Familysearch

What This Skill Does

The FamilySearch skill by keylimesoda acts as a powerful interface for both the global FamilySearch platform and your personal genealogy data. It provides two distinct modes: a Live API connection that interfaces directly with FamilySearch’s vast genealogical records, and an offline GEDCOM parser that allows you to interact with your own digital family tree files locally. This tool enables users to conduct research, build pedigree charts, identify ancestors, and generate historical narratives without manually navigating complex website interfaces. By leveraging this skill, you can automate record searches and perform data analysis on your family history.

Installation

To install this skill, use the ClawHub command: clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/keylimesoda/familysearch. Ensure you have python3 installed on your macOS or Linux system. For Live API functionality, you must register a developer account at the FamilySearch Developer portal and obtain an OAuth 2.0 token. You can configure your credentials securely via the FAMILYSEARCH_TOKEN environment variable or the macOS Keychain. For GEDCOM mode, no API credentials are required; simply ensure your .ged file is accessible to the script.

Use Cases

Use this skill when you want to bridge the gap between disparate data sources. Common scenarios include finding lost ancestors in international records, comparing local GEDCOM tree data against the global FamilySearch database, generating reports on descendancy or ancestry for family reunions, or performing quick lookups of PIDs (Person IDs) to verify lineage details during active research sessions.

Example Prompts

1. "Search the FamilySearch tree for my great-grandfather John Lewis who was born in Oregon."
2. "I've uploaded my family tree file; can you tell me who my oldest ancestor is based on this GEDCOM data?"
3. "Show me the 4-generation pedigree chart for PID K8X2-99B."

Tips & Limitations

The Live API mode requires an active internet connection and valid OAuth tokens, which expire periodically; you will need to re-authenticate as required by the FamilySearch security policies. Offline GEDCOM parsing is limited to the data contained within the specific file provided; it will not pull external data to supplement missing information. Always ensure your GEDCOM exports are formatted correctly according to the standard specification for the best parsing results. The skill is designed to handle common research tasks, but intensive, deep-branch historical analysis may require multiple iterative queries to the API.