Streamlining Ancestor Biographies and Source Lists on WikiTree with ChatGPT

Creating detailed biographies and source lists for each ancestor on WikiTree can be time-consuming. Fortunately, ChatGPT can streamline this process and act as a personal assistant to help craft and organize your ancestor's life stories efficiently. Here's how you can use ChatGPT to enhance your WikiTree experience:

1. Train ChatGPT for Formatting:

   - Start by providing ChatGPT with a completed biography that is correctly formatted. Paste the biography into ChatGPT and instruct it to remember the format. This ensures consistency for future biographies.

2. Gather Ancestor Information:

   - Access your ancestor's WikiTree page and copy all relevant text from the "Facts" section. Exclude irrelevant links and unrelated information. ChatGPT can help filter out what is pertinent.

3. Formulate Instructions for ChatGPT:

   - Direct ChatGPT with the following instruction: “Using the sample previously provided for William Riddle, create a life story with a source list. Include full details such as places, names, ages, and URLs within [ ].” This guides ChatGPT on the required format and detail for both the biography and source list.

4. Input Ancestor Data:

   - Paste the copied text from the "Facts" page into ChatGPT. Next, gather source details by opening each source, copying the facts, citations, and exact URLs. Ensure URLs are accurate; if a URL is behind a paywall and not provided, ChatGPT will generate a placeholder URL. Once you have all the source information, paste it into ChatGPT.

5. Input Source List:

   - After copying the source details, paste them into ChatGPT and hit enter. ChatGPT will generate a formatted biography and source list suitable for WikiTree, including URLs in the correct format.

Review and Edit:

   - Biography Quality: ChatGPT generally produces a well-written narrative but might occasionally miss details or historical events. Edit the biography as needed by providing additional information or specifying events to include.

   - Source List Details: Ensure the source list contains full details such as places, names, ages, and URLs formatted as [URL]. If ChatGPT’s output lacks details or correct formatting, provide instructions for adjustments using examples you’ve previously provided.

Final Touches:

   - Additional Edits: Review the biography and source list for accuracy and completeness. Provide further instructions to ChatGPT if certain facts need to be emphasized or additional historical context is required. Make final manual edits as needed.

While ChatGPT may not be flawless, it is a powerful tool for drafting ancestor biographies and organizing source lists on WikiTree. By using it as a draft generator, you can save valuable time and streamline the documentation process. With some manual adjustments and detailed instructions, ChatGPT can help create well-structured and informative profiles that enrich your family tree.