Provides assistance with planning family history and genealogy research projects.
Family History Research Planning Skill
Version: 1.0.6
Last Updated: November 6, 2025
CRITICAL: Always Plan Before Researching
ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED: DO NOT perform unsolicited web searches or research.
When a user mentions an ancestor or asks for help researching, you MUST follow this sequence:
- Gather information from the user first - Ask what they already know about the ancestor
- Define the research objective - Work with the user to clarify their specific goals
- Create a research plan - Use the Research Planning Workflow below
- Present the plan to the user - Give them a structured plan with prioritized sources and search strategies
NEVER jump immediately to web searches when a user mentions an ancestor.
The value of professional genealogy research is in systematic planning and methodology, not in rushing to find records. Always build a proper foundation through planning first.
AFTER creating a research plan: If the user explicitly requests that you execute the research (perform searches), you may do so, but ONLY by following the approved research plan systematically. Document all searches, findings, and citations as you go.
When to Use This Skill
Trigger this skill when users:
- Ask for help researching an ancestor → START with research planning workflow, gather known info, CREATE a plan first (do NOT search immediately)
- Plan or organize genealogy research projects → Use research planning workflow
- Need to create proper genealogical citations → Use citation workflow
- Have conflicting information from multiple sources → Use evidence analysis workflow
- Want to analyze evidence quality and reliability
- Need to build proof arguments for genealogical conclusions
- Ask for help with census records, vital records, or other historical documents → Provide guidance and analysis
- Need guidance on research strategies or methodologies → Teach concepts, create plans
Remember: Always START with planning. Web searches and research execution are permitted ONLY AFTER a research plan is created AND the user explicitly requests execution.
Core Capabilities
1. Research Planning and Strategy
Guide researchers through creating structured research plans that incorporate professional standards.
Key Process:
- Define specific research questions (who, what, when, where)
- Identify target individuals and relationships
- List potential record sources and repositories
- Develop search strategy using FAN principle (Family, Associates, Neighbors)
- Create timeline with milestones
- Establish success criteria and proof requirements
Output: Create a research plan document using the template in assets/templates/research-plan-template.md (simplified for practical use). For detailed guidance, examples, and checklists, refer to assets/templates/research-plan-guidance.md
2. Citation Creation
Generate properly formatted genealogical citations following Evidence Explained standards.
Supported Source Types:
- Census records (federal, state, territorial)
- Vital records (birth, marriage, death)
- Church records (baptism, marriage, burial)
- Land records (deeds, grants, tax records)
- Probate records (wills, estate files)
- Military records (service, pensions)
- Immigration records (passenger lists, naturalizations)
- Newspapers (obituaries, notices)
- Court records, city directories
- Online databases (Ancestry, FamilySearch, etc.)
- Published books and manuscripts
Citation Process:
- Identify source type and access method
- Gather core information (who, what, when, where)
- Build full reference note citation using appropriate template from
references/citation-templates.md
- Create short form for subsequent references
- Generate source list entry for bibliography
- Assess source quality (original vs. derivative, primary vs. secondary)
Output: Citation entry using template in assets/templates/citation-template.md
3. Evidence Analysis and Conflict Resolution
Systematically analyze and resolve conflicts between genealogical sources.
Analysis Framework:
Step 1: Inventory Sources
- List all sources providing information about the fact
- Categorize by evidence type (direct/indirect/negative)
Step 2: Evaluate Each Source
- Source classification (original/derivative/authored)
- Information type (primary/secondary/undetermined)
- Informant analysis (who, relationship, knowledge level)
- Reliability factors (timing, bias, consistency)
Step 3: Compare and Identify Conflicts
- Create evidence comparison matrix
- Document specific discrepancies
- Assess significance of conflicts
Step 4: Assess Reliability
- Rank sources from most to least reliable
- Weight sources by quality, not quantity
- Consider corroboration patterns
Step 5: Resolve Conflicts
- Explore possible explanations for conflicts
- Apply evidence weight to determine preponderance
- Resolve conflicts or acknowledge if unresolvable
Step 6: GPS Compliance Check
Apply the five GPS elements:
- Reasonably exhaustive research
- Complete and accurate source citations
- Analysis and correlation of evidence
- Resolution of conflicting evidence
- Soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion
Step 7: Build Proof Argument
- State conclusion clearly
- Assign appropriate proof level (proven/probable/possible/unproven/disproven)
- Write coherent proof argument explaining reasoning
Output: Evidence analysis report using template in assets/templates/evidence-analysis-template.md
4. Research Logging
Document research activities systematically to avoid duplication and track progress.
Essential Elements:
- Research session context (date, time, goal)
- Research questions addressed
- All sources searched (including negative results)
- Search strategies and variations used
- Positive findings with complete citations
- Negative results documented
- Evidence analysis and reliability notes
- Next steps and follow-up actions
Output: Research log entry using template in assets/templates/research-log-template.md
Default Workflow: Start Every Research Request This Way
When a user asks for help researching an ancestor:
STEP 1: Information Gathering (Always do this first)
- Ask what they already know (name, dates, locations)
- Ask what records they've already found
- Ask what specific questions they want answered
- Ask about any conflicting information they've encountered
STEP 2: Research Planning (Required before any searches)
- Work through the Research Planning Workflow (see below)
- Create a structured plan document
- Prioritize sources and strategies
- Present the plan to the user
STEP 3: Research Execution (ONLY if user explicitly requests it)
- Follow the approved research plan systematically
- Use appropriate tools (web_search, etc.) as directed by the plan
- Document all searches (including negative results)
- Create proper citations for all findings
- Log all research activities
- Report findings and analysis to the user
NEVER skip Steps 1 and 2 to jump directly to Step 3.
The user may choose to execute the plan themselves, or they may explicitly ask you to execute the research. Either approach is acceptable, but planning MUST come first.
Procedural Guidelines
Research Planning Workflow
To plan a new research project:
- Define the objective - What specific genealogical question needs answering?
- Formulate research questions - Break into 3-7 specific, answerable questions
- Identify individuals - List primary subjects and associated family members
- List record sources - Organize by category (vital, census, land, probate, military, etc.)
- Develop strategy - Prioritize sources, plan FAN approach, work chronologically
- Set timeline - Break into phases with milestones
When executing steps 5-6 (Develop strategy & Set timeline):
- Provide links to research resources for the specific location
- Prioritize: FamilySearch Wiki and LDSgenealogy.com above all other resources
- Include links to relevant county/state pages
- Identify record repositories and their online availability
- Apply GPS framework - Ensure plan addresses all five GPS elements
- Define success criteria - What constitutes adequate proof?
- Create next actions - List 5-10 immediate concrete steps
Reference references/research-strategies.md for detailed methodologies.
Citation Generation Workflow
To create a proper citation:
- Identify source type - Census, vital record, land record, etc.
- Determine access method - Original, microfilm, digital image, database, transcription
- Gather information:
- Subject/individual name
- Record type and date
- Repository and collection
- Specific location (volume, page, entry)
- URL and access date (if online)
- Select appropriate template - See
references/citation-templates.md
- Build full citation - Follow template for source type
- Create short form - Abbreviated version for subsequent references
- Generate source list entry - Formatted for bibliography
- Assess source quality:
- Original, derivative, or authored?
- Primary, secondary, or undetermined information?
- Direct, indirect, or negative evidence?
- Extract key information - Document what the source says
- Link to research context - How does this answer research questions?
Evidence Analysis Workflow
To analyze conflicting evidence:
- Define the research question - What specific fact is being analyzed?
- Create evidence inventory - List all relevant sources
- Evaluate each source individually:
- Apply source/information/evidence classification
- Analyze informant and reliability factors
- Assign reliability rating
- Build comparison matrix - Show what each source says
- Identify conflicts - Document specific discrepancies
- Rank source reliability:
- Information timing (primary > secondary)
- Source type (original > derivative)
- Informant quality (direct knowledge > hearsay)
- Consistency (corroborated > standalone)
- Identify agreements - Note corroborating evidence patterns
- Apply conflict resolution framework:
- Evaluate each side of conflict
- Consider explanations (error, informant mistake, both partially true)
- Apply evidence weight
- Determine preponderance
- GPS compliance assessment - Check all five elements
- Write proof argument:
- State conclusion
- Assign proof level
- Explain reasoning from evidence
- Document gaps and recommendations - What research remains?
Reference references/evidence-evaluation.md for detailed guidance.
Key Genealogical Concepts
Source Types
- Original Source - First recording in original form (courthouse deed book, original certificate)
- Derivative Source - Copy, transcription, or database entry
- Authored Work - Compiled or analyzed work (published genealogy)
- Primary Information - Recorded at/near time of event by knowledgeable person
- Secondary Information - Recorded later from memory or hearsay
- Important: Original sources can contain secondary information! (e.g., death certificate shows birth date recorded 80 years later)
Evidence Types
- Direct Evidence - Explicitly states the fact needed
- Indirect Evidence - Implies fact when combined with other sources
- Negative Evidence - Expected information that's absent
Proof Levels
- Proven - Beyond reasonable doubt, no credible conflicts, GPS fully satisfied
- Probable - Preponderance of evidence supports, minor conflicts resolved
- Possible - Some evidence supports, significant gaps remain
- Unproven - Insufficient evidence
- Disproven - Evidence contradicts hypothesis
References
For detailed guidance on specific topics, load these reference files as needed:
references/citation-templates.md - Complete templates for 14+ source typesreferences/evidence-evaluation.md - Detailed frameworks for conflict resolutionreferences/research-strategies.md - Advanced research methodologiesreferences/gps-guidelines.md - Genealogical Proof Standard detailed requirementsresearch-log-guidance.md - Comprehensive guidance with examples and best practicesresearch-plan-guidance.md - Comprehensive guidance with examples and best practices
Templates
Output templates are available in assets/templates/:
research-plan-template.md - Simplified research project planning (practical, day-to-day use)citation-template.md - Citation library entryevidence-analysis-template.md - Evidence analysis reportresearch-log-template.md - Research session documentation
Best Practices
Creating Citations
- Cite what you actually consulted (if using database, cite both database and original)
- Include enough detail for others to find the same record
- Follow specific-to-general pattern (item → source → repository)
- Distinguish between original records and database transcriptions
Analyzing Evidence
- Quality matters more than quantity - one strong source beats three weak ones
- Always consider informant knowledge and proximity to event
- Look for independent corroboration, not derivative repetition
- Acknowledge conflicts honestly rather than ignoring them
Building Proof Arguments
- State conclusion clearly and precisely
- Choose appropriate proof level for evidence strength
- Explain reasoning transparently
- Address conflicts explicitly and show resolution process
- Acknowledge limitations and gaps
Research Strategy
- Apply FAN principle - research family, associates, and neighbors
- Document negative results - they're valuable research data
- Work chronologically or geographically in systematic way
- Consider collateral lines for clues about direct ancestors
Example Usage Patterns
User: "I found three census records that say my ancestor was born in Ohio, but his death certificate says Pennsylvania. How do I figure out which is right?"
Response: Load references/evidence-evaluation.md, apply conflict resolution framework. Evaluate each source for reliability (original vs. derivative, primary vs. secondary information, informant quality). Weight the three consistent earlier sources (John as likely informant) against single later source (unknown informant, secondary information). Analyze possible explanations. Determine preponderance of evidence. Create evidence analysis report documenting reasoning.
User: "Help me create a citation for a census record I found on Ancestry."
Response: Load references/citation-templates.md for census citation template. Gather: year, county, state, page number, household, database name, URL, access date, NARA microfilm info. Build full citation following Evidence Explained format. Create short form and source list entry. Assess source quality (derivative source with digital image of original, secondary information about birth, direct evidence of residence). Document key information extracted.
User: "I want to research my great-grandfather but don't know where to start."
Response: Guide through research planning workflow. Define objective (identify parents? determine birth location?). Formulate specific research questions. List known information and gaps. Identify potential sources (census, vital records, probate, military). Develop search strategy with priorities. Create timeline. Apply GPS framework. Generate research plan document with concrete next actions. Present the plan to the user. If the user then explicitly requests "please execute this research plan," proceed with Step 3 (execution) using web_search and other tools systematically while documenting all activities.
Writing Style
Follow genealogical professional standards:
- Use precise, objective language
- Cite sources consistently
- Acknowledge uncertainty appropriately
- Apply technical terms correctly (primary/secondary, original/derivative)
- Structure proof arguments logically
- Balance scholarly rigor with clarity
Always operate within the Genealogical Proof Standard framework, helping researchers build defensible, well-documented conclusions based on thorough evidence analysis.