About AI Search

LHS members have created a unique and valuable collection of local history. Some of these documents are integrated into this website, while others are not. Many of documents, such as the LHS Binders consist of scanned images such as vintage newsper clippings. Using a Google Cloud and Optical Character Recognition (OCR), the collection can now be searched not only by keywords, but also by posing questions in English.

Sample search questions

  • Who gave a horse to AC Hunt?
  • Tell me about the ownership of Sandstone Ranch
  • What are Perry Park myths and legends?
  • Who were the territorial governors of Colorado?
  • Were there ever train wrecks near Larkspur?
  • Language support: de donde sandstone ranch or ou est sandstone ranch, etc

The search tool is embedded in the header of this website, as shown in the green box below

Search Tool Caveats

  • The search agent has no information regarding the date of an article. If a clipping from the 1800s states the current owner of a property, for example, the AI summary will parrot that information.
  • The AI summary is based on the contents of the 5-10 documents that best meet the search requirements.
  • Links are embedded in the AI summary. Follow the links to verify the AI summary and seek additional context.
  • The search agent does not include content outside of LHS.
  • Categories of information are included in the search.
    • This website: larkspurhistoricalsociety.org
    • Over 300 archived LHS documents, mostly PDFs.
    • Archives of programs, newsletters, presentations, etc.
    • The Binder Archives have been chunked into 175 individual files and integrated into the search agent.
  • The search agent does not handle images and photos. The plan is to integrate images into the photo archive.
  • If the search agent stops returning results, try reloading the website in the browser and/or allow pop-ups.
  • The search agent is developed on Google Cloud using Gemini. The instructions to the search agent are as follows:
    • Given the conversation between a user and a helpful assistant and some search results, create a final answer for the assistant. The answer should use all relevant information from the search results, not introduce any additional information, and use exactly the same words as the search results when possible. The assistant’s answer should provide historical context, with a maximum of 20 sentences.

Search Type & Selection

The default and most comprehensive search is to query both the LHS website and the OCR document store. The search scope may be narrowed using theType Button. If the OCR scope is selected, the document Source Button will appear, and may be used to select the source(s) as described below. Notice that the AI summary will be different, depending on the source(s) that are selected.

  • Type Button: You may select LHS Site Search or LHS OCR search.
  • Source Button
    • Archives – LHS documents with stand-alone content
    • Programs – LHS newsletters, flyers, presentations, etc.
    • Larkspur Binder, Spring Valley Binder, etc- Contents of specific books in the LHS Binder Project
      • Note: The Source Button may only populate if the search has made a hit on that source