Collaborate: Ancestry Project 5, Goal 5

Working with others helps you get more done on your own work, as well as giving you the chance to help others. In the process, your data usually becomes more reliable, and you may form lasting friendships with those you partner with in family history.

ChoicesVault

AShare your family history efforts.

Remember to get permission from living individuals if you share their information.

Watch these videos for ideas on sharing your family history information with others.

AC—Quick Ways to Share Family History—15:31 - 2012

FS—Share with Others—3:08 - 2011

Here are some tips on collaborating with other researchers.

FL—Genealogy Research in the 21st Century Part 3: Collaboration and Personal Communication - 2020

See also www.Family.me for building a collaborative family tree.
Join the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge - 2019. You'll receive weekly prompts on ways you can share your family history findings with others.
Here are some additional tips on sharing your family history.

RT—Sharing Family History in Fun and Modern Ways - 2019
LDS—Sharing Your Family History - 2018

Social Media: Learn how blogging and social networking can help you collaborate on family history.

BYU—Blogging and Social Networking for Genealogists—62:53 - 2017
How to Network with Family Members Using Social Media for Genealogy Research - 2016

Use social media to share your family history efforts.

AAC—Cousin Bait: Making Social Media Work for You—47:19

Learn how to use social media for your family history research queries.

BYU—Leveraging Social Networking Resources for Genealogical Queries—60:05 - 2022

Exercises

BWork with others on family history.

Summary

Get family members or friends involved in collecting memories (photos, documents, stories, etc.) to be uploaded to FamilySearch.
Divide up family lines for research, to avoid duplication of effort.
Keep each other informed about progress achieved as well as roadblocks that remain.

Resources

Study these resources for additional ideas about working with others on family history.

AC—Quick Tips for Increasing Collaboration—32:08 - 2015
FS—Crowdsourcing Collaboration - 2014

Learn how you can collaborate with other generations on your research.

MH—How to Collaborate with Other Generations on Your Genealogical Research - 2019

Here are some tips on involving others who may be reluctant to participate in family history.

AF—Drawing Those Hesitant Relatives into Your Family Tree Research - 2016
AF—How I Got My Family Involved In Genealogy Research

Locations: Learn how to create an online community for a town you are researching.

RT—Creating an Successful Online Community for the Town You're Researching—20:08 - 2022

Microtasks: Learn how to use "microtasks" to spread family history assignments.

BYU—Using Microtasks to Involve Everyone in Family History Research—27:38 - 2018

Descendancy/Cousins: Read this article to learn how you to find distant cousins who may want to help you with your research.

GT—Collecting Cousins--Turning Over Rocks with a Well-Placed Query

Mailing Lists: Learn how to use mailing lists on Ancestry to keep in touch with others who are researching similar surnames or topics.

AAC—How to Find Mailing Lists—1:38 (acct.req.)

Family Tree: Learn how to collaborate effectively with others who are working in the FamilySearch Family Tree.

BYU—Tips for Working Collaboratively on the FamilySearch Family Tree—60:37 - 2022

Other Trees: Learn how to share photos and documents that pertain to people in other family trees.

RT—Putting Things In Their Place: Paying it forward in the digital age—23:42 - 2022

Exercises

COrganize or participate in family gatherings that promote family history.

Vault Summary

Plan for successful family history reunions.

GC—Tips for the Size and Shape of Your Reunion
GC—Sharing Family History at the Reunion

Involve and include more family members in family history activities.

GC—What Should We Do at the Reunion?

Here are some tips for including family history in your next reunion.

FS: 3 Tips for Family History at Your Next Reunion - 2016
AF— 11 Genealogy Research Tips to Use at Your Next Family Reunion - 2015
Learn about holding virtual family reunions.

RT—Strengthening Family Bonds through Virtual Reunions - 2016

Exercises

DJoin an online user group or forum for a genealogy website.

Here are some noted user groups and online communities for genealogy and family history:

Ancestry—Member-to-Member Support Community

Ancestry—Message Boards

Roots Web—Free genealogical community

Use the Member Connect feature in Ancestry to stay in touch with other Ancestry members who are researching common ancestors. For details on Member Connect, see this page.
For tips on writing queries to online help groups, read this article.

OT—Good Query vs. Bad Query - 2017

Explore the GenForum Message Board for answers to questions.
On Facebook, contact the RootsMagic user group or the Legacy Family Tree user group for answers to questions on their respective software versions.
Learn how to use mailing lists and message boards to help solve your research brick walls.

RT—Crowdsourcing Your Brick Walls, Part 1—16:50 - 2021