Posts
I have been talking to computers for about 55 years now and for the first time I am getting helpful answers. The main change is now you can ask the computer how to talk to it for any possible response. Really, if you are working with a Chatbot such as Google's Gemini 3, all you have to do is ask for some suggestions of prompts to use to answer any question or do genealogical research. In fact, Gemini 3 will ask you if you would like a suggested prompt. Here is an example from Gmini 3. The rest of examples will all be from Gemini 3.
Would you like me to write a specific prompt for you to ensure NotebookLM captures specific details, like URLs or publication dates?
Here is the prompt it wrote:
Role: Act as a professional genealogist and forensic investigator.Objective: Extend the family line presently on the FamilySearch.org Family Tree beginning with Ludwig Diepolder KHW6-V87 b. 1882, d. 1915, in Ulmerthal, Kreuzthal, Kempton, Schwaben, Bayern, his wife is Matilde Lohner Ferurer KWJD-363 b. 1883 in Öhningen, Amt Konstanz, Deutschland. She died in Öhningen, Amt Konstanz, Deutschland in 1946.His father is reported as Johann Diener KZ5G-9CH b. 1858 and has no death information and was also born in Ulmerthal, Buchenberg, Oberallgäu, Schwaben, Bavaria, Germany including spouses and any possible children. His mother is Pauline Diepolder KZYZ-TJY b. 1863 inInput Data: I have pasted the vital statistics, timeline, and source lists for these four individuals below. Ulmerthal, Buchenberg, Oberallgäu, Schwaben, Bavaria, Germany1. Source Analysis: Critique the quality of the sources provided. Are they original or derivative? Do they provide direct evidence of birth/parentage, or only indirect evidence?2. Data Consistency: Cross-reference the dates and locations. specificially look for:o Biological impossibility (e.g., mother's age at birth).o Chronological inconsistencies in location (e.g., being in two states at once).3. Relationship Logic: Determine if the sources explicitly prove the link between Garrard/Elizabeth and John, or if the link is merely based on assumptions (like similar surnames in the same county).4. Conclusion: Provide a verdict based on the Genealogical Proof Standard. Classify the relationship as "Proven," "Probable," "Possible," or "Disproven."Role: Act as a professional genealogist and forensic investigator.Objective: Evaluate the genealogical proof for the parent-child relationship between Garrard Morgan (L7GZ-YBB) / Elizabeth Milton (22J1-HM4) and their purported son, Doctor John Morgan (GM8Y-L9D) (husband of Mary Woodson GM8B-MS9).Input Data: I have pasted the vital statistics, timeline, and source lists for these four individuals below.Instructions:5. Source Analysis: Critique the quality of the sources provided. Are they original or derivative? Do they provide direct evidence of birth/parentage, or only indirect evidence?6. Data Consistency: Cross-reference the dates and locations. specificially look for:o Biological impossibility (e.g., mother's age at birth).o Chronological inconsistencies in location (e.g., being in two states at once).7. Relationship Logic: Determine if the sources explicitly prove the link between Garrard/Elizabeth and John, or if the link is merely based on assumptions (like similar surnames in the same county).8. Conclusion: Provide a verdict based on the Genealogical Proof Standard. Classify the relationship as "Proven," "Probable," "Possible," or "Disproven."
That is all one prompt. The response went on for pages.
Obviously, you can ask for some things with very simple prompts, for example:
generate an image of a cow
Here is the results of this simple prompt:
The possibilities are endless such as this:
generate an image of a prize hereford bull in a holding pen at a cattle auction building with bidders in bleachers looking one at an ongoing auction in a ring with a dirt floor. Have all the people wearing traditional us western attire with cowboy hats. Have several additional hold pens with other breeds of cattle. show the auctioneer in the center holding a mic and waving his hand.
This could have gone on indefinitely but here is the results. By the way, capitalization doesn't seem to matter.
Now, what do the cows have to do with genealogy? The idea here is that if you think about what you are asking and add details, you will get a more complete and useful answer. How I really got started with all this was when I wrote a prompt and Google Gemini 3 cam back and told my my prompt was all wrong and asked if I wanted some help drafing prompts. So, you don't need to watch a lot of YouTube videos or buy a book about writing prompts, all you need to do is ask Gemini how to make your prompt better. Ultimately, what I have learned is to just ask.
