2026 Fall Seminar

Genealogy Today: Using AI & DNA in Your Research

September 26, 2026

Modern tools for today’s genealogists.

Our Speaker: Diana Elder AG, AGL

Diana Elder AG, AGL is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region and serves on the advisory board for The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). She is the author of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and co-author of Research Like a Pro with DNA, which have helped thousands of researchers strengthen their genealogical methodology.

With her daughter Nicole, Diana has built a comprehensive educational platform teaching the Research Like a Pro methodology through study groups, an interactive eCourse, and the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast. She shares research strategies on Family Locket (familylocket.com), making professional-level techniques accessible to genealogists worldwide. A sought-after speaker, Diana presents regularly at RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society Conference, and institutes, as well as genealogy societies throughout the United States and internationally.

Session Information

• Streamlining Genealogical Research Plans with AI: A Step-by-Step Guide – This practical session offers a detailed look at integrating AI into your genealogical research planning workflow. We’ll explore AI-powered tools that can assist with each step of the planning process: clarifying research objectives, analyzing and summarizing known facts, generating hypotheses based on existing data, expanding your list of potential sources, and creating an optimized research strategy. Learn how to use AI to save time, reduce oversight, and create more robust research plans while maintaining control over your genealogical process.
  
• Efficient Locality Research with AI – Genealogists often face the hurdle of locality research – gathering historical details, records, and repositories for a specific area. This step, though essential, can be slow and laborious. Here’s where large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini can empower your research. Imagine having an AI assistant that can unearth historical context, relevant archives, and past laws related to your location. LLMs excel at summarizing vast amounts of information and pinpointing key details you might miss. They can even translate resources in foreign languages, broadening your search scope. However, like any tool, success hinges on user expertise. Learn to craft clear prompts and critically evaluate the information LLMs provide.
  
• From Complex to Clear: Transform Court Records with AI Tools – Court records contain rich genealogical evidence but can be overwhelming with their archaic legal language, lengthy documents, and complex terminology. This session demonstrates how AI tools can transform your approach to court record research, making these valuable sources accessible and manageable. Learn how to use AI-powered full-text search to quickly locate relevant information within extensive court files. Discover techniques for translating obsolete legal terms and phrases into modern language. Explore methods for organizing chronological data from multiple court proceedings into clear, analyzable formats using AI assistance.
  
• Solving a Family Mystery with DNA – Learn how combining traditional research with DNA evidence revealed an unknown grandfather in this compelling case study. Follow the project from the beginning steps of creating an objective to writing the conclusions. Discover the importance of a research log and careful tracking of sources. Finally, see how Y-DNA and autosomal DNA used in tandem with the documentary sources solved this family’s mystery.