Historical records can contain valuable details about your ancestors, such as names, dates, relationships, occupations, and places. But records can be hard to read because of poor handwriting, faded ink, blurry images, or unfamiliar languages.

AI Record Transcription reads the text in a record image and creates a typed transcription. This makes it easier to review the information in the document and identify details that may help with your research.

AI Record Transcription can help you:

• Interpret difficult handwriting or faded text
• Understand records written in another language
• Review details in the record image more easily
• Identify names, dates, places, or relationships in the document
• Discover information that may not appear in indexed fields

AI Record Transcription doesn’t change the original record image. It generates a transcription to help you interpret the document, but it doesn’t replace the original image.

How AI Record Transcription works

When AI Record Transcription is available for a record, the text in the record image is analyzed and a typed transcription is generated to help you read and interpret the record more easily.

Depending on the record, the feature may:

• Transcribe handwritten or printed text from the record image
• Translate the transcription into the language used by your browser

AI transcriptions are generated automatically and may contain errors. Always review the original record image alongside the transcription when confirming important details.

Who can access AI Record Transcription

AI Record Transcription is available with an All Access membership.

Not all record collections currently support AI transcription. It is offered for some historical record collections that contain records from the United States, Mexico, England and Wales, and Australia.

Examples of supported record collection types include:

• Wills and probate records
• Church and parish records
• Historical military and pension records
• Land and property records

Additional collections may be added over time.

AI Record Transcription appears only on records in collections that currently support the feature.

Using AI Record Transcription

If AI Record Transcription is available for a record in a supported collection, you’ll see the option to Get a full transcription on the record page or in the image viewer.

1. Open a record page or image.
2. On the record page or in the image viewer, select Get a full transcription or Read full transcription if one has already been generated.
3. Review the transcription alongside the record image to confirm important details.
4. Save the record and its people or information to your tree if it matches your research.
   
   

Frequently asked questions

Does AI Record Transcription change the original record?
No. The feature only generates a transcription to help you read the record. The original record image is not changed.

Is the transcription always accurate?
No. AI transcriptions are generated automatically and may contain errors. Handwriting, image quality, and historical spelling can affect accuracy. Always review the original record image alongside the transcription when confirming important details.

Why don’t I see AI Record Transcription on some records?
AI Record Transcription is currently available only for certain historical record collections. If a record comes from a collection that doesn’t support AI transcription, the feature won’t appear. Additional collections may be added over time.

Do I need a membership to use this feature?
Yes. You need an All Access membership to use AI Record Transcription.

Can I save the transcription to my family tree?
This feature helps you read the record image. To add information to your tree, review the record and manually add the details you want to keep.