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 40: Cemetery

Introduction

Even experienced genealogists get it wrong sometimes. Here’s a quick story and a simple tip for cemetery lookups.

Discussion

Some years ago, I wanted to request a photo on Find A Grave of my husband’s great grandparents’ grave.

I was quite pleased to have located death records for them with the cemetery identified, and created memorials so I could ask for photos. I created a Joseph Frank memorial and one for his wife Jennie Felder or Feldeloss in 2011. They were buried in the same cemetery in different sections.

Joseph’s photo was added the following year, but Jennie’s just languished. I couldn’t figure out why, but went on with other things.

Perhaps you’ve already spotted my error. In 2020, a kind genealogist located Jennie Frank, and uploaded the photo. Oops. As a genealogist, I only thought of her under her maiden name, but she was buried under her married name. That must have been one dogged photographer, and I am so grateful to that volunteer.

How AI can help

My mistake with Jennie sat for years because I didn’t circle back to unfinished requests. Today, AI tools can nudge us when something looks unfinished. For example:

• Name Variations: AI can spot common errors like using a maiden name instead of a married name. Upload your records, and an AI assistant can suggest alternative searches you might have overlooked.
• Research Reminders: Instead of forgetting a stalled request, you could ask AI to keep a “research to-do” list. It can summarize what’s pending, flag what hasn’t been wrapped up, and even generate reminders to check back on memorial sites or archives. (Side note: AI even reminds me weekly to report on my foster cats!)

The goal isn’t to let AI “do the genealogy” for us, but to use it as a second set of eyes: a patient research buddy who notices what we miss when our attention drifts elsewhere.

Challenge for Readers

Try one (or both) of these experiments with free AI tools:

1. Name Variations Test: Take a record from your own research where you’ve been stuck. Ask an AI tool (like ChatGPT or Claude) this:
   “Suggest possible alternative names or spellings for [insert ancestor’s name], including nicknames, misspellings, or married names, that might appear in records.”
   See if it sparks a new search idea.
2. Research To-Do List: Paste in a short list of your current “incomplete tasks” (like pending Find A Grave photo requests, document orders, or unanswered emails). Ask:
   “Turn this list into a simple research reminder I can check weekly.”
   Bonus: Have it format the list as a timeline or checklist to keep things moving.

Next Week’s Topic: “Water”

AI Disclosure

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