| TIP: Think carefully first - private or public? | | | | documented in enough detail for you to confirm |
| Here are five points to consider before you start | | | | them as your ancestor. There could well be |
| building your online family tree or before you post | | | | several individuals with the same name, same |
| your tree to a public site. | | | | approximate age, in the same village in 1871! It's |
| 1. PRIVACY: Be very sensitive to privacy | | | | possible they could be cousins or, no relation at all! |
| concerns of other family members. Mother's | | | | 4. CONTROL: Make certain that you control your |
| maiden name is a common identification key for | | | | online tree details; do not allow Edit status to |
| banks and other institutions - think carefully | | | | another person! Instead, invite others in your |
| before you post such important details. | | | | family to read the tree and let you know of |
| 2. SOURCES: Have you listed the documents for | | | | possible errors. |
| all your tree details? Start immediately to add | | | | 5. DETAILS: When using information from online |
| Sources to your master sources list: e.g., birth | | | | family tree database companies, always look at |
| registration, graduation certificate, photo of grave | | | | the source for details. If the source is another |
| stone, 1910 Census. If the data are actually | | | | individual's online tree, it is lower quality data - that |
| stories from Aunt Ethel or Uncle Hal, say so. | | | | is, unless their details include information from |
| Primary Sources are those written around the | | | | Primary Sources. Sometimes you will find the |
| time of the event: birth registration, a dated ship | | | | same details in 20 different people's online trees - |
| passenger list, burial record. Secondary sources | | | | but, 19 of them may have all copied one person's |
| are those details provided after the event, e.g., | | | | tree, without verifying any of the details! |
| birth dates listed on a census, or details where | | | | It is very exciting to be able to use the internet |
| original documents were not produced to verify, | | | | for your genealogy, but you need to consider the |
| e.g., a birth date listed on a death registration by a | | | | above 5 points as you begin to build your family |
| doctor. Such details are only as good as other's | | | | tree online. The satisfaction in finding the right |
| recollections. | | | | detail, the right document, and sharing your |
| 3. ASSUMPTIONS: Make no assumptions about | | | | information with your other family members: |
| online ancestors, unless the details are | | | | priceless! |