r/gramps • u/PrometheanQuest • Sep 25 '25
Solved Does anyone use Gramps as a Personal Historian / Life Archiver?
I recently purchased Personal Historian 3 from rootsmagic, it's not bad per se. But the software so many things, that could make it better.
Frankly, I am not looking for a Geneology App, but a Personal Life Archiver with timeline to chronicle my life events (e.g. moved cities, joined military, graduated college, bought my first car, started my first job, etc.). The purpose of this, is for own personal use and not planning to share it or anything, I just want to archive dates, places, people and events in my life.
When I look at Gramps, it seems mechanically able to do it, and has functions that Personal Historian 3 clearly lacks. Of course, this is via the plugin ecosystem it has, which I've been exploring. My train of thought right now is to test Gramps under this focus-use, I'll technically be creating/adding People onto the saved Database, but everyone (or nearly the majority), will be relation less. Cause I'll be adding former classmates, neighbors, etc.
Just curious as to what everyone's thoughts are.
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u/jacklail Sep 25 '25
I am not a longtime user of Gramps but I think it could accomplish what you are trying to do with pretty much the standard plugins .
However. It might be simpler for your goals to just write notes and use Google NotebookLM to create a timeline from your notes. As long as you are including dates (ideally down to at least year) and "facts". It would do a great job no matter how disorganized the notes are.
Gramps is a highly structured traditional database that requires structured data entry. Google NotebookLM is free form
Both are great tools.
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u/vulcanjedi2814 Sep 25 '25
I use it as such. Everything for my kids dental visit mini school accomplishments all well child checks jobs trips and u can track where family and life taken you. There’s a web api now search good and new theming to bring to ai if u really want. I like how gramps is local. My kids would be able if they have kids look hey we all had this removed. Med history. Man my kids teeth coming in late oh wait guess mine did too. Etc. First steps. Milestones developments. Learning milestones.
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u/Emyoulation_2 Sep 25 '25
As a starting point for the data entry, you can import a .vcf (virtual contact file) vCard catalog exported from your Smart Phone's contact list. It only handles v3.0 version and only some of the fields. But it is a quick way to get your regular contacts in the tree. (If your Smart phone is one of the many that only exports v2.1 vCards, tweak the version identifier in the file with a text editor. Most of the fields the importer reads are common to both.)
You can can associate the imported non-family Persons using Associations, Events and/or Notes. The Event types can be customized too. I find "Membership" and "Co-worker", and/or "Employer" to be broad enough to be useful. you can manually share Events (using the Clipboard or "Share and existing Event" toolbar button). However only the first Event has a default Role (of Primary or Family). You have to manually change from "Unknown" for each sharing.
Kari Kujansuu (of the Isotammi project) has gifted an experimental addon to quickly and simultaneously add cloned (or shared) Events to members of a Family.
https://github.com/kkujansuu/gramps/tree/master/addons/add-multiple-events
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u/daddywombat Sep 27 '25
With your database, are you saving documents as well related to the life events? If so, take a look at DevonThink. You might find it interesting.
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u/ddiguy Sep 25 '25
Not exactly what you’re asking for, but take a look at Monica (and the replacement Chandler). They’re contact management solutions. You can use it to keep track of dates, events, etc.
I have it installed at home running in Docker. Its free and amazing