Announcing the new Medieval Project [closed]

Question

We are pleased to announce the new Medieval Project. Project leaders are John Atkinson, Michael Cayley, and myself.  The project will focus on all pre-1500 profiles (not just royals and nobles) that aren’t already covered by other projects (such as Magna Carta and some country projects). Due to the scope of the project, pre-1500 certification is required to be a project member.  Those of us that are passionate about medieval genealogy want Wikitree to be a place where accurate information is available and discussed concerning those that lived during this period of time.  We also have the opportunity to become the place where we are the leading edge for new research being done.  The Medieval project will not be focusing on aristocrats.  Certainly some will be included, and project members are free to work on any profiles they desire, but aristocrats are not the primary focus of the project.

The criteria we envisage for the Medieval Project (MP) management are as follows:

1. MP will take over pre-1500 profiles that were managed by the European Aristocrats Project (EuroAristo). Some of them may not need Project management if there is another, pre-1500-badged profile manager, and we plan to weed those out over time.

2. Where the EuroAristo project has been co-manager with another Project, we will consider which Project should be the manager. As a general proposition, we do not need two Projects actively managing pre-1500 profiles. This will be a process that can take place over time.

3. Where another Project is already managing a profile, MP will not seek to become a manager unless the other Project wants to drop out.

4. If another Project (e.g. Magna Carta) has a good reason for wanting to manage a profile managed by MP, there will be no problems - and MP will often want to bow out of management.

5. MP will be flexible about the 1500 boundary. For instance, if the England Project is taking over post-1500 monarchs, it is appropriate for the England Project to manage Henry VIII even though he was born before 1500.

6. Other Projects and all Wikitree members can suggest profiles for MP management.

7. For profiles not currently managed by a Project, there would be no automatic presumption that MP would become a manager.
- If there is a pre-1500-badged profile manager, MP would seek to become a profile manager only if there was a special reason.
- If there is no pre-1500-badged manager, and there is a tangle to unravel, or some other mess, MP would either become a profile manager or see if whoever works on the tangle is willing to do so.
- In other cases, MP would not normally become a manager.

8. New profiles would normally be managed by whoever creates them unless there is a special reason for MP management.

9. We may want to ensure that a Project, not necessarily MP, is a manager for certain key types of figures, like monarchs, discussing if necessary with other Projects which Project is best placed to take on the role.

10. The usual WT criteria for Project Protection will apply.

With the advent of this project, we plan to reduce the European Aristocrats project back to one project covering post-1500 profiles.  There will no longer be separate British Aristo and Euro Aristo sub-projects.  With the advent of numerous country projects over the past couple of years (e.g. England, Germany, Scotland), EuroAristo has started reducing the number of profiles that are managed by the project and allowed the country projects to oversee the bulk of the profiles for their respective countries.

Availability of time ebbs and flows.  The Medieval project will not be requiring any certain level of participation to be a member.  If you have the skill set to research in the medieval period and are pre-1500 certified, then we welcome you as a member.  To join, reply with an answer (as opposed to comment) to this post.

We have a few teams already in place, but we welcome and encourage other teams to research and manage medieval profiles.  Feel free to contact John, Michael, or me to discuss your ideas.

We have a Google group for the project.  Membership in it is optional.  If you'd like to join, send me a PM.

If you are not pre-1500 certified, you are not eligible to join the project (due to the scope of the project).

Darlene - Co-Leader, Medieval Project and European Aristocrats Project

Comments

Love the idea of a Medieval Project.  I'll do some work on my medieval research skill set before I ask to join, but I will certainly follow your project with interest and I'll be rooting for you guys.

Answer 1

I can't believe I never officially joined until now! I'd love to sign up if you would have me :) My particular areas are the UK (mostly England, but I don't mind dabbling in Ireland) and bits of Europe (such as France)

Comments

Hi Amelia, we'd love to have you!  I've awarded you the badge and added you to the Google discussion group.

Answer 2

My current focus includes many pre-1500 profiles in England. Would like to keep up with google group on this subject.

Comments

Thanks, Rose. I have made you a Project member. If you send me a private message, that will give me your email address so I can add you to the Project Google Group. or you can ask to join the Group, https://groups.google.com/g/wtmedieval - if you do that, please give your WT ID.

Thanks for all you are doing on medieval English profiles. So much to do, and never enough time.

Answer 3

Count me in! I forgot to sign up.

Comments

Welcome aboard. I have given you the project badge and added you to the Google Group.

Answer 4

Happy to help, Wales is my primary area of interest.

Comments

Thanks, Anne. I have made you a member of the Project - welcome.

If you send me a private message, that will give me your email address so I can add you to the project's Google Group as well.

Answer 5

I would like to join but need my pre-1500 certification. I have all of the requirements and have been looking and commenting for several months trying to find where I can find someone to look at profiles I have worked on and to take the certification quiz. I realize this may not be the best place for this but am trying any forum that comes to my email with "pre-1500" listed as a topic. Apologies for any disruptions this may cause and I genuinely appreciate any guidance towards a person, group or page (other than the list of things needed as there aren't contacts) is greatly appreciated. Thank You, Becky Elizabeth (Simmons-11603)

Comments

Thanks for your potential interest. As you recognise, you need to get pre-1500 certification before you can join the Medieval Project.

You have no doubt looked at the guidance on pre-1500 certification at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Pre-1500_Profiles. You will probably have seen that participation in a pre-1700 Project is stated to be a requirement for applying for the pre-1500 badge. I do not think you are yet a member of one of these Projects. So you might want to identify a pre-1700 Project you want to work with.

When you feel ready to apply for pre-1500 certification, you need to name some pre-1700 profiles on which you have done substantial well-sourced work of which you are proud, and the profiles will be looked at, along, probably, with other pre-1700 profiles to which you have contributed.

Answer 6

I would like to join the Medieval Project.  I descend from the Capetian dynasty (France), all the way back to 987 and successors to the throne (Kings)

Comments

Hi Keith. Thanks for your interest, As the initial post in this thread makes clear, to join the Medieval Project people have to have pre-1500 certification, for what will probably be self-evident reasons. You can read about the certification at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Pre-1500_Profiles.

I hope you enjoy exploring your ancestry.

Answer 7

I think I would like to join please. I have pre 1500 certification. England mainly but can do some Russian lines possibly as I am a Russian speaker but not sure of how good sources are for those.

Regards,

Ann

Comments

Thanks Ann. Great that you are interested. I will give you the Project badge and add you to the Project Google Group.

Answer 8

I could contribute something to this project and would take part as it leaves me free to do as little or as much as my current research allows time to contribute.

I already study various aspects of medieval history and have done for more than ten years.  My special interests are in English culture (with genealogical matters included) from the Norman conquest to the end of the 1800s--with particular attention to Elizabethan and Jacobean England.

 I use the facilities (on-line and on-site) of two of the most important London-based research libraries and can access the National Archives and the Society of Genealogists (as a subscriber-member to that organization).

Comments

Hi, I see that you have just recently joined Wikitree.  As the initial post in this thread notes, to join the Medieval Project people have to have pre-1500 certification, for what will probably be self-evident reasons. You can read about the certification at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Pre-1500_Profiles

Once you obtain pre-1500 certification, we would be happy to welcome you as a member of the project and could certainly use your skills.

Answer 9

I'd love to be a part of this, if I may. Hoping to learn from others here and gain some more experience.

Comments

Hi Frances, thank you for your interest.  We would be happy to have you as a member to help with medieval profiles.  I have awarded you the project badge.  Please send me a message if you would like to join the Google discussion group.

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Thank you so much!  I would like to join the discussion group, please. 

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Hi Frances, I need you to send me a private message in order for me to have your email address to add you to the group.  Thanks!

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Sent you an e-mail - thanks!

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Got it, and added you to the Google group.  Thanks for joining the project and working on pre-1500 profiles!

Answer 10

I would love to join your project! Just note that I am also a member of the Magna Carta and Acadian Projects as well so I will do my best! It shouldn't be an issue since Medieval and Magna Carta profiles often cross I imagine. You can read about me in my profile [[Larocque-466]].

Thanks again!

Comments

Hi Darrell, we are happy to have you join the Medieval Project.  I've awarded you the project badge.  I will send you a PM with regard to joining the Medieval Google discussion group.

Answer 11

Am I allowed to join this project? I don't have pre-1500 clearance but I have some knowledge of English Medieval history and law, particularly 15th century. I have been indexing Common Pleas  records for about 10 years.
https://waalt.uh.edu/index.php/Main_Page
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Indices/CP40Indices/CP40_Indices.html
 

Comments

Hi Vance, due to the scope of the project, you have to be pre-1500 certified to be a project member.  This doesn't preclude you from helping with research for the profiles, though.  I'll send you a PM.

Answer 12

Hi Darlene, I'd love to join please.  Preference is to work on peeps in England. Thanks, Susie.

Comments

Hi Susan, I've awarded you the badge.  I'll send you a PM in order to get your email address and add you to the Google group.

Answer 13

Add me to this project please.

Comments

Hi Dan, I've awarded you the badge and added you to the Google discussion group.  Thanks for joining!

Answer 14

Definitely something to aspire to!  Kudos to all who take this on.

Answer 15

I wish i was that far wow

Answer 16

Would like to me included in the Medieval Project.  Thank You.

Comments

Hi Beryl, I've awarded you the project badge.   I'll send you a PM in order to get your email address and add you to the Google discussion group.

Answer 17

I love this time period and spend hours going over the history and my ancestors

Comments

Well, if you ever decide to get your pre-1500 certification, we'll be glad to have you as a project member.  If you don't want to get that, you can still help with research and can post your information here on G2G or directly on the profile, including the sources (and links if available).

Answer 18

Could you add me in too, I'm not sure if I am on list or not and these long dark days of winter are good for digging.

Comments

Hi Monica, I've awarded you the badge and will add you to the Google discussion group.  Thanks for joining!

Answer 19

Yes I would like to join. Thank you for the opportunity. Julie Holland

Comments

Hi Julie, 

As the initial post in this thread notes, to join the Medieval Project people have to have pre-1500 certification, for what will probably be self-evident reasons. You can read about the certification at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Pre-1500_Profiles

Once you obtain pre-1500 certification, we would be happy to welcome you as a member of the project.

Answer 20

I am interested though my focus is mainly on Cornwall

Comments

Hi Jean, I've awarded you the badge.  I'll send you a PM via email to which you'll need to respond if you'd like to join the Google discussion group.  I need your email address in order to add you to the Google group.  Thanks.