People
Research Questions
Archival Records
DNA Records
People
Research Log
Person card — click to view & edit
Parent-child connection
+ / − expands or collapses a branch · Edit Mode connects relationships
Recently Added
All People

Collections

Archive Items

Select Databases to Search
Focus Research by Location
Select states, African countries, or colonial archive sources to narrow your search

Drop image(s) here or click to browse

JPG, PNG, TIFF, GIF — up to 20 MB each

About This Tool

Turn scanned documents into structured archival records — automatically.

The Archive Scanner uses AI vision to read photographs, handwritten documents, deeds, census pages, letters, and other family history materials. Instead of manually transcribing and tagging each item, you upload an image and the scanner extracts key metadata fields in seconds — then saves the result directly to your Archives & Collections database. It supports bulk processing so you can drop an entire folder of scans and walk away.

1
Upload your image

Drag and drop one image or a full batch. Supported formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF, GIF up to 20 MB each. For bulk jobs, all images enter a processing queue so you can monitor progress in real time.

2
AI reads the document

The AI model analyzes the image — reading printed and handwritten text, identifying document type, recognizing named people, places, and dates, and structuring everything into the metadata standard you selected.

3
Review & save

Inspect the generated fields before committing. Edit any value inline, regenerate if needed, then hit Save to Airtable. The record lands in your Archives & Collections table — ready to link to ancestor profiles and research events.

Choose the standard before uploading. Each schema is tailored to different archival goals and determines which fields the AI will populate.

Seconds, not hours

What takes 20–40 minutes per document manually — reading, transcribing, tagging, filing — happens in under 10 seconds per image.

Bulk processing

Drop an entire folder of scans. The queue processes each image sequentially with a live progress bar so nothing gets lost.

Directly linked records

Every saved record flows into your Archives database and can be linked to specific ancestor profiles, research log entries, and timeline events.

Always editable

AI-generated fields are a starting point. Review each value before saving and regenerate with one click if the output needs improvement.

Standards-compliant

Choose Dublin Core or DACS to produce records that meet institutional archival standards — ready for export, citation, or submission to a repository.

Reads handwriting

The AI model handles printed text, typewritten documents, and 19th–20th century handwriting found in deeds, letters, Freedmen's Bureau records, and more.

A saved scan doesn't live in isolation. Records flow between all four Airtable databases automatically.

Archives & Collections

Every saved scan creates or updates a record in your Archives table — including the image reference, all generated metadata fields, format, condition, and tags. This is the primary destination for scanned material.

Ancestors Directory

When the AI detects named individuals in a document, those names are surfaced in the metadata. From the Archives view you can link the record to existing ancestor profiles — or create a new profile from the document's subjects.

Research Log

Scanned records can be attached to Research Log entries as source evidence. When you're documenting a search — say, a Freedmen's Bureau inquiry — linking the scanned deed or labor contract closes the research loop with a primary source.

Family Tree

Documents that confirm relationships — birth certificates, marriage records, adoption papers — can be referenced directly from a person's node in the Family Tree, providing evidentiary support for every connection displayed.

Account Information
Your name and login credentials
Contact Information
Phone and mailing address
Subscription Plan
You are on the Basic (Free) plan
Basic
Free
Upgrade to the Basic ($25/mo) or Upgrade ($49/mo) plan to unlock the full research database, ancestor profiles, DNA tracking, and Archive Scanner.
Starter
Free
$0 / forever
Digital worksheets, manual research entry, and a preview of AI scanning.
  • ✓ Digital pedigree & DNA forms
  • ✓ 5–10 public database searches
  • ✓ 3–5 AI Archive Scanner scans (lifetime)
  • ✓ 250–500 MB storage
  • — Automated research log
  • — Unlimited AI scanning
  • — Create digital exhibits
Power Researcher
Upgrade
$49 / month
Deep AI analysis, unlimited bulk scanning, and public exhibit publishing.
  • ✓ All 100+ databases + deep archives
  • ✓ Advanced Claude analytics & brick-wall solutions
  • ✓ Unlimited bulk Archive Scanner (PDF/ZIP)
  • ✓ Publish public & private digital exhibits
  • ✓ Multi-tree & client project management
  • ✓ 100 GB – 1 TB cloud storage
Quick Start Guide
Get up and running in under 10 minutes
  1. AI Research Agent — Enter an ancestor's name, birth year, and location. The AI will search 100+ databases and return sources with citations.
  2. Save Findings — After a research session, click "Save to Database" to store sources, questions, and ancestor records automatically.
  3. Ancestors — Build profiles for each person in your tree. Link them to sources, DNA tests, and research questions.
  4. Archive Scanner — Upload a scanned photograph or document. The AI reads it and generates archival metadata automatically.
  5. Research Log — Every AI research session is logged here automatically. Track what has been searched and what's still open.
Tips for Better AI Research Results
How to get the most from the research agent
  • Include a birth year range (e.g. "born 1845–1860") when exact dates are unknown.
  • Add family members' names to narrow results — "wife of Elias Perrin" will filter effectively.
  • Use the location filter to focus on specific states or African regions.
  • After results arrive, use the follow-up chat to ask specific questions about sources found.
  • Select specific database categories (Freedmen's Bureau, DNA, Military) to focus the search.
Report a Problem
Something not working right? Let us know.