Categories Update Proposal

Introduction

The current thirteen categories were created by Barry Reeves when he first installed and configured the TikiWiki software in April 2010. The majority of these categories do not resonate with the way the Wiki has evolved since then. Also, to the best of my knowledge, we have never created any guidance indicating how categories might be best used.

This Wiki page analyses the way the categories are currently being used and proposes some changes and additions which may offer better value. Comments, feedback and general discussion are brought together on this talk page

Current Situation

The current thirteen categories are presented in alphabetical order.

Adoption

Currently there are no pages using this category (categId=3). It's not immediately obvious how the category "Adoption" might be used and therefore the purpose it would serve. We've already got good ways of handling name variations with redirected pages and I think this would be adequate in the case of adoption too. The potential number of pages which might fit within this category is very small, rendering it of marginal value. It is proposed to delete this category

Announcements

Currently there are no pages using this category (categId=4). With the News Structure, the Latest News link from the Home Page and the news pages within the DNA Groups, its not clear what value this category would add. It is proposed to delete this category.

Census Records

Currently there are no pages using this category (categId=6). It is suggested that this category is retained, but made more specific. Please see proposal below.

Family Reunions

Currently there are no pages using this category (categId=2). This is a category that doesn't resonate with the way the Wiki has thus far evolved. If there is a need for this type of information in the future, it would probably be best accommodated within a specific place within the Wiki and not need a category. It is proposed to delete this category.

General Queries, Help Offered and Help Wanted.

Currently there are no pages using these category (categId=9, 12 & 11). Again, none of these categories resonate with the way the wiki has thus far evolved. If we find a need to host this type of content to the future, it would probably be best grouped within a single Wiki structure rather than being peppered throughout the Wiki and needing to be so categorised. It is proposed to delete these categories.

Immigration Records

Currently there are no pages using this category (categId=8). Do we care more about the records or about the Immigrant Ancestor? And if we care about the records, what about the Emigration records? It is proposed to delete this category.

Migration Routes

There is currently one wiki page using this category (categId=5). Migration is realatively subjective. In the 1600's in England, to move beyond the next village was a major event for the majority and yet a few hardy folks were sailing to the New World. In the 1800's in England, many instances of industrial revolution migration along the railway lines exist but these are probably not comparable with the expansion away from the US east coast. However, it is doubtful if this justifies specific categoriastion; the use of geographic free tags will show movement. Unless somebody can offer a concise definition for this category, it is proposed to delete this category.

Military Records

There are currently seven wiki pages using this category (categId=7). Again, do we care more about the records or the ancestors who performed military service? It is suggested that this category is retained, but made more specific. Please see proposal below

Origins of the Surname

Currently there are no pages using this category (categId=10). This is another category that doesn't resonate with the way the Wiki has thus far evolved. It is proposed to delete this category.

What might be of interest would be to categorise together those individuals with a well documented surname mutation, from Reeves to Reaves for example. This should not include clerical variations, but be reserved for deliberate name change events. If somebody feel strongly enough to justify this new category of Surname Mutation, please offer up a form of words to clearly define when this category might be applied to an individual and under what circumstances it would not.

People

As you might expect, this is the most extensively used category (categId=13). It is suggested that this category is retained, but made more specific. Please see proposal below.

Reeves DNA Project

There are currently two wiki pages using this category (categId=1). This dimension of The Reeves project is well served already with its structures and prominent listing on the Wiki Home Page. In the short term, there seem no additional value to be gained from categorisation. It is proposed to delete this category.

Comments, feedback and general discussion are brought together on this talk page

Status Closed