Can you add one family member to an unlinked notable?

Question

We have a page listing the profiles of notable people who are not (yet) connected to the main tree here on WikiTree. The default sort on that page places 5-star profiles at the top, and then other notables (in descending order by branch size, then in alphabetical order by country, then in alphabetical order by Last Name At Birth), although you can sort the list by any column by clicking on the icon next to the column header.

If you scroll down the list, you may notice that about half the page is taken up by profiles with a Branch Size of 1. In other words, those notables don't have any relatives linked to them on WikiTree: no parents, no siblings, no spouses (spice?), and no children.

Now, as any connector can tell you, connecting profiles to the main tree can take a lot of work. But if you can add even one family member to any of these unlinked profiles, then you would double the size of their branches, and therefore double the number of ways for other connectors to connect that branch to the main tree.

(That's not to say that adding more family members wouldn't improve the situation even more, because it would. So if you come across a source -- like a census record -- which would enable you to add multiple family members, don't let me stop you.)

So can you add one family member to an unlinked notable?

Comments

I first read your question as "is it allowed to add .... " After reading the rest of the text I realized you meant "would you please add...."

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I read it the same way. :-)

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The wording is derived from all the "Can you help connect a..." challenges, and is meant in the sense of "Are you able to...?"

Answer 1

Hi Greg, I see where I can connect Jackson Pollock with his mother’s ancestors. Thanks for a good Saturday afternoon project.

Jackson Pollock is connected. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Pollock-8 

Comments

Thank you, Alexis! That's going above and beyond the call of duty!

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Greg, with my being an art major in the 1960s...I had to see if I could connect him. I understand that his paintings have sold for between 12 to 18 million dollars.

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I added a profile for his great grandmother Sawyer-8891

Answer 2

I managed to increase the branch size for William Crozier from 1 to 3.

Answer 3

Now, WikiTree shows a "Notable Connection" block for Notables, but only if the branch size is greater than one. (And, of course, if either {{Notables Sticker}} or {{Notables}}, whichever is appropriate, is on the profile. So now, adding at least one linked profile (parent, spouse, child) to an unlinked notable profile makes even more of a difference.

Comments

What a great challenge! Thanks Greg.

It should also be noted that along with the Connection Status, by adding just one family member, you are now able to see a Notable's CC7 at the top of their profile page. I've heard mixed opinions about the emphasis on CC7s. But the larger the CC7 is, the more opportunities we have for making connections. Knowing a Notable's CC7 can help determine where our resources are best utilized.

Answer 4

Just attached actress Rae Allen to her husband, Virginia Congressman Herbert Harris. I'll try to extend both of their lines over the weekend and perhaps get them connected.

Comments

I also added his second wife.

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Thank Aaron. That now gives us three potential paths for a connection!

Answer 5

I've been working on adding ancestors to Glenda Jackson, who died yesterday.  From 0 connections, she is now up to 19! (I noticed that her Wikipedia article is in 63 languages.)

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Jackson-51750

Answer 6

Australian soldier and librarian Allan Percy Fleming (1912 - 2001), previously listed on Greg's page with branch size 1, is now connected to the main tree through two different paths, with a CC7 of 719.

Comments

Thank you, Jim!

Answer 7

Frederick John French should show up as connected soon.

Added Eleanor Coerr's husband Wymberley and connected him as well

Comments

They both show as connected now. Thank you, Aaron!

Answer 8

David Benson French is now connected. It's likely that a further connection can be made to other French profiles in Coley's Point, Newfoundland, if someone who's skilled in Newfoundland genealogy wants a challenge.

Comments

Thank you, Sharon!

Answer 9

James Strange French is now connected.

Comments

How "Strange" that the three of you should happen to work on Frenches, which happens to be one of the surnames I'm following. Thank you, Nan!

Answer 10

I've just connected up Esma Cannon. I'll see if I can link up any more family members. Thanks Greg for putting the list together!

Comments

Thank you, Gillian! Yet another surname I'm following.

Answer 11

Bob Homme-68 should show as connected tomorrow.

Comments

Yes, he shows connected now. Thank you for that. And thank you for improving his profile, too.

Answer 12

I found the spouse of Helen Thomas, USA Jornalist.

Douglas B Cornell

BIRTH

27 Sep 1906

Gratiot County, Michigan, USA 

DEATH

20 Feb 1982 (aged 75)

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA

BURIAL

Burial Details Unknown Add to Map

MEMORIAL ID

114245405 · View Source

Born on 27 Sep 1906 in Saint Louis, Gratiot, Michigan, and lived there in 1910.
In 1920 and 1930, he lived with his parents in Falls City, Richardson, Nebraska.
In 1940 he lived on 16th Street in Montgomery County in Maryland his wife and their son, Douglas, who was born in Washington D.C.
Douglas B. Cornell died in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan; he was 75 years young.
Residence was in Washington DC 20008. 

Father Leon Lucius Cornell born 4 June 1879 in Ohio - born to Lorenzo L. Cornell and Mary A. Ross Cornell.
Mother Myrtle May Estella Bartram born 29 Aug 1883 in Middlesex, Ontario, Canada - born to Neil E Bartram and Esther Stevens. Immigration year 1889.


NY Times obit published 22 Feb 1982. 
Associated Press reporter, joined them in 1933.
His first wife Jenny died in 1966. 
He has a son Douglas Cornell Jr..
Got engaged to Helen Thomas, his rival, at a White House Restirement Party in his honor. It was announced by Pat Nixon.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114245405/douglas-b-cornell: accessed 25 July 2023), memorial page for Douglas B Cornell (27 Sep 1906–20 Feb 1982), Find a Grave Memorial ID 114245405; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Susan (contributor 48150759).

Comments

And she's connected! W00t!

Answer 13

Helen Thomas, is also in the 1930 United States Census with her parents and siblings listed.