Transform Your Genealogy Society's Next Meeting Into a Unique Experience

Denyse Allen brings practical, immediately actionable sessions that help genealogists finish the family stories they've been meaning to write for years—transforming decades of research into chronicles their families will actually read and treasure. Founder of Chronicle Makers, an AI-assisted family history community, Denyse specializes in showing family historians how to move from scattered files to published stories through proven systems, supportive community, and smart use of AI tools.

With presentations at RootsTech 2025, NGS Keynote 2024, and genealogy societies nationwide, Denyse brings both expertise and lived experience—she's actively writing 100 chronicles of her own Pennsylvania ancestors, demonstrating every technique she teaches with real family stories.

Recent Speaking Engagements:

• RootsTech 2025 (300+ attendees)
• NGS Keynote 2024
• Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center 2024 (400+ attendees)
• Ohio Genealogy Society 2025
• Genealogy Society of Pennsylvania 2023 (300+ attendees)
• Midwest Genealogy Library 2025
• WITF Genealogy Day 2024
• Cranberry Genealogy Society 2024, 2023
• Mainline Genealogy Society 2023

The Chronicle Makers Approach

Unlike traditional genealogy presentations that focus on research techniques alone, Denyse's sessions address the complete journey from curiosity to published legacy. Drawing from Chronicle Makers' proven seven-lab methodology, attendees learn not just how to find ancestors, but how to finish their stories and share them with family.

The difference: Research is just the beginning. Chronicle Makers focuses on what happens next—organizing evidence, writing engaging narratives, and actually completing projects that have sat unfinished for years.

What Attendees Say About Denyse's Presentations

From RootsTech 2025 (295 attendees, 4.88/5 presenter rating, 91 survey responses):

"Most helpful session I've attended at RootsTech 2025! I've used ChatGPT to a limited extent and found it helpful, but this truly clarified how I can use it better. Well done!"

"Best session of the conference."

"One of the best presentations I attended. More on organizing research through ChatGPT for future consideration. Very practical advice for newbies."

"So inspiring! I was surprised that felt emotions coming up about my stress about writing my family history. I feel like this will be really helpful. Thank you!"

"Really empowering information for a guilt ridden, procrastinating, aspiring family history writer. Thanks!"

"As a professional lecturer, I feel Denyse presents in such a down to earth manner in a way that beginners and advanced alike can understand and apply what was taught to every aspect of our genealogical journey."

"Fabulous! Thx for sharing your deck with us so I could listen and absorb rather than focus on taking copious notes, knowing I could go back and correlate my notes with the content. One of my favorite sessions this year!"

"I am 100% new to AI in any way. I thought your presentation was perfect for me. You helped me know it is ok to try and get used to using it until I am comfortable and ready for paid for tools. I am looking forward giving chat GPT a try!!"

"I loved her presentation. I learned a lot and I came away with lots of questions but a great desire to use AI to improve my writing and to motivate me."

From Past Society Presentations:

"Denyse, thanks for the great presentation tonight! I have listened to many of your past Podcasts and found them very useful and practical when researching my MANY Pennsylvania ancestors. Thank You!" - Patricia P.

"This webinar helped me have a breakthrough in my thinking on my own research in 2 different ways." - Becky

By the Numbers:

• 4.88/5 presenter rating (RootsTech 2025)
• 4.83/5 overall session rating
• 4.88/5 "I learned something new I can apply"
• Spoken to 1,000+ genealogists across major conferences and societies

What Makes Denyse's Sessions Different

✅ Accessible to All Skill Levels - Whether you've never touched AI or you're already experimenting, Denyse meets you where you are and gives you practical next steps

✅ Empowering, Not Intimidating - Attendees consistently report feeling inspired rather than overwhelmed, with renewed confidence to tackle their family history projects

✅ Immediately Actionable - Leave with specific prompts, techniques, and strategies you can implement the same week

✅ Interactive & Responsive - Real-time polls and live problem-solving mean the session adapts to your members' specific needs

✅ Relatable Examples - From Star Wars/Star Trek analogies to real genealogy scenarios, Denyse makes complex concepts easy to understand and remember

✅ Down-to-Earth Presentation Style - Professional yet approachable, perfect for beginners and advanced researchers alike

✅ Building in Public - Denyse is actively writing 100 chronicles of her own ancestors (2 per week), demonstrating every technique she teaches with real family stories

Featured Topics for 2026

1. From Scattered Files to Finished Chronicles: The Complete Research-to-Publishing System

Recommended for: Mixed audiences, all skill levels

Most genealogists have years of research sitting in folders, files, and family trees, but struggle to transform that work into stories their families will actually read. This session reveals how AI can bridge the gap between research and writing, helping attendees stay focused on what matters and keep their family engaged in the process.

What Your Members Will Learn:

• The 3-stage AI collaboration method (research → organization → narrative)
• How to use AI to identify which ancestors are "story-ready"
• Creative AI prompts that keep family members engaged during research
• The "completion over perfection" framework that gets stories finished

Interactive Elements:

• Real-time polls on attendees' biggest bottlenecks
• Live AI demonstration solving audience-suggested ancestor scenarios
• Actionable takeaways participants can implement this week

Included Handout: "10 AI Prompts for the Research-to-Writing Pipeline" + "The Story-Ready Checklist"

What Changes: Attendees leave knowing exactly which ancestor to start with, what they already have that's "enough," and the first three actions to take this week.

2. Breaking Through Brick Walls: AI-Powered Research Strategies That Actually Work

Recommended for: Intermediate researchers who feel stuck

Stuck ancestors aren't always stuck—sometimes we just need fresh eyes and new strategies. This session shows how AI can accelerate research by helping genealogists analyze evidence, generate new search strategies, and connect records they might have missed.

What Your Members Will Learn:

• How to use AI to analyze what they already have and spot gaps
• The "evidence correlation" technique that connects scattered records
• AI-assisted research planning (stop random searching, start systematic investigating)
• How to use AI to understand complex documents (probate, land records, old handwriting)
• When AI helps vs. when you need human expertise

Interactive Elements:

• "Bring Your Brick Wall" - attendees share stuck ancestors, we solve them live using AI
• Real-time polls tracking which techniques resonate most
• Immediate implementation strategies

Included Handout: "The Brick Wall Analysis Worksheet" + "15 AI Research Prompts for Stuck Ancestors"

What Changes: Attendees discover systematic research strategies that replace random searching, and understand how to build evidence-based cases rather than hunting for single records.

3. Write Your First Family Chronicle in 10 Days: The AI-Assisted Story Method

Recommended for: Researchers ready to write but don't know how to start

Your members have done the research. They have the facts. But how do they turn that into a story their families will actually want to read? This session reveals the proven 10-day method that helps genealogists complete their first family chronicle—even if they "aren't writers."

What Your Members Will Learn:

• The STORI method that structures any family story
• How to use AI to transform facts into narrative without "making things up"
• The "good enough to start" threshold (they have more than they think)
• How to fill gaps with historical context (not fiction)
• Why finishing "version 1.0" matters more than perfect prose

Interactive Elements:

• Live "Pick Your Ancestor" exercise - attendees choose which story to write first
• 5-minute writing sprint where attendees draft their ancestor's first paragraph
• Volunteers share their paragraphs in chat for immediate feedback

Included Handout: "The 10-Day Chronicle Writing Plan" + "Story Starter Prompts"

What Changes: Attendees shift from "I'm not ready" to "I can start now," understanding the threshold for "good enough to begin" and experiencing what 10 days of focused writing can produce.

4. AI as Your Genealogy Partner: Beyond ChatGPT Basics to Creative Applications

Recommended for: Tech-curious genealogists who want to level up their AI skills

Most genealogists have tried ChatGPT once or twice and weren't impressed. That's because knowing what to ask and how to collaborate with AI makes all the difference. This session goes beyond basic prompts to show creative, practical ways to use AI throughout the genealogy workflow.

What Your Members Will Learn:

• The difference between "asking AI questions" vs. "collaborating with AI" (mindset shift)
• Creative applications: AI-generated family newsletters, ancestor interview questions, research accountability partners
• How to chain multiple AI tools together for complex tasks
• Platform comparison: ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini vs. Perplexity (which for what)
• The "research log assistant" technique that keeps researchers focused and tracks progress

Interactive Elements:

• "Creative Challenge" - audience suggests genealogy problems, we brainstorm 5 AI solutions and demonstrate the best one live
• Platform comparison demonstrations
• Real-time polling on which tools attendees will try first

Included Handout: "AI Tool Comparison Chart" + "20 Tested Genealogy Prompts"

What Changes: Attendees move from AI skepticism or confusion to understanding how to collaborate with AI as a research partner, with clear use cases for different tools and workflows.

Also Available: Pennsylvania Research Topics

Denyse maintains her expertise in Pennsylvania genealogy and is available to present on Pennsylvania-specific research topics:

Vital Records of Pennsylvania from 1682 to Today

A fast-paced tour through the birth, marriage, divorce, death, and adoption records created by state law in Pennsylvania.

Four Records You Can Find in Archives to Complete Your Family History

A show-and-tell of four common archival records from the over 800 archives across the state. Each holds genealogical information not available anywhere else and the possibility of breaking down brick walls.

A Tour of the County Courthouse of Your Ancestors

Our ancestors used the county courthouse for everything in their lives. Learn what records they made, what is online and what is offline, and how to access those records.

Session Details

Duration: 45-50 minutes presentation + 10-20 minutes Q&A

Format: Virtual (Zoom preferred) or in-person

What's Included:

• Engaging, interactive presentation with real-time audience participation
• Live demonstrations of AI tools and techniques
• Comprehensive 2-page handout (PDF) for all attendees
• Post-session access to presentation slides
• Exclusive newsletter bonus content for society members

Technical Requirements for Virtual Presentations:

• Zoom with screen sharing capabilities
• Polling features enabled (for interactive elements)
• Recording capabilities (optional, at society's discretion)

Technical Requirements for In-Person Presentations:

• Standard AV setup (projector, screen, laptop connection)
• Microphone if room size requires it
• Internet connection for live AI demonstrations

About Denyse Allen

Denyse Allen is the founder of Chronicle Makers, a community dedicated to helping family historians transform decades of research into finished family stories using AI tools, step-by-step processes, and a supportive community.

With eight generations of Pennsylvania ancestors across 17 counties, Denyse understands the overwhelm genealogists face, and the joy of finally finishing stories worth sharing. She brings her experience as a professional genealogist specializing in Pennsylvania research together with cutting-edge AI applications to show family historians practical ways to work smarter, write with confidence, and actually complete the chronicles their families will treasure.

In 2026, Denyse is writing and publishing 100 chronicles of her own Pennsylvania ancestors—two per week—demonstrating every technique she teaches with real family stories. This "building in public" approach means attendees learn from someone actively doing the work, not just teaching theory.

Denyse is the author of Pennsylvania Vital Records Research: A Genealogy Research Guide and Archives in Pennsylvania for Genealogy Research. She hosts the PA Ancestors podcast and has presented at major genealogy conferences including RootsTech, NGS, and genealogy societies nationwide.

Speaking Style: Engaging, practical, and immediately actionable. Denyse's sessions are known for real-time problem-solving, live demonstrations, and leaving attendees with techniques they can use the same week. As one RootsTech attendee put it: "As a professional lecturer, I feel Denyse presents in such a down to earth manner in a way that beginners and advanced alike can understand and apply what was taught to every aspect of our genealogical journey."

Book Denyse for Your Society

To Book: Contact Denyse directly at with your preferred topic, date range, and audience size.

Availability: Booking 3-6 months in advance recommended for best availability, though occasional openings exist for sooner dates.

Speaking Fee: Contact for pricing - options available for societies of all sizes.

Special Offer for Genealogy Societies: Society members who attend receive exclusive access to Denyse's weekly AI prompts and genealogy writing tips newsletter, plus priority notification of upcoming Chronicle Makers courses and workshops.

Download Speaker Materials

Professional Photo:

Speaker Bio:

Denyse is a family historian, writer, and founder of Chronicle Makers. She helps people turn their genealogy research into meaningful stories using simple, creative methods. Her writing guides and community support beginners in getting their first family history story written—without overwhelm or perfectionism. Denyse has shared her approach at RootsTech and in libraries and history groups across the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can you customize a topic for our society's specific interests? A: Absolutely! While the topics above are most often requested, I regularly adapt content to address specific challenges your members face or incorporate regional research considerations.

Q: Do you offer virtual and in-person presentations? A: Yes, both! Virtual presentations via Zoom are my preference for accessibility, but I'm available for in-person engagements depending on location and schedule.

Q: What size audiences have you presented to? A: I've presented to groups ranging from 30 members to 400+ attendees. The interactive elements scale beautifully to any size audience.

Q: Can we record the session for members who can't attend live? A: Yes, with advance notice. I ask that recordings be made available only to registered society members.

Q: How far in advance should we book? A: I recommend booking 3-6 months in advance for best availability, though I occasionally have openings for sooner dates. Contact me to check current availability.

Q: What do we need to provide? A: For virtual presentations: Zoom link with screen sharing and polling enabled, promotion to your members, and distribution of the handout PDF I'll provide. For in-person: Standard AV setup (projector, screen, microphone if room requires it), and internet connection for live demonstrations.

Q: What makes your AI presentations different from others? A: My sessions focus on practical collaboration with AI specifically for genealogy workflows—not just "here's ChatGPT." Attendees leave with tested prompts, specific techniques for their research and writing challenges, and the confidence to actually use these tools. As one RootsTech attendee said: "Most helpful session I've attended at RootsTech 2025! I've used ChatGPT to a limited extent and found it helpful, but this truly clarified how I can use it better."

Q: Is this just about using AI tools? A: No. AI is integrated throughout as an accelerator, but these sessions focus on the complete system—mindset shifts, organizational frameworks, and writing techniques that help family historians actually finish stories. AI makes the process faster and less overwhelming, but the real transformation is learning how to move from endless research to completed chronicles.

Contact Denyse

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Connect:

• Chronicle Makers: chroniclemakers.com
• PA Ancestors: paancestors.com
• Newsletter: denyseallen.substack.com

Ready to book Denyse for your genealogy society or library? Contact her directly to discuss available dates, pricing, and how to make your next meeting one your members will talk about for months.