Do you have any 2022 Source-a-Thon questions? [closed]

Question

The 7th annual Source-a-Thon is almost upon us! Sign ups are still going in the G2G. Registration officially closes tonight, the 28th, at midnight (EDT), so get registered if you haven't already! Check out the Help page for basic information on the Thon, it's teams, and prizes. Make sure to bookmark or favorite the "Did you win a 2022 Source-a-Thon prize" post!

If you aren't in Discord yet, check out the Discord Help page so that you can participate in live chat with your teammates! If you are looking for the tracker (scores), that can be found here.

If you have any questions after all of that, please post them below! Any comments will be hidden once read.

Comments

I’m working on a family from Wisconsin. One of the childrens first name was listed as colonel. Looking at the census records on the fathers profiles as well as the dates of birth on the census his name should have been Charles.

I’ve now found a sister with the wrong name. (There are other siblings as well)Whoever made the profile had already put the birth year in so I’m putting them together with the census.

How common is this? Has anyone else come across this?

Story this should have been on the answer section

Answer 1

First timer here. Does it count the same if you add only once source or more than one source to a profile?

What about profile that have no sources but don’t have the Unsourced Profile sticker?

Comments

Yes. We are counting the number of profiles that are sourced, not the number of sources added. That being said, it is best practice to add several sources while you are at it to improve the profile. It is also nice to make the citations "in-line" with a little biography. Of course, it is perfectly acceptable to just add a good source and move on. That is up to each individual to decide how they prefer to work.

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Thank you Lucy! Great answer.

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I think that is a bit sad. We are being encouraged to compete, and yet discouraged from doing a thorough job on one Profile.
I know the objective is to reduce the number of Unsourced Profiles, but this procedure encourages people to only put in one census record when they have found, let's say, five.

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There isn't anything stopping people from adding as many sources as they can.  There are more Teams than just the Tortoises encouraging their team's members to do just that.  

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Its really the only way to track it that isn't prohibitively painful manual review. Plus, even moving an unsourced to a single source is significant and opens up possibilities for further research.

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Nobody is ever discouraged from putting full sources on a profile, Steve. I get my "granny" nickname from working slow and being thorough. It is really up to each person. And Jonathan is right - sometimes one source is just what is needed to point someone in the right direction. 

Answer 2

Hope this works. I'd like to be in the Connectathon, Cornbread Catchers if they're joinging in? Thank you! Marsha

Comments

Hi Marsha. The registration is closed. This is for questions about how the Source-a-Thon works. Is there anything I can answer for you? 

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the connect a thon tomorrow has closed registration already? do I understand this correctly?

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Marsha, the 'Thon beginning tomorrow is not a Connect-a-Thon, but is a Source-a-Thon — and, yes, registrations have closed for the event.  (Midnight US-eastern was the cutoff.)
That doesn't mean you can't add sources anyway.  You just won't get any points, or be part of a Team.  There will, however, be another 'Thon event of some kind in about 3 months.  

edited to correct keyboard error

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Thank you, Melanie Paul. I appreciate the info.

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There will also be the live-cast "hangouts", and you can watch those.  

(I expect the announcement of the next 'Thon event will be posted sometime in December, for January.)

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You could always join in on the Sourcerers Challenge for October, though it won’t start until the Thon is over.

Answer 3

I have a question regarding the source-a-thon (this is my first and I'm only a few months old on WikiTree)... what is meant by "BIB number"?  Also, is there any WikiTree acronym help page?  I "stumble" everytime someone uses an acronym (lol).

Thanks!

Comments

Hi Patti. Thank you for joining the Source-a-Thon! Your "bib number" is your racer number. Yours is 472. As we give out prizes for this marathon based on who is actively participating, we use bib numbers to help track the prizes. You can check the G2G post for prizes awarded and watch us during the hangouts on YouTube every four hours.

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Patty, these two help pages may help you in the future:

* Help:Glossary

*  WikiTree Abbreviations & Acronyms

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Thank you Mindy!  I was thinking "bib" was some kind of acronym ("build it better" -- lol) but I understand now that it is a term used to identify runners in a race -- like in marathons, etc.  That makes sense -- I've just never heard that term before.. Thanks again,

Patti

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Thank you Richard -- these are very helpful links!

Patti

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I did the same thing the other day.  I asked what they were and everyone was happy to help.

Cynthea

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I’m on a team but don’t see a number next to my name. How do I find it?

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Alice, if you mean the bib#, it's beneath your answer in the registration thread.
You were assigned bib #242.

 

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Thanks!

Answer 4

If I come across a poorly sourced profile without an Unsourced template, eg one that mentions an unsourced family tree on another site without a link like Geni, or one with a generic reference like National Archives, or a Find a Grave without a headstone, can I source it properly with BDM records and claim the point?

Comments

If you find an unsourced profile that does not have the Unsourced template, you can still add at least one source and count it for the Source-A-Thon.

See this G2G thread for more detail: What profiles count as unsourced for the Source-A-Thon?

Also see this section in Help:Sources_FAQ

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Thanks, Valerie, for the link. I asked a similar question two years ago and that link clarifies that anything without specific primary sources can count as “unsourced”.

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You can add one if it says "family tree" or "personal knowledge." If there is a FindAGrave link or citation that is considered a valid source.

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Mindy, does that mean even a FindAGrave link without a headstone is counted as sourced?

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Only for the purposes of the Source-a-Thon. IRL Find a Grave with no headstone or other source attached is not a good source. It's a good lead though always.

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Just because a Find a Grave memorial has a photograph of a grave marker, does not make it a valid source, as the information on those stones is quite often incorrect.  I have seen stones etched with a date a year or more after the person's death certificate was issued.  And the birth info — that's only as good as the informant's knowledge, and if the person lived a lie for most of their life, even their nearest and dearest might not know the facts.

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You are so right, Melanie! I have found some Find-A-Grave memorials extremely inaccurate for not only the reasons you mention, but also because the additional info and relationships added to the memorial page are usually not sourced.

Answer 5

What if an unsourced profile's privacy level is set to public (Hall-16114) and the PM has not made any changes since 2018?

Comments

Those are not good thon profiles, Mary. You would need to go through the standard Unresponsive Profile Managers steps.

Answer 6

Question deleted as I found the answer.

Comments

Have a great weekend, Shonda!!

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You too!

Answer 7

Question regarding "sources" that give partial findability. I have a profile where the only source is: Census 1930-partial. 1930 Christianburg, Shelby County, Kentucky. I also have seen profiles where it just says 1930 Census without any additional information. So would the one listing a location count as sourced and the one without be unsourced? 

Comments

There are some great examples in the Sources FAQ page. If you know you are looking for John Smith and they cite that he was in Christianburg, Shelby, Kentucky in the 1930 census that is a valid source. They don't have to have a link to it or additional information. If they just put "1930 census" that is not a valid source. 

Answer 8

If I source an Unknown, unsourced orphan and find the LNAB, does it complicate the count, if I change the LNAB and cause a redirect to the new profile?.

Comments

I'm going to go on record as saying "who cares, great job!" to that one.

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I like Jonathan's answer, but no it shouldn't effect your score.

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Thanks - I will go ahead and do the name change then.  I was planning to make a list to do the name changes in a few days.

Answer 9

If you are looking for an Unsourced list for your region, you can find those here: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:DBE_Unsourced

Answer 10

Hi 

Could anyone explain why I would get this message

 For this challenges profile doesn't officially qualify: 

 on this profile https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Smit-3338

but the husband did not preduce the same problem. 

Please and thank you in advance

Comments

Hi Ronel. We talked to Ales about that at the last hangout. Some of the profiles say that as they fall into a different category of "unsourced," but they still count. Go ahead and use the tracker and it will count.

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Thank you Mindy

My team members and I appreciate your reply.

Answer 11

I have a habit of building out the person's bio with their sources. Is this something you want us to do or just add the sources by themselves?

Here is one for example: Moses Vail Barkalow

Comments

Everyone works a little differently. Filling out the biography is great, Shonda! Nice work.

Answer 12

I have to say that I am somewhat stunned at the complexity I perceive in the many links to the "Oct 2022 Sauce-a-Thon" - I do not know where to begin!

What is the process? Is it published somewhere? My brain is already full and the data is slipping and sliding away!!! LOL!!!

Comments

Simplified (I hope) — 

1. Add sources/citations to profiles ("in-line" preferred, but not required).
2. Remove the {{Unsourced}} template (should be found above the Biography header), and/or any "unsourced" [[categories]] (also should be found above the Biography header).
3. Save profile edits with a reason.
4. Click the tracker "button" in the banner that appears above the profile when saved (see image), and add your reason, then save.  (Mostly your WT-ID# should already be there, but if it isn't, add it.)
5. Move on to your next target profile.

Answer 13

This is not a question, but the information herein it is important, and not exactly widely known — and is something we all SHOULD know.  (And my comment on the "Did you win a prize" thread will likely disappear.)

It needs to be noted that in order to be eligible for the prize drawing each four hours, you have to have been active in the 30 minutes previous to the drawing.  It doesn't matter if you are actively seeking your sources elsewhere (such as BDM repositories), if you are not actively saving profiles and using the tracker in that 30 minutes, you are not in the draw.<ref>Aleš Trtnik, per the hangout video</ref>

Answer 14

Hi Mindy, Sorry I'm a bit behind here in Canada.  It was the first annual Truth and Reconciliation day in Canada.  It did not go over well in my town; the red-necking capitalists.  I was assaulted, my house vandalised again and I just finished dealing with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP - they don't have horses; big fast Ford Trucks).  I'll get back at it in the morning.  Everyone is doing great!  This will be fun.  I want to hibernate but my front door is smashed in....

Comments

Oh no! I hope you are okay, Jacqueline. Stay safe.

Answer 15

Sorry I'm starting late.  Due to Hurricane Ian we lost power, water and internet early Thursday morning. Finally got it back Friday but had a lot of clean up to do.

I'm jumping in to help source now.

Comments

I hope you are safe, Lisa! Was very much damage done?

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I'm safe.  I live in a semi rural area with lots of old trees 100 years or older, so there was a lot of tree limbs down.  We are counting our blessings since so many areas received so much more damage.  Other towns in my county are being flooded by the St John's river.

Lisa

Answer 16

Does this count? I fixed profile gosti-9, which I believe was showing as unsourced because of formatting issues with the intended sources.

Also, I'd appreciate any comments on or corrections to the specific changes I made.

Comments

Those are good sources on Anna Gostl, Charlie. 

Answer 17

Does the list of unsourced profiles get updated during the weekend or is this on its regular cycle (whatever that is)? Just trying to learn more about the amazing work the system, and other volunteers are doiing in the background.

Comments

As I deleted the Unsourced Template from the profiles that I sourced, they were removed from my list of unsourced profiles.

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The master Data Doctor Suggestion lists won't be updated an extra time. Your own Suggestion list will clear as usual.

Answer 18

The tracker shows that I have 22 profiles sourced, but my contributions shows 25. Am I able to check each profile's challenge tracker to double-check that I checked that profile's tracker?

Comments

You can see which profiles you marked with the tracker at https://wikitree.sdms.si/function/WTTrackerReview/profiles.htm?Challenge=SourceaThon2022&WikiTreeID=Nibling-2. If you compare that with your contribution history then hopefully you can spot any missing ones.

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Adie-36

Bisset-249

For some reason, these two profiles didn't count even though neither had sources. One of them had Geni.com as a source, which we all know is not a source. Will you explain why so I don't waste time on like profiles?

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Based on the report I linked above, which is all I have to go on, it looks like Bisset-249 was already being counted:

01.10.2022 19:19:38 Bisset-249 Added sourced baptismal/christening date

Adie-36 looks like it is now being counted having recently been marked:

02.10.2022 16:25:07 Adie-36 Added sourced baptismal/christening date & location

Answer 19

What if we come across a profile that is unsourced but is not on the unsourced list. Do we still get points if we add sources?

I sourced Hannah Blackledge but her brother and parents are also unsourced but are not marked.

Comments

Yes..

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Tommy is right, you do get points. It is often easier to work from the Unsourced lists, but you don't have to. 

Answer 20

I found a female whose last name is incorrect.  Her birth name was Miller but instead it list her last name as Davidson which is the last name of her 1st husband.  I think this happened because the marriage certificate listed her name as Davidson when she married her second husband.  How can I make this change?  Or where do I find the information on how to solve this issue?  The profile is an orphan, if that makes a different.

Comments

Since the profile is an orphan, you can adopt the profile and change the LNAB accordingly.  Next to the LNAB field will be an edit option once you adopt the profile.

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You just need to make sure you add a source that supports the Last Name At Birth, and then do as Tommy said - adopt the profile, change the LNAB, and then remove yourself from the profile.