ABC Biographies and WikiTree

As I continue learning how to use AI to help tell the stories of my ancestors, I’m also exploring the best ways to share those stories across various genealogy platforms. For my recent biography of Hugh Judson Crawford, I used ChatGPT to help transform a RootsMagic narrative into a more engaging life story. I then added that biography to the top of Hugh’s RootsMagic narrative report and uploaded the updated PDF to his profile on FamilySearch, as well as to my Heartland Genealogy tree on Ancestry.

But when it came to sharing that same biography on WikiTree, I found myself unsure how to format it properly—especially since WikiTree uses its own special markup. So, I turned to ChatGPT once again and simply asked:

How can I share the above biography on WikiTree?

And ChatGPT delivered. It provided detailed instructions, including WikiTree-specific formatting and markup, a shortened summary for the profile header, and even proper source attribution for both the blog and AI assistance.

To share the biography of Hugh Judson Crawford on WikiTree, follow these steps to properly format and credit your work while respecting WikiTree’s community guidelines:

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✅ Step-by-Step: Posting the Biography on WikiTree

1. Log into WikiTree

Go to https://www.wikitree.com/ and sign in to your account.

2. Find or Create the Profile for Hugh Judson Crawford

• Search for an existing profile by entering his name in the search bar.
• If he doesn’t already have a profile, create one using:
  • Full name: Hugh Judson Crawford
  • Birth: 16 Sep 1902, Dodge City, Kansas
  • Death: 7 Aug 1987, Casa Grande, Arizona

3. Edit the Biography Section

Click the Edit tab on his profile and scroll to the Biography section.

4. Paste the Biography Using WikiTree Style Guidelines

Use simple wiki markup to break the biography into sections. Here’s a basic template using your content:

== Biography ==
''This biography was originally created for the Heartland Genealogy blog. Used here with permission of the author.''

=== Early Life ===
Hugh Judson Crawford was born on 16 September 1902 in Dodge City, Kansas... [continue with content]

=== Education ===
[Continue this section...]

=== Marriage and Family ===
[Continue...]

=== Military Service ===
[Continue...]

=== Later Years and Legacy ===
[Continue...]

== Sources ==
<ref>Crawford Family Bible, Crawford Family Papers, U.S. Census Records, U.S. Navy Service Record compiled by Gladys Crawford, and various newspaper articles cited in Heartland Genealogy (https://heartlandgenealogy.blogspot.com/)</ref>

You can use == Heading == for main sections and === Subheading === for subsections. If you don’t use tags for inline sources, you can list sources under a == Sources == heading as bullet points.

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📝 Tips for WikiTree Style

• Keep it factual and neutral.
• Include dates and locations.
• Avoid personal opinions or speculation.
• Credit Heartland Genealogy blog as the source and include a link.

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📎 Optional: Add a Free-Space Profile

If the biography is too long or you want to share extra images and stories, consider creating a Free-Space Profile titled Biography of Hugh Judson Crawford and link it from his main profile.

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Would you like me to create the WikiTree-formatted version (with markup tags) ready to paste in?

As the profile manager for Hugh Judson Crawford on WikiTree, I had already uploaded a detailed narrative report along with supporting sources. Since WikiTree doesn’t allow multiple “Biography” sections, I needed to adjust the formatting to incorporate the version written by ChatGPT. I renamed the original Biography section to Research Notes and then pasted the wiki-markup biography provided by ChatGPT at the top of the profile.

ChatGPT’s version included a brief list of sources, which created a duplication since I already had a full list of references further down the page. To resolve this, I renamed the ChatGPT section to Brief Sources, leaving the more comprehensive list under the standard Sources heading. I also updated the Acknowledgements section for clarity, noting that ChatGPT’s content was based on the narrative report now placed in the Research Notes. To preserve context, I kept the Acknowledgements section positioned directly above the Research Notes.As the profile manager for Hugh Judson Crawford on WikiTree, I had already uploaded a detailed narrative report along with supporting sources. Since WikiTree doesn’t allow multiple “Biography” sections, I needed to adjust the formatting to incorporate the version written by ChatGPT. I renamed the original Biography section to Research Notes and then pasted the wiki-markup biography provided by ChatGPT at the top of the profile.

ChatGPT’s version included a brief list of sources, which created a duplication since I already had a full list of references further down the page. To resolve this, I renamed the ChatGPT section to Brief Sources, leaving the more comprehensive list under the standard Sources heading. I also updated the Acknowledgements section for clarity, noting that ChatGPT’s content was based on the narrative report now placed in the Research Notes. To preserve context, I kept the Acknowledgements section positioned directly above the Research Notes.

Conclusion

Working with ChatGPT to create and share a biography for Hugh Judson Crawford has not only helped me tell his story more clearly, but also taught me how to navigate the nuances of different genealogy platforms—especially WikiTree. By combining AI-generated narratives with the source-rich documentation I already maintain, I’m finding new ways to present my research in ways that are accessible, accurate, and engaging.

This process also reminded me that technology, when used thoughtfully, can be a powerful partner in preserving family history. Whether you’re a seasoned WikiTreer or just beginning to explore how AI can support your genealogy work, don’t be afraid to ask questions—even something as simple as “How do I do this?” can lead to surprisingly thorough and helpful answers.

Have you used AI tools to help document your ancestors? Or have you run into formatting challenges when publishing to sites like WikiTree? I’d love to hear about your experiences—drop a comment below or connect with me on Heartland Genealogy!

Be sure to check out Hugh Judson Crawford‘s updated profile on WikiTree using the ABC Biography for Hugh Judson Crawford.