Trace family stories
Look for names, relationships, and personal recollections across the available sources.
A new way to explore the past
Old History Books.
New Discoveries.
andyniekamp.com
Search the history books on andyniekamp.com using Google's AI NotebookLM feature. Easily find information across multiple sources and have it presented in a unified, easy to understand format with citations. It's free but you'll need a Google or Gmail userid.
Note: All answers come only from the history books on andyniekamp.com.
Meet your research companion
What is NotebookLM?
NotebookLM is Google's AI-powered research and note-taking assistant. It helps you understand information from sources added to a notebook, such as books, PDFs, documents, and web pages.
Use it to summarize a long account, look for a family name, or ask how events fit together. Its answers can include citations linking to supporting passages, so you can return to the original material.
The notebook works with the sources included in it. It does not automatically contain every page or document on this website.
Follow your curiosity
What can you discover?
Explore local history
Ask about towns, churches, schools, and the communities that shaped earlier generations.
Bring events together
Request summaries, timelines, or comparisons to see how different accounts relate.
Your first visit
Start with a question
You don't need to be an expert in technology or history. Begin with a name, a place, or something you've always wondered about.
NotebookLM can also offer audio overviews, video overviews, and other ways to explore material. What you can view or create depends on the notebook's sharing settings and your access.
- Open the notebook. Select “Explore My NotebookLM.” If Google asks you to sign in, follow the prompts.
- Ask a specific question. Include names, places, or dates when you know them.
- Follow the citations. Read the supporting passages and check the details in the original source.
- Keep exploring. Ask a follow-up question or request a simpler summary.
Ideas to get you started
Try asking…
Copy a question into NotebookLM, or adapt it to your own research. Answers depend on which materials are available.
- “Find references to the Kleinhenz family and cite the sources.”
- “What do the sources say about Maria Stein, Ohio?”
- “Create a timeline of Father Sebastian Kremer's life using the available sources.”
- “Summarize the history of St. Rose and identify important dates.”
- “What do these accounts say about German immigration to western Ohio?”
- “Compare the accounts of this event. Where do they agree or differ?”
Let the original stories guide you
NotebookLM is a helpful starting point for research. AI can make mistakes, and older documents may contain conflicting dates, spelling variations, or scanning errors. Check names, dates, and family relationships against the cited material before treating an answer as established fact.
Google offers free access with usage limits and paid options with higher limits. You do not need to purchase a plan simply to begin exploring; access to a shared notebook depends on its settings.
There is more to every story
What will you discover?
Follow a familiar name, revisit a beloved place, or find a connection you never knew existed. Let your curiosity lead the way.
Explore My NotebookLM