Opinions on this profile format.

Question

I have just started entering my tree and want to get things looking good and easy to read. Before I really dive in and enter my full tree and change what I have already entered, I would like to get some opinions on this profile layout, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Winner-10. I am using WikiTree Sourcer for tables and source citations.

I will take any opinions or suggestions that may help with my future entries,

Answer 1

I think it looks nice, and you put a lot of work into the formatting that any reader would appreciate. I believe some mentioned others narrative biography format. The choice on which one you choose really depends on you and the audience you intend to reach.

A fact-based biography is more formal and straightforward, focusing on the key events and accomplishments of the person's life. On the other hand, a narrative biography is more like a story, providing a more personal and engaging account of the person's life.

Both methods have their merits. The best method depends on what you want your readers to gain from reading the biography. I could see both working together by having a timeline section with the fact based biography and a narrative biography, so that each person can quickly go to which section they prefer from the heading menus.

I just mention the combining of the two, so that in the future, if you have someone who wants to collaborate, but prefers the other method, there is a way for both formats to work together.

Thank you for your hard work, and the careful planning and thoughtfulness you are putting into the tree. I believe everyone would be happy with the work you are doing.

Answer 2

Hi John,

What profile did you want us to review?  If you mean your own, the privacy level default means we can't see much...  If you mean another, you can copy the ID into your question.

Comments

I knew I forgot something. Profile added to original post.

Answer 3

That is the format I use including tables, but I'm a straight forward dates and facts person, some prefer a more wordy paraphrase of the basic factual narrative. I prefer a more economical word form.

 To me it looks good, facts supported by inline source citations, and that meets Wikitree's requirements.

 My only quibble is that source 7, personal recollection or similar should state who's recollection and preferably be dated. On the assumption it is yours you can use ~~~~ to "sign" and date it.

Comments

Thank you for the tip. I am actually removing that citation since I have found the death certificate.

Answer 4

I like it. Of course, I don't do text well & have a better understanding of things that can be seen in pictures as opposed to text. Whenever I put furniture together, I never read the directions, I look at the pictures. So to me, this looks like 1 of the better profiles as far as I'm concerned because it doesn't sound texty when you read it nor does it look texty.

Answer 5

John, welcome to WikiTree and thank you for wanting to make your profiles aesthetically pleasing, accurate, thorough, and sourced! Your linked profile looks very nice to me.

One question...are all the people included in all the census tables deceased? If not, then some level of privatization should perhaps be taken for those who are still living, such as omitting given names and/or other identifying information. Though this information is readily available on other sites, and will be through your link to the records on those sites, WikiTree's policy regarding privacy of living individuals is stricter than other sites.

Comments

Good point, I had forgotten about the privacy on the tables, I will fix those promptly.

Answer 6

Since you asked for opinions and suggestions...

I disagree with most of the other members. Your target profile is neat and organized, obviously, but I prefer the narrative formatting. My preference is for a biography at the beginning, then a separate heading for residences or census records. In other words, I would write something like this:

Donald was born on 8 October 1915 in Geyser, Cascade, Montana. (1-birth record source). He was the son of Lester Winner as evidence by the 1920 and 1930 US Federal Censuses.(1920 Census)(1930 US Census) At some point the family moved to Olympia, Thurston, Washington.(1940 Census). Then I would put the marriage information and a linked list of the children.

Below everything I'd put:

=== Census Records ===

putting the charts here.

It's just that I personally find the WikiBoxes distracting. Ironically, I use them extensively on free space pages.

Comments

I agree, I like the narrative approach. I especially hope the writer would break the narrative into logical paragraphs (childhood, military, marriage, career, children, etc, death). I have seen several with one long paragraph - hard to read and hard to find any detail.

I agree about the charts in the bio. They break up the flow of the biography and, because they are often census records, give the same info every 10 years. I am not saying the data is not important, it is important to see children added and later disappear; it is important to watch the ages change, etc.

Lucyʻs suggestion of a Census Records section is easy and sensible.