What is the minimum amount of info needed to create a profile?

Question

Sometimes, when I want to "create" a new person aka profile, I am not sure that I have enough information/sources to do that.
If I have parents names, person's name and their birth date with one source, is that enough?

What does everyone consider the minimum necessary to create a profile? Or is there a WikiTree guideline for this?

In the profile linked below, I have Rachel's children listed in the Research Notes section. Do I have enough there to enter the kids?

Answer 1

If I want to add a parent, spouse, or child to someone's profile then I want the LNAB (last name at birth) and at least one date - either birth or death.  I want the same information to add a sibling, but then I also want to have at least one parent (that connects the siblings) already in WikiTree.

With the new rules about living people, if I have a birth date less than 100 years old, I still won't add the person unless I know the person is no longer living.

From a quick glance at Rachel's profile, it looks like you have plenty!  Very nice work!!!

Comments

Thank you!

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Under the new GDPR rules, I no longer add any living persons. They will now only be added when I find a DOD for them.

Answer 2

Rachel, I’ve seen more than a couple of profiles with absolutely no data and only one source, a gedcom source. Two of these I’ve merged into my tree.

However, Gaile makes a good point. There’s got to be something there for others to see to make decisions about connecting with other trees. And what you stated is just what I’d look for: parents, a date and a source. Less than that and we would have no idea who a profile would represent.

And I agree with Gaile, too, in the work you’ve done with your profile. Good job!

Comments

Thank you!

Answer 3

The absolute minimum that I use is first and last name, gender, date of birth or death and one source to support that date.

After I have created a family of profiles like this, then I go back and add in new sources, the bio and other information, any images I have etc.