Genealogical
Collaboration
Some tips on how
to get
the best/most out of a “collaborative” genealogical system and how to
do so
while building
and maintaining positive relationships with others in the
same system.
DEFINITION:
Collaborative
Genealogical Application/System
A (usually
web/Internet based )
genealogical application where potentially millions of users
can access
and update a single massive database (usually some sort of
family tree
database). The concept of "my database" versus "your
database" does not exist in such a collaborative
system.
It is one centrally accessible data store that all users have access to
and can
normally make updates, additions, corrections to any records in the
system. Any updates by one person to the records in
the
database can be seen and modified by
others. Any one person
can directly impact the work of another. There can be various
methodologies to
ensure (or not) coordination of updates between the many users -
depending
on the design of each
particular system.
A more detailed discussion of the evolution of siloed
vs
collaborative efforts can be found here http://yanceyfamilygenealogy.org/collaborative.htm
Some example of
NON collaborative systems
This would
include how people did computerized genealogy
work before the days of the Internet
Programs
like: PAF, Brothers Keeper and many other
similar PC/MAC based programs
Both
collaborative and non-collaborative systems can have their
advantages and disadvantages. We will face much less
frustration if we
pick our use of such systems for the right reasons and in
alignment with
our goals and intents.
BELOW - SOME
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION TO HELP YOU BETTER LEVERAGE
AND
BENEFIT FROM COLLABORATIVE SYSTEMS
YOU
ARE NOT ALONE
When using such databases as FamilySearch Family tree, Findagrave, Wikitree and other similar sites - be keenly aware of the fact that the system you are using is a collaborative system – and any updates you make can affect other people (for good or bad) who are using the system. Those "other people" can also impact work you are doing. A positive synergistic relationship is key. If you consider it to be "your family tree" (that you want to retain control of ) and if you would be annoyed by other people updating information (that at times may not always agree with your information) - then chances are you should seriously consider a non-collaborative system for your own family tree.
As you do update
information in a collaborative system - please be
aware of how such information may impact others
interested
in the same persons/records in the database. If, for example,
you submit
information that you don't have primary sources for (or at least
references to
primary sources) - you should seriously consider the possibility that
the
information you are entering could be blatantly erroneous information -
and you
should consider whether you should submit or not all
together. If you
simply "harvested" such info from databases like
Ancestry.,com
(which is rife with erroneous info on family trees) - with no thought
as to the
validity or supporting evidence for such information
- then you
well could be passing on bad information. Many
serious researchers
have faced the common scenario of another person "wreaking havoc" on
their years of very detailed and carefully proven
submissions. As one
simple example: you may take a book that was published 50
years ago - and
see that it has a Spouse for person XYZ - and such a spouse is not
recorded in
Familysearch. So with nothing but good intentions you quickly
add to the
spouse record in FamilySearch. - you feel joyed to have done your part
in
making the database more complete and you start adding more
updates. The
next day you get some irate email from another user saying you are
"wreaking havoc" on the years of research and pointing out that they
had previously removed the spouse from the database - because their
careful
research had proven such a person was never even married. in the first
place. This may seem a little extreme - but it actually
happens all the
time.
(square peg in round
hole?)
MIS-UNDERSTOOD
USES FOR COLLABORATIVE SYSTEMS
A collaborative
system is often mis-used for purposes it was never
intended or designed for in the first place. Make sure the
collaborative
system really
matches
your needs/intent. If what you are intending to do is build some
“family tree database” where you consider yourself the “owner” and you
want either total or primary control of such family tree data - a
collaborative system may not be the right fit for you. As one
example - people often point out the "seeming" flaws in the lack
of complete family relationship links on Findagrave memorials
(not all children being shown as one example). But
one has to realize Findagrave was never designed in the first place to
be a family tree application. If you are just going in to
Findagrave and just entering family tree data - with a total
disregard for grave information - then you are not using the system for
what it was designed. A lack of complete family tree links
in findagrave is usually 1) the grave for such a person has not yet
been located/entered into the system. 2) If it has been entered
the (optional) links to parents/spouses etc has not yet been
made. You can help in establishing these links by
submitting edits to the memorial administrators.
DON'T
UNDER-ESTIMATE the power of a
"crowd-sourcing
system"
Though a
collaborative system surely has its weak points and
some drawbacks - none the less - be careful of "throwing the baby out
with
the wash". Collaborative systems that use "crowd
sourcing" have some incredible potential and power.
Take as one
simple example: If I tasked you with the
assignment to visit all the grave sites across the country -
for members
of the Yancey Family and take photos of their graves, and label such
photos
with information on the deceased and then upload
such thousands of
photos to a web site for all to see - - -You would think I was crazy -
even if
you spent your entire life doing so - you would probably
never complete
the task. And yet, due to
"crowd-sourcing"
Findagrave volunteers across the country - we have just that - a
database of
over ten thousand graves - most with grave site photos and many with
personal/family photos of the deceased. And its all only a
few click
away. This is really nothing less than a
miracle.
Findagrave now
has nearly 20,000 photos posted in relation to
the Yancey/Yancy family - no one person or
small group could ever
have compiled such a large volume of photographic data.
Understand more
about crowds sourcing - click here.
AVOID WORKING IN
A VACUUM
In my
genealogical research I some times find people that seem
to be "working in a vacuum" (even when using collaborative
systems) - I've never quite understood this.
When you are
submitting new information to a collaborative
system - consider reaching out to others - especially if it is evident
there
are others in the system who have been working with the same family or
genealogical material .
There are plenty
of researchers out there - there is no reason
for you to re-invent the wheel.
And working in
joint with others you can at least be better
equipped to know what information you may be considering submitting is
questionable or doubtful or conversely - sound and evidence
supported.
CONSIDER YOUR
ABILITY TO CORRECT THE ERRORS YOU MAY SEE IN A
COLLABORATIVE SYSTEM - INSTEAD OF JUST COMLPAINING
Any collaborative
system is going to have some information that
you may see as "in error.
Please consider
taking (often very nominal) time in correcting
such errors - or tactfully bringing such errors to the
attention of
others so they can fix. The wonderful thing about
live
collaborative systems is they CAN BE CORRECTED - they are a "living
evolving " entity that can be corrected with time and effort.
(this
versus a physical genealogy book printing - that is out of date even
before it
gets through the printing process - and then set in stone - in a format
no one
can update. )
Click here
for more info on
"giving back"
Don't judge some
collaborative system as if it was some
"final product" waiting for you to judge it as to its accuracy and
usage. And least consider the alternate approach - of viewing
it all as a
"work in progress" - and seeing the potential of it all when many
people all work together to make it better.
A collaborative
evolving system - is only as good as the people
who use it and improve it - to make it better.
Any massive
central collaborative system will always be a
"work in progress" because it will never be finished and
complete - it is only as good as the people using it and making it
better day
by day.
DONT JUST
MINDLESSLY COPY / GATHER INFORMATION
As you gather
family information from various sources to submit to
an online database. Make sure you aren't just mindlessly
gathering
information - without analyzing, comparing, weighing and cross checking
it.
Does it jive with already collected information? Does the
information
seem reasonable and valid. If supporting evidence does not
immediately
come with it - can such supporting evidence be found.
There are
nowadays millions of primary source materials
in the online genealogical world - just a click away - if we
make the
effort.
Simply submitting
info to an on line system with not even
an attempt to verify it or locate supporting
evidence - is a quick
path to wreaking havoc on the work of others who have taken the time
and effort
of quality research.
Simply recording
"It came from Ancestry.com" or "It
came from a GEDCOM" file as
the source - Just
doesn't "cut it". People will be more frustrated with your
"supposed help" than they will be thankful.
Be an "Analyzer"
of information - - not just a
"collector/submitter" of information - it will make the world of
difference in your long term success.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Maybe
surprisingly,
maybe not, this one item – ( how we represent ourselves in
both our
“first impressions” as well as later interactions with others
in our
collaborative work ) in my humble opinion – is probably one
of the
biggest factors in whether we face frustration and deadlock
or synergy
and progress as we work with others. Way too many people’s
first
interactions in collaborative genealogical systems – is their feedback
to
others – usually pointing out flaws, mistakes and unproven assumptions
in
something posted. Sometimes I wish people
would just step
back and think about what it is like to be on the receiving end of such
negative comments being the very first words coming out of a new
interaction
between two people sharing a system/database. Just think a
little about
the psychology of it all – whenever anyone receives an initial negative
comment
from someone new to them – it is almost always a turn off and
then a
shift to defensive mode – and then hard to rectify – even when the
relationship
had the potential to be a very synergistic positive one.
I have to admit –
I, just like most of us, do
have the tendency to first focus on something that catches my eye as a
total
flaw or error and miss all the great work someone has done in their
genealogical research. But I have really tried to
step back and
especially with my most critical projects or collaborations –
tried to
think about how the perception of my initial interactions would be
perceived
and customize them in a way that would really most benefit the project
as a
whole. One, case in point, is my work with
Findagrave
memorials. I now administer over 6,000 Findagrave
memorials – but
truth is I only created about 1/ 3 of that number – the
others were
memorials I had to ask to be transferred to me – this coupled
with the
fact that I am not a direct descendant of nearly all of the
memorials I
administer - could have been a very frustrating and
unfruitful project to
attempt have them transferred to me) But because I
spent the time to
really think about my wording and the impression that my request would
make – I
have been incredibly successful in having Findagrave Memorials
transferred to
me – when others have often found it a major ordeal and often just
“given
up”.
I can totally emphasize with the people that come to realize that using Family Search Family Tree as their tool to maintain what they thought was
"their"
(private) family tree database - really was a poor choice (since
it was never designed for that purpose). However I often feel
that way too many people throw the "the baby out with the wash"
when they in stop using Family Search all together. The
collaborative database that many systems provide is usually just one
slice of a pie that has many slices - each slice having different
flavors and ***. The collaborative database of most on line
systems - is often just one cmponent of many diverse tools and
resources.
For example Family Search - besides it's collaborative Family Tree database - also has these incredibly useful tools
Access to a Billion name index to primary sources - click here
Access to the Family History Library Catalog - click here
Access to digital versions of books - click here
Access to other Libraries - click here
Access to a massive Image Library - click here
Access to the Research Wiki - click here
Access to Training Videos - click here
Information about Local Family History Centers - click here
Opportunities for indexing and volunteering and donations - click here
You will find that systems like Ancestry.com and others also have similar tools
OTHER RELATED
SITES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd_fUIZk5fo
http://yanceyfamilygenealogy.org/findagrave.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXUD9ALqYiw
https://www.toptenreviews.com/software/home/best-genealogy-software/
https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/