, 2026 Organizing, Research Like a Pro, Research Tips

RLP 401: Airtable Research Log Updates for 2026

In this episode of Research Like a Pro, Diana and Nicole discuss the all-new Version 4.2 (2026) of the Research Like a Pro with DNA Airtable Research Log. The updates are designed to streamline the genetic genealogy workflow, making DNA research more flexible and reducing duplicate data entry. Diana details the biggest change: the “Test-taker” and “DNA Match” fields in the DNA Match Details table are renamed to “Person 1 (P1)” and “Person 2 (P2).” […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer March 16, 2026 Podcast

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