• MEDIA
  • NARRATIVE
  • RESEARCH
  • HUMAN

How to retrieve ancestor memories with your AI

Connect your tree to your agent to pull specific media and stories. It turns a list of names into a collection of memories.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I get photos and stories of my ancestors using AI?

Your agent searches your FamilySearch tree for specific individuals and then pulls the photos and stories attached to them. You'll get a curated collection of media for the people you ask about.

The results

Where your data lands

The AI organizes what it finds into these specific outcomes.

MEDIA

Visual history

The agent finds photos linked to a person. You get a direct view of your ancestors' faces.

NARRATIVE

Written stories

The agent pulls text-based memories and life stories. This builds a written record of their lives.

RESEARCH

Person profiles

The agent identifies the right people in your tree. It ensures the memories match the correct individual.

HUMAN

Manual review

You decide which stories are worth keeping or organizing. The AI provides the raw material for your curation.

The workflow

What your AI does when the request arrives.

The agent moves from identifying a person to gathering their specific media.

  1. Locate the person

    The agent looks through your FamilySearch tree to find the exact individual you mentioned.

    search_persons

  2. Fetch media

    Once the person is found, the agent pulls all attached photos and written stories.

    get_person_memories

  3. Summarize findings

    The agent organizes the names, photos, and stories into a readable format.

    get_person_memories

  4. Present results

    The agent delivers the gathered memories directly to your chat interface.

    get_person_memories

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to begin pulling data from FamilySearch.

Starting points

Swap out the names in these prompts for the actual people in your tree.

FamilySearch API Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_NBvLpXdOI5ehLMBDuWXjBbjUwW8SLFHFZoz8epVV/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — FamilySearch API capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "familysearch-api-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_NBvLpXdOI5ehLMBDuWXjBbjUwW8SLFHFZoz8epVV/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Find the memories and photos for John Smith in my FamilySearch tree.

  • What stories are attached to Mary Jane Watson?

  • Pull all photos for the person named Robert Miller.

  • Search for Elizabeth Bennett and tell me what memories are recorded for her.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect FamilySearch API once, then ask.

Log in once to link your account. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can immediately start asking questions about your tree.

Connect FamilySearch API to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI add new photos to my FamilySearch tree?

    No. The agent can only read and retrieve existing photos and stories.

  • 02

    Can the AI delete memories or people?

    No. The agent has no permission to delete or modify any data in your tree.

  • 03

    Does the AI see my entire tree at once?

    No. The agent only accesses the specific people you ask it to find.

  • 04

    Can I use this to edit person details?

    No. This specific task is for retrieving memories, not editing biographical data.

  • 05

    What happens if the person isn't in my tree?

    The agent will tell you it couldn't find a match for that specific name.

  • More questions about FamilySearch API? The Connector page answers them. See everything the FamilySearch API Connector can do

Connect FamilySearch API to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more