Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about Diana’s new method for tracking research on her ancestors. She shares her Airtable base that has her ancestors, ahnentafel numbers, research status, and reports she has created. Join us as we discuss tracking research projects that you’ve done in an Airtable base. Transcript pNicole (1s): This is research Like a Pro episode 223 tracking projects in air table. Welcome to Research Like a Pro a Genealogy...
Do you have several research logs, reports, and other research tools for your ancestors that represent months or years of research? Do you ever forget that you’ve created a tool such as a timeline only to recreate it? I set up an Airtable base to track my research projects, and today am sharing my thought process. You can do something similar for your research. I’ve published my base under the title Track Your Ancestral Research...
Airtable is a hybrid spreadsheet and database. Most database tools are beyond the technological level of typical users, so most people don’t use database tools. Yet, databases are highly useful. Luckily for us, Airtable is a database tool that doesn’t require that you know how to code. If you are familiar with spreadsheets, you’ll pick it up right away. Each database is called “base.” Think of it as a spreadsheet with multiple sheets/tabs. Each sheet...
In Episode 350 of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy podcast, Diana and Nicole discuss Florence Matilda (Creer) Kelsey’s first job. Diana begins by asking Nicole what she has been working on or reading. Diana recaps RootsTech, mentioning classes on AI, locality research, and transcriptions, as well as meeting listeners. Diana then introduces the subject of the episode by asking listeners if they remember their first job outside the home. She notes that ancestors also...
In this episode of Research Like a Pro, Nicole and Diana discuss several new genealogy tools and features. They cover the AncestryDNA “Matches by Cluster” feature, which is a visualization tool for Pro Tools users to identify related DNA matches. They also discuss the improved AncestryDNA feature that allows users to attach DNA matches’ lines to their family trees. Nicole explains the updates to the FamilySearch catalog, focusing on the site architecture and place standardization....
This comprehensive “Research Like a Pro with AI” workbook by Nicole Elder Dyer and Diana Elder, AG teaches intermediate to advanced genealogists how to integrate artificial intelligence tools into their research workflow without sacrificing quality. You’ll learn to use ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and other AI tools effectively throughout the Research Like a Pro process—from formulating objectives to writing reports. The workbook includes practical guidance for crafting effective prompts, validating AI-generated content, transcribing documents, creating citations, developing locality guides, and more. Through hands-on exercises, RLP project assignments for each chapter, and examples from Diana’s Isabella Weatherford Royston project, you’ll develop skills to enhance your productivity while maintaining your role as the expert decision-maker. Digital purchase includes a printable PDF of the interior and covers, as well as a digital Word file for typing. Within the book are links to downloadable templates and access to additional resources online.
In this episode of Research Like a Pro, Nicole and Diana discuss their ancestor, William Henry Kelsey, and the spiritual manifestations he recorded in his diary. They explore William’s early life in England, his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his missionary service. The discussion includes details about William’s family, his various residences, and his marriage to Harriet Huggett. Nicole shares specific entries from William’s diary, including accounts of spiritual...
In episode 347 of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy podcast, Diana and Nicole discuss researching material culture through family heirlooms, specifically a book. They use a historical research process similar to the genealogical research process to examine the poem BitterSweet by J.G. Holland, which Diana inherited from her great aunt Effie. Diana inherited the book and, using Gena Philbert Ortega’s methods from her institute course on Material Culture, researches its origins and significance. The...
Research Like a Pro with AI Updates Since Publication March 20: Claude can now search the web – for paid users in the U.S. More countries and free users will receive the feature soon. March 18: Gemini now has Canvas, a side-by-side interface allowing collaboration between users and Gemini; available to free and paid users. Also, Gemini has Audio Overview (originally only at NotebookLM). March 13: Gemini now allows free users to try Deep Research...
Diana and Nicole explore the mystery of Diana’s great-grandfather’s nickname, Dock Harris. They discuss how his name was recorded as D.H., Dock H., or Dock in records, which was puzzling because it seemed like a nickname. They explain how this caused confusion for Diana’s father, Bob, when he began researching the family history. Bob knew his grandfather as Grandpa Harris and had no other information to go on. The family bible even listed his name...
