US Black Heritage: Welcome Mat

Profile managers: Emma MacBeath [send private message] and US Black Heritage Project WikiTree [send private message]

US Black Heritage Project

Thank you for volunteering for the US Black Heritage Project! If you have not already done so, please post an answer on the join post and share two profiles with us you believe shows you have the basic genealogy and WikiTree skills listed below.

Membership Requirements

In order to successfully complete the Path program, you need to meet the basic skills requirements below. If you don't meet the skills, but would like to, please see the linked free resources for help. Let us know if you need additional resources.

Basic Skills Requirements

1. Have basic level or better genealogy skills as defined by:

• Having at least a free membership to any of the genealogy websites with resources such as Ancestry, Family Search, My Heritage, etc.
• Knowing how to use the search function on those websites to research a person.
• Knowing if a source belongs to the person you are searching.
• The definition of a source citation versus a source and what is considered a good source.

Skill Helps

• Source Citations Made Easy video
• Beginning Genealogy Research
• Family History Fanatics, a variety of genealogy videos for all skill levels.
• Ancestry Academy, a variety of videos on basic genealogy.
• Family Tree Webinars, a variety of genealogy webinars for all skill levels.
• Do an internet search for additional resources that may be available.
• If you have not already done so, we recommend opening a free account at Familysearch.org and Ancestry.com and starting a basic family tree to become familiar with their platforms.

2. Have basic level or better WikiTree skills as defined by

• Having added at least up to your grandparents profiles on WikiTree (exceptions made for adoptees who can add other profiles).
• Having the ability to create a brand new WikiTree profile with at least an estimated date and location, the three basic headings, and one source.
• The ability to search for an ancestor on WikiTree using the search function.
• The ability to take a source citation from a genealogy website and add it to the sources section of a WikiTree profile.

Skill Helps

• WikiTree New Member Zoom. You can ask questions about WikiTree and get help.
• How to WikiTree videos.
• Building a basic tree is the best way to learn how to use WikiTree. You can ask for help and advice in our g2g forum.

3. Have basic level technology skills as defined by:

• The ability to open and log into a WikiTree account unassisted.
• The ability to perform a Google/internet search.
• The ability to navigate genealogy websites at a basic level.
• The ability to use email for communication.
• Access to a computer, or at minimum a tablet is recommended. It is not recommended to use a phone regularly for this work.

Additional Requirements

• Have Family Member level membership and sign the Honor Code.
• Read the 3 very important pages linked below.
• Complete the New Member Form linked below.
• Declare what you would like to work on within the project.

Once you join we ask you to:

• Enter the US Black Heritage Project Path and work to complete the Profile Improvement Path. The Heritage Exchange Path is optional.
• Join at least one project team and make at least one contribution towards the project's goals every six months
• Join the project's Google Discussion Group
• Respond to the six-monthly check-in and to your team leader/coordinator
• Add black_heritage to the tags you follow to keep up with project posts

Step #1 Very Important Project Pages

Before moving forward, please read these important help pages that give you some basic information used by the project.

• Naming Convention for Slaves What last name do we use?
• Preferred Terminology How we choose to be respectful as a project.
• Heritage Exchange Portal Information about how to document enslaved ancestors.

Please also see the project's home page for a list of some of our special events, our mission, and the very important use of our project sticker.

Step #2 Required New Member Form

Please complete this short form. Once you have submitted your answers, you will receive the project badge and someone from the New Membership Team will contact you about starting the US Black Heritage PATH.

What do we do as a project?

• See our current list of Project Teams.
• You can see a list of some specific tasks on our project tasklist.
• See our project's home page for our mission.

Tags

Please add the tag "black_heritage" to your profile if you would like to keep up with updates and posts in g2g.

You can also add the tag "slavery" and/or "heritage_exchange" if you are interested in this area of the project.