A toolkit of AI prompts and utilities for genealogical research, designed to follow the Genealogical Proof Standard. For genealogists at every level — from hobbyists exploring their first census record to credentialed professionals managing client work.
- Research
- Description: GPS-based research methodology
- Start Here: research-assistant-v8.5-compact.md
- GRA Skill
- Description: GPS research assistant for Claude Code (v8.5.3)
- Start Here: SKILL.md
- Transcription
- Description: Diplomatic transcription for handwritten documents
- Start Here: ocr-htr-v08.md
- Image Analysis
- Description: Forensic image interpretation for historical photographs
- Start Here: deep-look-v2.md
- Hebrew Headstones
- Description: Jewish cemetery headstone analysis with gematria dating
- Start Here: hebrew-headstone-helper-v9.md
- Photo Restoration
- Description: Historical photograph restoration
- Start Here: restoration-v2.md
- Writing Tools
- Description: Narrative writing, web briefing, fact extraction, language advising, editing
- Start Here: narrative-assistant-v3.md
- Assistants
- Description: AI personas, GEDCOM creation and analysis
- Start Here: gedcom-builder-v1.md
- GPT Configs
- Description: Custom GPT system prompts for OpenAI deployments
- Start Here: README.md
- Skills
- Description: Claude Code skills with companion files
- Start Here: skills/
- Scripts
- Description: Audio transcription utilities
- Start Here: transcribe-4.py
- Media
- Description: Audio explainers and supporting media
- Start Here: README.md
- Benchmark
- Description: AI research evaluation framework
- Start Here: README.md
Full catalog: INDEX.md | Detailed guide: GETTING-STARTED.md | Guided tour: TOUR-REPORT.md
- Pick a category above
- Copy the recommended prompt into your LLM (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.)
- Provide your input (document scan, photo, research question)
- Follow the output structure
New here? The Getting Started guide walks through setup, first use, and common workflows.
The research/ folder contains prompts designed to follow the Genealogical Proof Standard—the professional methodology for evidence-based genealogical conclusions.
Key features:
- Evidence Analysis Process Map: Classifies sources (Original/Derivative/Authored), information (Primary/Secondary), and evidence (Direct/Indirect/Negative)
- Epistemic transparency: Separates what sources state from inference from uncertainty
- Conflict resolution: Explicit protocols for handling contradictory evidence
Aligned with the methodology described in:
- Mills, Evidence Explained, 4th ed. (2024)
- BCG, Genealogy Standards, 2nd ed. revised (2021)
The benchmark/ folder contains a framework for evaluating how well AI models follow GPS methodology. Includes comparative analysis of Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok.
This toolkit applies widely recognized genealogical research principles. It is not published by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Elizabeth Shown Mills, the Board for Certification of Genealogists, or any certifying body. References to published standards indicate methodological alignment, not authorization or derivation.
Steve Little (@DigitalArchivst)