I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 12: Historic event

Introduction

I am lucky enough to remember two of my great-grandparents, my father’s maternal grandparents. My dad used to tell me how his grandfather, Francis William CAREY (1881-1975), lived through times of significant change. Dad wrote:

“When he passed away, I thought he had seen most of the technological progress mankind had ever made: he traveled on a train pulled by a steam engine to his new home, and saw men land on the moon.”

Discussion

When great-grandpa was young, he worked at a carriage house for the wealthy – before motor vehicles were common. He used to say that the rich had two-horse carriages, and the very rich had four-horse carriages. That perspective helped me realize that history isn’t just grand world-changing events—it’s also personal experiences, the moments that shape families.

Each generation witnesses history in its own way. My father shared stories about computers, my son interviewed me about the Challenger explosion, and my children watched the 9/11 attacks unfold on live television.

What will be your story? Don’t let these stories fade away. Share them—write them in a blog, a family newsletter, a book, or even a social media post. Your story matters.

How AI is Helping

AI can be tremendously useful in identifying historical events that may have affected our ancestors. Using historical records and timelines, AI can help pinpoint major local and global events that influenced their lives.

Frances William Carey was born 1881 in Madison, Morris, New Jersey, USA, lived in Manhattan, New York, and died in New City, Rockland, New York, USA in 1975. List historical events that he may have witnessed, heard of, been part of, or that may have otherwise affected his life.

These are just a few examples, but AI can take things further. By analyzing census data, newspapers, and historical maps, AI tools can provide even deeper insights into the lives our ancestors lived.

Summary and Next Steps

History isn’t just found in textbooks—it’s found in family stories, passed down through generations. We can use AI to uncover and document these moments, ensuring they aren’t lost. This week, take time to reflect: What major events have you lived through? How did they shape you? Try using AI to draft a short biography of yourself or an ancestor based on historical records.

Next week, we explore “Home sweet home.”

Disclosure

This post was created by me and refined with AI assistance. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.