Genealogy MCP

A private genealogy assistant that runs on your computer.

Genealogy MCP reads a GEDCOM file or a BegatAll project and answers questions about the people in it: search, relationships, ancestors, descendants, timelines, sources, gaps, and research ideas. The server is a local program. Your files are not uploaded, and the server does not call out to the internet.

Living people are hidden unless you turn that on yourself. Read the privacy page before you point it at a family file.

You need Node.js 18 or newer. The package includes a native server for Windows x64, Linux x64, macOS Intel, and macOS Apple silicon. Your genealogy files stay on this computer. The .NET 8 runtime is not required. It is only a fallback when the native file for your machine is missing.

Install / launch

The launch command is the same everywhere:

bash

npx -y @eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0

The npm package name is @eacpartners/genealogy-mcp (pinned below as @eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0).

On Windows, if the app says it cannot start npx, set the command to cmd and the arguments to /c, npx, -y, @eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0.

Add it to your AI app

Grok

Add this to ~/.grok/config.toml:

toml

[mcp_servers.genealogy]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0"]

Or run:

bash

grok mcp add genealogy -- npx -y @eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0

In the Grok terminal, /mcps lists the server. Start a new session after you add it.

Claude Desktop

Open the Claude menu and choose Settings.
Open Developer and click Edit Config.
Merge this into claude_desktop_config.json (Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json, macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json).
Quit Claude Desktop and open it again.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "genealogy": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0"]
    }
  }
}

ChatGPT

The ChatGPT website cannot start a program on your computer. Its apps and developer mode expect a remote address, which this server does not have.

Use the ChatGPT desktop app with Codex, or the Codex CLI. Both read ~/.codex/config.toml (Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.codex\config.toml):

toml

[mcp_servers.genealogy]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0"]

You can also run:

bash

codex mcp add genealogy -- npx -y @eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0

Stay in a local project so the server starts on your machine. Cloud tasks do not see this program.

Cursor

Open Settings, then MCP.
Add a server, or edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json (all projects) or .cursor/mcp.json (this project only).
Reload the window. Use Agent mode so the tools are available.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "genealogy": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0"]
    }
  }
}

VS Code

Open the Command Palette and run MCP: Add Server.
Choose Command (stdio).
Command: npx. Arguments: -y and @eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0. Name: genealogy.

Or save this as .vscode/mcp.json:

json

{
  "servers": {
    "genealogy": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0"]
    }
  }
}

If the editor asks for mcpServers rather than servers, use that key and keep the same command and arguments.

Other apps

If the app has a "local MCP server" or "stdio command" field, use:

bash

npx -y @eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0

Claude Code:

bash

claude mcp add genealogy -- npx -y @eacpartners/genealogy-mcp@1.4.0

Use it

Ask for a full path, then ask a question.

"Load C:\Users\me\Documents\family.ged and summarize who is in it."
"Show Anna Sample's parents, spouses, and children."
"Build a timeline for John Sample and note which events have no source."
"What is missing, and what should I look up next?"

Accepted files: .ged, .gedcom, a zip that contains one of those, a .begatallx package, a BegatAll folder that contains sqlite.db, and a legacy .begatall or .bgallged database. Reading a file does not change it. Edits stay in a private copy until you confirm an update of the original, and that update is off unless you turn it on in the local config.

One file is loaded at a time. Ask to load a different path to switch.

Privacy

The short version: it runs only on your computer, it does not upload your file, it does not send analytics, and living people are left out unless you opt in locally. The AI app you connect it to may send tool results to its own cloud service under that app's terms.

The full rules, including the exact config path, are on the privacy page.

To include living people for one app, set GENEALOGY_MCP_SHOW_LIVING to 1 in that app's server environment. You can also create the config file described on the privacy page. Restart the server after either change.

License

Proprietary free-to-use software from Edward Alexander, Inc. (EAC Partners). You may use it free of charge. You may not copy, modify, redistribute, or reverse engineer it. There is no warranty. Read the full license.

Product version 1.4.0.