How do I find my FamilySearch Access Token?

Log in to the [**FamilySearch Developer portal**](https://www.familysearch.org/developers/), and you can generate a Personal Access Token or use the OAuth flow to obtain one. Copy and paste it below.

Can the agent show my family tree?

Yes. Use the `get_person_pedigree` tool providing a starting person ID. Your agent will return the ancestry chart metadata instantly.

Are photos and stories included?

Yes. The `get_person_memories` tool retrieves any photos, stories, and documents (memories) associated with a specified person in the tree.

FamilySearch API MCP Server for Cursor 6 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: FamilySearch API
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

Built by Vinkius GDPR 6 Tools IDE

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "familysearch-api": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About FamilySearch API MCP Server

Empower your AI agent to orchestrate your entire genealogical research and ancestry auditing workflow with the FamilySearch API, the world's largest platform for family history. By connecting FamilySearch to your agent, you transform complex ancestor searches into a natural conversation. Your agent can instantly retrieve person details, audit pedigree charts, and query historical record collections without you ever touching a genealogy portal. Whether you are building your family tree or conducting deep-dive historical audits, your agent acts as a real-time genealogical consultant, ensuring your data is always verified and precise.

Cursor's Agent mode turns FamilySearch API into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from FamilySearch API and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 6 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

What you can do

Person Auditing — Search for millions of persons in the FamilySearch global tree and retrieve detailed metadata, including lifespans and birth/death places.
Pedigree Oversight — Audit the ancestry charts for specific individuals to maintain a clear view of lineage distribution and scale.
Memories Discovery — Retrieve photos, stories, and documents associated with specific persons to identify relevant assets instantly.
Record Intelligence — List available historical record collections to understand the organizational reach of global archives.
Metadata Intelligence — Retrieve unique identifiers and display names for any genealogical record to assist in deep-dive classification.

The FamilySearch API MCP Server exposes 6 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect FamilySearch API to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the FamilySearch API MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using FamilySearch API

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using FamilySearch API, help me...". 6 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the FamilySearch API MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with FamilySearch API through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

FamilySearch API + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the FamilySearch API MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

FamilySearch API MCP Tools for Cursor (6)

These 6 tools become available when you connect FamilySearch API to Cursor via MCP:

check_api_status

Check if the FamilySearch API is operational

get_person_details

Get full details for a specific person in the family tree by ID

get_person_memories

Get memories (photos, stories) associated with a person

get_person_pedigree

Get the ancestry (pedigree) for a specific person

list_historical_collections

List historical record collections available on FamilySearch

search_persons

Search for persons in the FamilySearch Family Tree

Example Prompts for FamilySearch API in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with FamilySearch API immediately.

"Search for 'George Washington' in FamilySearch."

"Show the pedigree for person ID 'KWCX-S58'."

"List available memories for person ID 'LZDP-H7Z'."

Troubleshooting FamilySearch API MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting FamilySearch API to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

FamilySearch API + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating FamilySearch API MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design. tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.