Have you ever experimented with AI prompts to transform genealogy reports into readable narratives? I’ve been exploring both simple prompts and more detailed ones for this task. Recently, I tested a prompt generated by RootsMagic and compared the resulting narrative to one created with my more complex ABC Biography prompt.

Simpler Prompt

You are a Story teller. Your task is to Draft a narrative biography using the attached narrative report, intended for a General public audience. # Instructions – Incorporate relevant historical context by briefly describing notable events and trends during the individual’s lifespan, specifically as they pertain to the region and era.

Alma Jean Currey (1912–1989)

On April 5, 1912, in the quiet town of Plainville, Kansas, Alma Jean Currey entered the worldNarrative Report for Alma Jean …. Just days later, the Titanic would sink across the Atlantic, a reminder that she was born into a century of dramatic change.

Tragedy struck early: Alma’s mother died when she was only a year and a half old. With her father struggling to keep the family together, she was sent to live with the DeShazer family in Ottawa, Kansas. The 1920 census records her there as a seven-year-old boarderNarrative Report for Alma Jean …. Like many children of that era, Alma’s early life reflected the challenges faced by families on the Great Plains, where illness, economic uncertainty, and the aftershocks of World War I shaped daily life.

By 1925, Alma was reunited with her father, Hiram Currey, in Gray County, KansasNarrative Report for Alma Jean …. Two of her sisters lived nearby in Ford County. Kansas in the 1920s was still largely rural, but the family would soon experience the changes sweeping America: mechanized farming, cars replacing horses, and the growing cultural pull of cities.

Building a Family

At just 17 years old, Alma married Joseph Johnson “Bud” Taylor on December 14, 1929, in Olathe, KansasNarrative Report for Alma Jean …. Their marriage came at the dawn of the Great Depression, a time when jobs were scarce and families had to be resourceful. Joseph worked as a casket trimmer in Kansas City, and Alma kept the household together while raising their children.

They had four children:

• Jerry Joe Taylor (1932–2001)
• Ronald Taylor (born 1935)
• William Dean Taylor (1938–2011)
• Edith Sue Taylor (1947–2016)Narrative Report for Alma Jean …

The Taylors’ moves mirrored the migrations of countless Midwestern families seeking opportunity during the 20th century. From Kansas to Illinois, and later to California, Alma and Joseph’s family followed the currents of industry and growth. By the 1940s, they were living in Los Angeles, where the war effort had transformed the city into a booming hub of defense manufacturing and new suburban lifeNarrative Report for Alma Jean ….

Life in Arizona

In 1967, Alma’s life shifted again when Joseph passed away at the age of 56. Two years later, Alma moved to Arizona, settling in the red rock country of SedonaNarrative Report for Alma Jean …. Sedona in the late 1960s was beginning its transformation from a quiet desert town into a destination known for its art, tourism, and spiritual retreats.

In 1974, Alma remarried, this time to Nate Grenier, and they built a life together in SedonaNarrative Report for Alma Jean …. Family ties remained important—she attended a Currey family reunion in Sedona in 1964, and she stayed in touch with her surviving siblings, including her sister Winnie of Dodge City.

Final Years and Legacy

Alma passed away on September 7, 1989, at the age of 77, at Good Samaritan Hospital in PhoenixNarrative Report for Alma Jean …. She was remembered as a devoted wife, mother, and sister, her life marked by resilience through loss, migration, and change. She was laid to rest in the Sedona Community Cemetery, where the red rocks keep silent watch over generations who made the desert their home.

Her lifetime spanned nearly eight decades of profound American transformation: from horse-drawn wagons to space shuttles, from the Dust Bowl to the postwar boom, from Kansas farm towns to the California suburbs and Arizona deserts. Alma Jean Currey’s story is one of endurance, adaptability, and quiet strength—qualities that echo the experiences of so many families across the American heartland.

More Complex Prompt

You are an expert genealogist. Attached is a PDF file containing information about one of my relatives. Italicized text is from newspaper articles. Please create a draft biography from the attached file, including parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places), summarize life events, and add historical facts as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Please use any newspaper articles and/or excerpts to enhance the biography. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. At the end, add a section providing historical context for this person’s life. The tone should be casual and suitable for family members.

Biography of Alma Jean Currey (1912–1989)

Early Life

Alma Jean Currey was born on April 5, 1912, in Plainville, Rooks County, Kansas, to Hiram M. Currey and his wife. A short notice in the Plainville Times shared the happy news: “A little daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Currey Thursday of last week.”

Tragically, Alma’s mother passed away when Alma was just a year and a half old. With her father struggling to raise his young children, Alma went to live with the DeShazer family in Ottawa, Kansas. The 1920 U.S. census lists seven-year-old Alma as a boarder in their household.

By 1925, Alma was reunited with her father in Gray County, Kansas, while two of her older sisters, Myrtle and Winnie, lived nearby in Ford County.

Marriage and Family Life

At just 17 years old, Alma married Joseph Johnson “Bud” Taylor on December 14, 1929, in Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas. Their marriage came at a challenging time—the Great Depression had just begun.

The couple lived in Kansas City, Kansas, where Joseph worked as a casket trimmer. Census records show them in Perry, Jefferson County, Kansas, in 1940, where they were raising their family.

Together, Alma and Joseph had four children:

• Jerry Joe Taylor (1932–2001), who married Beverly Viann Borthick.
• Ronald Taylor (born 1935), who later married Deena.
• William Dean Taylor (1938–2011), who married Ruth in 2000.
• Edith Sue Taylor (1947–2016), who married Bobby Rynearson.

Over the years, the family moved from Kansas to Illinois, and later to California. By the mid-1940s, they were living in Los Angeles and later in the nearby community of Bell.

Later Years

Joseph Taylor passed away in 1967 at the age of 56, and was buried in Sedona, Arizona. Alma continued to build a life of her own. She attended a Currey family reunion in Sedona in 1964, keeping strong family ties.

In 1974, Alma married again—this time to Nate Henry Grenier in Sedona. Nate, born in 1906, lived until 1996, and he too was buried in Sedona.

Alma lived in Sedona from the late 1960s onward, enjoying the community and its scenic surroundings.

Death and Legacy

On September 7, 1989, Alma passed away at the age of 77 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Her obituary in the Arizona Daily Sun read:

“Alma J. Grenier, a Sedona resident, died Sept. 7 in Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. She was 77. Services were today at the First Baptist Church, Sedona, with burial in the Sedona Community Cemetery. Mrs. Grenier was born April 5, 1912, in Plainville, Kans. She moved to Arizona in 1969 from California. Survivors are her husband, N. Henry Grenier, Sedona; a son, Ronald Taylor, living in California; and a sister, Winnie Crawford of Dodge City, Kan.”

Alma was laid to rest at Sedona Community Cemetery on September 11, 1989.

Historical Context

Alma’s life spanned much of the 20th century. She was born just before World War I, grew up during the 1920s, and entered adulthood as the Great Depression reshaped American life. She raised her family during World War II, when cities like Los Angeles swelled with war industries and opportunity.

In later years, Alma was part of the great westward migration, leaving the Midwest behind for California and then Arizona. Sedona, where she spent her final decades, was transforming during the 1960s and 70s into a vibrant community known for its red rock landscapes, tourism, and retirement living.

Through all these changes, Alma remained closely tied to her family and her roots. Her journey from the Kansas plains to the Arizona desert mirrors the broader story of many American families in the 20th century—marked by resilience, adaptation, and strong family bonds.

Trying out both prompts showed me that there isn’t just one way to use AI for genealogy writing. Some prompts give you a smooth, story-like flow, while others pack in more of the facts and details. The fun comes in experimenting—mixing and matching until you find the style that works best for what you’re trying to share, whether it’s a family story to keep relatives interested or a record packed with information for future research.

In the end, the best prompt is the one that helps you tell your family’s story in the way you want it remembered.