{"openapi":"3.1.0","info":{"title":"Parchment API","version":"0.1.0","description":"A hand-curated genealogy research-methodology reference: research strategy and the Genealogical Proof Standard, record-type guides (census, vital, immigration, military, church, probate), citation best practices, DNA testing basics, brick-wall troubleshooting, historical context, a research-log template, and a glossary — all local, never a person lookup.\n\nEvery operation is read-only or compute-only. The same tools are available over MCP (streamable HTTP) at https://parchment.connectorbay.com/mcp.","contact":{"name":"Unify Dynamics LLC","email":"hr@unifydynamics.com","url":"https://connectorbay.com/parchment/docs"},"termsOfService":"https://connectorbay.com/parchment/terms"},"servers":[{"url":"https://parchment.connectorbay.com"}],"externalDocs":{"url":"https://connectorbay.com/parchment/docs"},"security":[{},{"bearer":[]}],"components":{"securitySchemes":{"bearer":{"type":"http","scheme":"bearer","description":"Optional. A Pro API key raises rate limits; no credentials are required."}},"schemas":{"Error":{"type":"object","properties":{"ok":{"const":false},"error":{"type":"object"}}}}},"paths":{"/v1/tools/research_methodology_guide":{"post":{"operationId":"research_methodology_guide","summary":"How to approach genealogy research: starting with yourself and home sources, working backward one","description":"How to approach genealogy research: starting with yourself and home sources, working backward one\n    verified generation at a time, the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS), and the overall research cycle. Never\n    looks up a specific person. Use for \"how do I start researching my family tree\", \"what is the genealogical\n    proof standard\", \"how do I work backward in my research\".","tags":["tools"],"requestBody":{"required":true,"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"properties":{"topic":{"anyOf":[{"type":"string"},{"type":"null"}],"default":null,"description":"getting_started | working_backward | genealogical_proof_standard | research_process; omit for an overview of all four.","title":"Topic"}},"title":"research_methodology_guideArguments","type":"object"}}}},"responses":{"200":{"description":"Tool result. `ok: true` on success; `ok: false` with a structured `error` (provider_unavailable, upstream_error, bad_input) when the tool could not answer.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"type":"object","additionalProperties":true}}}},"422":{"description":"Arguments failed validation","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}},"429":{"description":"Rate limit exceeded (see Retry-After)","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}}},"x-read-only":true}},"/v1/tools/record_type_info":{"post":{"operationId":"record_type_info","summary":"What a genealogical record type (census, vital/BMD, immigration & naturalization, military, church,","description":"What a genealogical record type (census, vital/BMD, immigration & naturalization, military, church,\n    probate & wills) generally contains and how it's generally accessed — archives, registries, and repositories\n    in general terms, not tied to any one specific database. Use for \"what's in a census record\", \"how do I find\n    a naturalization record\", \"what does a probate file usually contain\".","tags":["tools"],"requestBody":{"required":true,"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"properties":{"type":{"description":"census | vital_records | immigration | military | church | probate","examples":["census","vital records","immigration","military","church records","probate"],"title":"Type","type":"string"}},"required":["type"],"title":"record_type_infoArguments","type":"object"}}}},"responses":{"200":{"description":"Tool result. `ok: true` on success; `ok: false` with a structured `error` (provider_unavailable, upstream_error, bad_input) when the tool could not answer.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"type":"object","additionalProperties":true}}}},"422":{"description":"Arguments failed validation","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}},"429":{"description":"Rate limit exceeded (see Retry-After)","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}}},"x-read-only":true}},"/v1/tools/record_type_search":{"post":{"operationId":"record_type_search","summary":"Search the six record-type guides (census, vital records, immigration, military, church, probate) by","description":"Search the six record-type guides (census, vital records, immigration, military, church, probate) by\n    keyword, alias, or description. Use for \"what record type covers wills\", \"where would a baptism be\n    recorded\".","tags":["tools"],"requestBody":{"required":true,"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"properties":{"query":{"default":"","description":"A keyword or description, e.g. 'wills', 'ship manifest', 'baptism'; empty lists all record types.","title":"Query","type":"string"}},"title":"record_type_searchArguments","type":"object"}}}},"responses":{"200":{"description":"Tool result. `ok: true` on success; `ok: false` with a structured `error` (provider_unavailable, upstream_error, bad_input) when the tool could not answer.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"type":"object","additionalProperties":true}}}},"422":{"description":"Arguments failed validation","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}},"429":{"description":"Rate limit exceeded (see Retry-After)","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}}},"x-read-only":true}},"/v1/tools/citation_guide":{"post":{"operationId":"citation_guide","summary":"Genealogical source-citation and documentation best practices: why citing matters, the core elements of a","description":"Genealogical source-citation and documentation best practices: why citing matters, the core elements of a\n    complete citation, and the original/derivative, primary/secondary, and direct/indirect evidence\n    distinctions. Use for \"how do I cite a genealogy source\", \"what's the difference between a primary and\n    secondary source\".","tags":["tools"],"requestBody":{"required":true,"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"properties":{},"title":"citation_guideArguments","type":"object"}}}},"responses":{"200":{"description":"Tool result. `ok: true` on success; `ok: false` with a structured `error` (provider_unavailable, upstream_error, bad_input) when the tool could not answer.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"type":"object","additionalProperties":true}}}},"422":{"description":"Arguments failed validation","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}},"429":{"description":"Rate limit exceeded (see Retry-After)","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}}},"x-read-only":true}},"/v1/tools/dna_testing_basics_guide":{"post":{"operationId":"dna_testing_basics_guide","summary":"Autosomal, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial (mtDNA) DNA testing as genealogy research tools — what each traces","description":"Autosomal, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial (mtDNA) DNA testing as genealogy research tools — what each traces\n    and who can take it. Gives NO health, medical, or genetic-trait interpretation under any circumstance; a\n    real health question belongs with a doctor or genetic counselor. Use for \"what's the difference between\n    autosomal and Y-DNA testing\", \"who can take an mtDNA test\", \"how does DNA testing help genealogy\".","tags":["tools"],"requestBody":{"required":true,"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"properties":{"test_type":{"anyOf":[{"type":"string"},{"type":"null"}],"default":null,"description":"autosomal | y_dna | mtdna; omit for an overview of all three.","title":"Test Type"}},"title":"dna_testing_basics_guideArguments","type":"object"}}}},"responses":{"200":{"description":"Tool result. `ok: true` on success; `ok: false` with a structured `error` (provider_unavailable, upstream_error, bad_input) when the tool could not answer.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"type":"object","additionalProperties":true}}}},"422":{"description":"Arguments failed validation","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}},"429":{"description":"Rate limit exceeded (see Retry-After)","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}}},"x-read-only":true}},"/v1/tools/brick_wall_strategies_guide":{"post":{"operationId":"brick_wall_strategies_guide","summary":"General troubleshooting strategies for a stalled (\"brick wall\") genealogy research problem — re-examining","description":"General troubleshooting strategies for a stalled (\"brick wall\") genealogy research problem — re-examining\n    existing sources, the FAN club (Friends, Associates, Neighbors) method, substitute records, name and place\n    variants, timelines, DNA evidence, and more. Use for \"my research hit a dead end, what do I try next\", \"how\n    do I get past a genealogy brick wall\".","tags":["tools"],"requestBody":{"required":true,"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"properties":{},"title":"brick_wall_strategies_guideArguments","type":"object"}}}},"responses":{"200":{"description":"Tool result. `ok: true` on success; `ok: false` with a structured `error` (provider_unavailable, upstream_error, bad_input) when the tool could not answer.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"type":"object","additionalProperties":true}}}},"422":{"description":"Arguments failed validation","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}},"429":{"description":"Rate limit exceeded (see Retry-After)","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}}},"x-read-only":true}},"/v1/tools/historical_context_guide":{"post":{"operationId":"historical_context_guide","summary":"General historical context that affects genealogy research — naming-convention changes (patronymics,","description":"General historical context that affects genealogy research — naming-convention changes (patronymics,\n    Anglicization, spelling drift), general historical immigration-wave patterns, and how record-keeping\n    (calendar changes, when civil registration began, record loss) changed over time. 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Use for \"why did my ancestor's surname change over\n    time\", \"why do old dates look different\", \"what were the major immigration waves\".","tags":["tools"],"requestBody":{"required":true,"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"properties":{"topic":{"anyOf":[{"type":"string"},{"type":"null"}],"default":null,"description":"naming_conventions | immigration_waves | record_keeping_changes; omit to list all three.","title":"Topic"}},"title":"historical_context_guideArguments","type":"object"}}}},"responses":{"200":{"description":"Tool result. `ok: true` on success; `ok: false` with a structured `error` (provider_unavailable, upstream_error, bad_input) when the tool could not answer.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"type":"object","additionalProperties":true}}}},"422":{"description":"Arguments failed validation","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}},"429":{"description":"Rate limit exceeded (see Retry-After)","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Error"}}}}},"x-read-only":true}},"/v1/tools/research_log_template_guide":{"post":{"operationId":"research_log_template_guide","summary":"A suggested research-log structure for tracking genealogy sources searched — the columns to keep, why","description":"A suggested research-log structure for tracking genealogy sources searched — the columns to keep, why\n    logging a \"not found\" search matters, and practical tips. 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