Ways we can stress the importance of sources?

+10 votes
348 views

Not sure if this is better under genealogy help or special projects, but I think we need to figure out a way to stress the importance of sources.  I've just edited the Help Index and included another link to the sources page (it's alphabetical in the articles too). 

Maybe greeters can start mentioning sources when confirming a volunteer, or even when welcoming a guest?  Something like what I did on the Help Index? e.g., "Please include sources for information that you add to WikiTree (uploading primary documentation or providing information that would allow others to find it is best, but at least some idea of where the information came from)."

Cheers, Liz

 

in Policy and Style by Liz Shifflett G2G6 Pilot (626k points)
recategorized by Keith Hathaway
I think the people who designed this site have done a wonderful job. And I hestitate to dump stuff in their laps. But in the way of improvements, which I think would also help sourcing, would be a place under each data point (birth date, birth place, death date, etc.) to add a source right then, while you are filling out the basic profile. I am adding profiles manually, and I admit that I filled out the basic information for many people to fill out my tree without sources. Now I am going back and adding sources and more information as I work on biographies.

I think adding a note would be helpful. After working with wikitree for about a year I think I would do things a little differently, going more slowly, focusing on fulsome basic information first, then adding biographical details at a later date. Right now I am doing just that, working through my watchlist and adding birth and death date and places, plus sources (even if it's just "Aunt Susie told me so"), and then will go back to biographical information.
I could have wrtten what you just did Ellen!! Especially about doing it a little differently by adding source information when I created the profile (and also that my best source is often "dad always showed it this way").

I think the suggestion for a source field with each data field has been discussed. I'll see if I can find the link.

Cheers, Liz
Wow, Ellen... I, too, could have written those exact words. I am adding profiles manually. When I first started here, in October, I just entered a bunch of names and birth dates. Now, I am playing catch-up, going back through to enter sources, biographies and photos for everyone one I can.

I had considered uploading a gedcom file, but mine was made ages ago. And, I know I didn't have many sources included... and, with this being such a huge collabrative effort, I was afraid of uploading old, unresearched data that may be incorrect. I figured I would add people individually, trying to check them as I went along. You know.. what if I uploaded my gedcom and found that I then had to deal with hundreds of merges?!  lol  Okay, so I chickened out.  Now, my only worry is if I'm doing ok with listing my sources. Would anyone mind taking a look at some I've done give me some feedback?

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Rudyard-11

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kent-824

Thanks, Brenda
Brenda, both of the above pages are attractive and laid out very well. I agree with Liz and especially like the Rudyard page with the sources to FamilySearch.org.

1 Answer

+2 votes
 
Best answer

Liz, since I'm a greeter, many people visit my profile page every day. I've included a few suggestions on the page including the following:

"Try to document and include the source of the document for each profile you create, especially when you get further back in your ancestry. [I'm still working on this one. Here are some of the research sites I use.]

Including this needed information will take time, but it's a good goal to work toward and will make much sturdier branches for the worldwide tree."

~*~

I was including this in a separate message on their profile pages when I confirmed people, but since I'd already given them a number of important links, I was afraid I'd scare more people off than help the site so I transferred it to my profile page where I know quite a few see it. Also, when people tell me they are new to genealogy, I encourage them to read the suggestions on my page. The above is just a baby step, but it gets newbies thinking about the importance of documentation and sourcing and, hopefully, quite a few will follow through.

What you wrote is really good:

"Please include sources for information that you add to WikiTree (uploading primary documentation or providing information that would allow others to find it is best, but at least some idea of where the information came from)."

My greeting is already quite long, but perhaps I could put a shortened form of the above in it.

 

 

by Debby Black G2G6 Mach 8 (84.6k points)
selected by Liz Shifflett
Debby - what a great idea to include information on your profile page!  I'll have to steal, er, borrow some of your ideas to post on mine (kinda like how I borrowed wording from you and Maggie to greet people with!).  Thank You!
Greeter here . Thanks for the suggestion ,Liz.  I have had helpful links on my profile page  since being a greeter and just listed your one on sources.  I just rewrote my confirmation messages to mention sources. .Like Debby said ,with the variety of genealogists that come to WikiTree , for many it will be in "baby steps ".

Maggie
hmm. once best answer is chosen, no more "reply answer comment" links?

I wanted to reply to Brenda - I took a look at the two profiles you listed, and I think you've done a good job on yours (I especially liked that the links to familysearch.org worked and didn't ask for money :).  The profile you added to, you included your source, but the other sources are to $ sites, which a lot of people can't see.  There's been discussions about those... http://www.wikitree.com/g2g/16977/is-there-a-preferred-way-to-list-sources-in-profiles and, um, one you started :) at http://www.wikitree.com/g2g/20258/anyone-else-having-trouble-when-sources-linked-only-pay-sites ... the one I was thinking of was this one: http://www.wikitree.com/g2g/14144/should-links-to-citations-pay-sites-included-in-biographies
Maggie - I'll have to visit your page for additions too!  Thanks to both you and Debby for mentoring me as greeter even though you didn't know it (by example, and I must say y'all are hard to keep up with!!)

'hmm. once best answer is chosen, no more "reply answer comment" links?'

I had the same problem the other day, Liz. I had to reply at the bottom of the comments instead of replying to a specific person. Later I came back to the page, when someone else made a comment, and the comment section was there again. A bug? I've never experienced this before.

 

Hi again Debby and Maggie - I've updated my profile and used your names (as links for additional great info).  Let me know if how I've used your names is ok with you or - if not - how you'd like me to change it.  Thanks again, Liz
Liz, your profile page is outstanding. It's clean, concise, yet filled with good information. I like the way you put the WikiTree information above the biography.  It shows out-of-the-box thinking which I've never been very good at.
Thanks :D
Both of your profile pages are great ! Onward to better sourcing at WikiTree !

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