The In-Depth Genealogist a digital community for all genealogists
The In-Depth Genealogist believes in one thing strongly: We are better together than we are apart. By collaborating with one another, we are able to educate one another, push each other further, and support those going through that frustrating or confusing trip over a brick wall. Thanks to WikiTree.com, we have a vibrant, free, community based on a code of honor where we can plant our roots.
IDG shares many thanks to Chris Whitten and Elyse Doerflinger of WikiTree.com for sharing such valuable information with us. Have you used WikiTree? What do you think? Share it with us in the comments below and on Twitter or Facebook.
WikiTree.com is a 100% free website with the mission of creating a single worldwide family tree. With a carefully-designed balance between privacy and open collaboration, members are able to privately share profiles of modern people with close family members, and publicly collaborate on deep ancestors with distant cousins.
Every single profile on WikiTree has a Trusted List and a Privacy Level. The Trusted List is somewhat similar to a friends list on a social networking site. If you are on a profile’s Trusted List, then you can see everything. If you are not on the Trusted List, then what you can see and do is based on the Privacy Level.
With six different Privacy Levels to choose from, on modern profiles you can always find something that’s right for your comfort level, and that of your family members. Profiles of people from over 200 years ago must be set to Public (anyone can view the profile but only the Trusted List can edit) or Open (anyone can view and any registered WikiTree members can edit, but all edits are tracked and can be changed). This unique privacy system allows for secure information sharing on modern family history and open collaboration on deeper genealogy — all on the same website!
WikiTree profiles are designed for rich information, not just names and dates. Contributors are encouraged to add biographies and sources. Plus, every profile has space for personal memories, comments, and unlimited photos and PDF documents.
One of WikiTree’s most popular recent additions is the Genealogist-to-Genealogist (G2G) question and answer forum. While most of WikiTree is designed for family member collaboration, G2G is designed for collaboration amongst genealogists who don’t necessarily share a close connection. Users ask for research advice, specific help on brick walls, look-ups from reference books and local resources, and website how-to help. The G2G community has proven to be a generous, supportive, and collaborative environment for genealogists working towards the same common goal: to learn more about our ancestors.
Participation in the WikiTree community is based on the Wiki Genealogist Honor Code. Its nine simple points establish basic rules for civil interaction, respect for copyrights and privacy, acknowledgement of other researchers, the role of sources, and the importance of keeping information as free and open as possible.
To join WikiTree you need to be invited by a family member or fellow genealogist. But don’t let this scare you away if you don’t know anyone. WikiTreers are anxious to invite other serious genealogists to join their ranks. See the page listing members to contact for an invitation.
© WikiTree.com 2012
Wow, talk about timing! I was looking at joining last night and had resolved to reach out to Russ Worthington to see if he would invite me.
While I am certainly a fan of collaboration the idea of others editing my tree gives me pause. I’m also wondering if it will add too or take from the work on the two personal genealogy websites that I host. On the other hand, one of those sites will never rise to the level of the GPS unless I relocate to the south. That might be a perfect tree to include in the Wiki because collaboration is essentially the only means of moving forward.
I’m anxious to learn more.
A big thank-you to Stephanie and the IDG team for being interested in the WikiTree project and helping to spread the word about it.
Rorey, welcome to WikiTree! I know Russ will invite you but if you have any problems let us know. When you get settled, check out our blog/website widgets. Among other things, you can have a widget on your site display any family tree from WikiTree. It’s embedded on your page but the content is dynamically-updated from WikiTree, so when your Southern cousins help you fill in the blanks you won’t have to keep going back to update the page.
I’m inspired by the description of this group, with their interest in collaboration and privacy, and their honor code. As usual, thank you Steph and Elyse, and also thank you, Chris. I’ve started a private online family tree on ancestry.com and will invite my family members as guests. How does this mesh with WikiTree, or does it? I’ve written to ask for an invite, hoping it will all work out.
Mariann, I sent you an invite. Welcome! You’ll find that WikiTree is all about collaboration. That’s the entire purpose. It’s very different from what you can do on Ancestry.