Where Should I Contribute My Genealogical Data?
© copyright 2001-2008
updated 28 Sep 2008
Overview
Deciding if and where to contribute your valuable family history
data can be challenging. We will look at different databases which invite you to
contribute your data and look at how they handle that information and how likely it
will be that others will find your information. Criteria for determining which ones
to choose will be discussed. It is assumed that the participants know how to create
a GEDCOM file.
- Why contribute your family history data?
- Publish it for others to see.
- Allow others with common ancestry to find you, instead of your doing all the
searching.
- Safe backup of your data, if its fully retrievable to you.
- Which are the most prominent databases?
- Ancestry Archive Index at Kindred Konnections
-
http://www.kindredkonnections.com/ancestry.html
Only the index can be viewed and searched for free. The My Trees feature
matches the names you submitted against all other names in their databases, for a fee.
- AncestralFile at FamilySearch
-
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp
Started with 4 generation program submissions in the 1960s.
All contributions merged into one great tree.
Can no longer be added to or modified.
- GenServ by Cliff Manis
- http://www.genserv.com/
Matches your data against all others in its database, for a fee.
- Member Trees Ancestry
-
http://www.ancestry.com/
Trees may be set for public private access
Invite others as guests, contributors, or editors
- My Heritage (formerly Global Tree at GenCircles)
- http://www.myheritage.com/
Smart Matching provides a report of matches between the indivuals you added and
other contributed names.
- One Great Family
- http://onegreatfamily.com/
See potential matches and conflicts of your data with that contributed by others.
A fee is required to see the data of others.
Provides online editing of your own data.
- Pedigree Resource File at FamilySearch
-
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=prf/search_PRF.asp
User contributed information with sources and notes, if included in submission.
Search the index for free online.
- World Connect Project at RootsWeb
-
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/
Largest collection of contributed online databases on the Internet
Contributor has control of downloadability by others.
- World Family Tree at Genealogy.com
-
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/wfttop.html?Welcome=1029055493
Full information only available for a fee.
- As you view each of the above collections look for answers to the following questions
- Will they allow me to change, edit, modify, replace my data as
it changes?
- Will they allow me to remove or delete my information?
- Will they publish it on CDs?
- Will they charge a fee for others to access my data?
- Will they allow me to retain copyright so I can publish it myself?
- Can I retrieve the information (GEDCOM file) that I submitted?
- Can others easily retrieve all or parts of what I submitted?
- Can I update my contact information?
- Are my notes and sources displayed?
- Will they remove designated information on living individuals for you?
- Eliminating data on living individuals
- Get written permission to include living individuals identifying
information or leave it out.
- Use programs to remove the unwanted information.
- Most GEDCOM generating genealogy programs allow you to remove living
information in the process.
- GEDClean
will remove it from an existing GEDCOM file.
- You may want to leave in the names and their family links - be
careful. Some financial institutions still require maiden name
of mother.
- After you have submitted your information
- Keep a list of where, when and what file you submitted.
- Also note the filenames, account names, and passwords for each submission in a safe
place.
- Update the site if your email, snail mail, web site or other contact
information changes.
- Some precautions for when you search
- Remember that undocumented information is only hearsay.
- Even documented information needs to be verified to evaluate its
thoroughness.
- Examples of uploading to some of these databases.
Using WorldConnect as an example
Using Pedigree Resource File as an example
Searchable Databases of Contributed GEDCOMs
DatabaseTitle Sponsor
| size of database
| as of (date)
| Download by others
| fees to search
| contributor control
| sale of your information
| Notes
|
Ancestry Archive Index Kindred Konnections
| 336 million
| Sep 2008
| ?
| none index only
| ?
| Subscription req'd for pedigree & submitter info
|
AncestralFile LDS Church
| 35,000,000
| Jan 1998
| yes
| none
| edit
| never
| since Jan 1970
|
GenServ Cliff Shaw
| 23 million
| Sep 2005
| no
| $12/yr
| update delete
| never
| since Oct 1991
|
Member Trees Ancestry
| 300 million
| Sep 2008
| yes
| none
| update delete
| never
| 2006
|
My Heritage
| 267 million
| Sep 2008
| ?
| none
| update delete
| never
| bef 2000
|
One Great Family
| 33 million
| Oct 2002
| ?
| $75/yr
| online edit update delete
| never
|
|
Pedigree Resource File LDS Church
| 200 million (140 CD/DVDs)
| Sep 2008
| CD/DVD
| none
| resubmit
| DVDs for sale $13/DVD
|
|
World Connect Project RootsWeb
| 547 million
| Sep 2008
| yes*
| none
| update delete
| never
| since Oct 1999
|
World Family Tree Genealogy.com
| 183 million
| Sep 2008
| fee
| none
| update
| CDs for sale $20 each
|
|
*RootsWeb downloads are controlled by the submitter. (yes, no, partial)
updated 28 September 2008 (Copyright© Gerhard Ruf, 2001-2008)
If you have questions or comments please contact me at
gruf@xmission.com
Return to list of classes, or the UVPAFUG
Internet Class Outline
page.
Return to Gerhard and Deon's Home Page.
This page has been accessed times since 8 Jan 01.