Are you interested in discovering your family’s history and connecting with relatives from around the world? Look no further than WikiTree, the collaborative genealogy website that allows you to build and share your family tree. In this beginner’s guide, we will walk you through the basics of using WikiTree and how it can help you uncover your ancestral roots.
What is WikiTree?
WikiTree is an online platform that enables users to create and collaborate on a single, shared family tree. Unlike other genealogy websites, WikiTree focuses on accuracy and collaboration rather than individual trees. The goal is to create one global family tree that connects everyone together.
To get started on WikiTree, simply sign up for a free account and start adding your own ancestors. You can also connect with existing profiles if they are already on the site. Once you have added your ancestors, you can begin exploring connections with other users’ trees and collaborate with them to fill in missing information.
Building Your Family Tree
The first step in using WikiTree is building your own family tree. Start by entering the details of yourself and your immediate family members. From there, work backward by adding information about your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on.
When adding individuals to your tree, try to include as much relevant information as possible. This includes their full names, birthdates, death dates, locations of birth and death, occupations, spouses’ names (if applicable), children’s names (if applicable), and any other pertinent details.
It’s important to note that WikiTree operates under a strict sourcing policy. This means that when adding information to your tree or editing existing profiles, you should always include credible sources such as birth certificates, marriage records, census data, or other official documents. This helps ensure the accuracy of the shared global tree.
Collaborating with Others
One of the unique features of WikiTree is its emphasis on collaboration. As you build your family tree, you will likely come across profiles that are already connected to other users’ trees. This presents an opportunity to collaborate and share information.
When collaborating with others on WikiTree, it’s important to be respectful and open-minded. Remember that each user has their own research and may have different perspectives on certain individuals or relationships. By working together, you can help fill in missing information, correct errors, and expand your tree.
WikiTree also provides various tools for communication and collaboration, such as private messaging, public comments on profiles, and message boards for specific surnames or regions. These resources allow you to connect with other users who may have expertise in certain areas or who are researching the same ancestors.
Sharing Your Family Tree
Once you have built your family tree on WikiTree, it’s time to share it with others. The beauty of WikiTree is that all profiles are public by default, meaning they can be viewed and accessed by anyone. This openness promotes collaboration and allows distant relatives to discover and connect with your tree.
In addition to sharing your tree on the WikiTree platform itself, you can also export your tree as a GEDCOM file and upload it to other genealogy websites or software programs. This enables you to reach a wider audience and potentially connect with relatives who may not be using WikiTree.
Remember that while sharing your family tree is exciting, it’s also important to respect the privacy of living individuals. Be mindful of including personal details about living family members unless you have their consent.
In conclusion, WikiTree is a powerful tool for building and sharing your family tree. By collaborating with others and contributing accurate information from credible sources, you can help create a global network of interconnected ancestors. So why wait? Start exploring your roots today with WikiTree.
This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.
