The First Step in Building a Genealogy
Genealogy Compilation Materials Checklist
First review what needs to be prepared, then collect items according to your family’s actual situation. There is no need to fabricate missing materials; mark anything uncertain as “To Be Verified.”
Check Items Across Nine Categories
Select “Prepared,” “Missing,” or “To Be Verified.” Progress is saved only in the current browser and will not upload family materials.
01Basic Personal Records
Confirm “who this person is” and record name fields separately.
- Genealogy name, current name, former names, childhood name
- Gender, date of birth and calendar system, time of birth
- Date of death, burial place or grave location
- Generation name, birth order, generation sequence, and affiliated branch
02Lineage and Family Relationships
First verify parents, marriages, and children, then expand to collateral lines.
- Father, mother, and their person IDs
- Spouse, marriage order, and children
- Siblings and birth order
- Notes on special relationships such as adoption, succession adoption, and continuation of an ancestral line
03Basic Lineage Materials
Used to define the scope of a genealogy and establish unified rules.
- Surname, hall name, ancestral origin, and genealogy locality
- Founding ancestor, migration ancestor, and founding ancestors of each branch
- Generation-name sequence and generation-order comparison
- Old genealogy editions, compilation dates, volume numbers, and page numbers
04Personal Life History
Record only verifiable facts, and cite sources for important experiences.
- Education, occupation, and positions held
- Migration date, place of departure, and destination
- Important deeds, works, and social contributions
- Oral informant, interview date, and verifier
05Historical Documents
Preserve images of originals before entering the text.
- Old genealogies, branch genealogies, and clan member rosters
- Inscriptions, epitaphs, ancestral tablets, and ancestral hall inscriptions
- Family letters, contracts, certificates, and local gazetteer records
- Holder, date, and source of each document
06Photos and Images
The names, dates, and places on the back of photos are equally important.
- Standard individual portraits and family group photos
- High-resolution scans of the front and back of old photos
- Audio recordings, videos, and oral history files
- Order of people, shooting date and location, and authorization
07Front Matter and Core Content
Determine why the genealogy is compiled, what it includes, and how it is edited.
- Genealogy title, prefaces, editorial rules, and table of contents
- Surname origins, migration history, hall name, and family instructions
- Lineage charts, personal biographies, and major family events
- Ancestral portraits with eulogies, ancestral halls, and family symbols
08End Appendices
Preserve supplementary materials and also record the process of this genealogy compilation.
- Literary works, inscriptions, contracts, and photo plates
- Genealogy compilation organization, editorial committee, and material contributors
- Donor list, references, and errata
- Continuation notes, version number, and completion date
09Verification, authorization, and privacy
The public version and the internal family version should have different display scopes.
- List of name, date, and relationship conflicts
- Data sources, reviewers, and verification status
- Display authorization for living members and minors
- Handling of sensitive information such as phone numbers, addresses, and ID documents