Wikitree's Categories
Using categories on African American profiles in WikiTree is not just helpful, it’s essential to the broader goals of visibility, connection, and historical restoration. Adding categories to African American profiles is one of the most powerful tools for genealogical research and historical preservation. Here’s why:
| All of WikiTree Categories by Topic | ||||
| Adoption | Art | Categories | Cemeteries | DNA |
| Family | Genealogy Help | Health | Categorie | Maintenance Categories |
| Migration | Military | Occupations | Regions | Religious Categories |
| Science and Technology | Society | Sports | Things | Unusual Experiences |
| WikiTree | World History | |||
| Use the WikiTree Category Index to find exact spellings. | ||||
| WikiTree Category Index | ||||
Why Categories Matter for African American Profiles
Increases Discoverability
When you categorize a profile, such as with [[Category:US Black Heritage Project]] or [[Category:United States Colored Troops, Civil War]]—you are connecting that person to a larger network of related individuals. This makes it easier for other researchers, descendants, and historians to find, compare, and expand upon your work.
Example: A researcher looking for formerly enslaved people in Madison County, Kentucky, can search a category like [[Category:Kentucky Slaves]] and uncover dozens of related profiles that may share family, plantation, or migration history.
Organizes Historical Context
Categories group profiles into meaningful collections—whether by:
- ➡️ Region ([[Category:South Carolina, African Americans]])
- ➡️ Status ([[Category:Former Slaves]])
- ➡️ Military service ([[Category:USCT 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment]])
- ➡️ Project involvement ([[Category:US Black Heritage Project]])
- This builds historical context, helping others understand the broader story behind the profile.
Add A New Category to a Profile
- ➡️ Go to the profile page of the person you're editing.
- ➡️ Click the “Edit” tab at the top of the profile.
- ➡️ In the Biography editing box, at the very top before == Biography ==, type the category using this format:
- ➡️ [[Category:Example_Category_Name]]
For example, to add someone to the U.S. Black Heritage Project category, you would write:
- ➡️ [[Category:US Black Heritage Project]]
- ➡️ You can add multiple categories—just place each on a new line above the biography section.
- ➡️ Scroll down and click the “Save Changes” button (or “Save Draft” if you're not ready to publish yet).
African American Categories
| WikiTree Categories by Topic | |
| African American Heritage Categories | |
| These connect profiles to broader themes of Black history and identity: | |
| Slavery and Freedom | |
| These categories are ideal for enslaved ancestors, freedmen, and those who owned slaves (with ethical clarity): | |
| United States of America, Free People of Color | United States of America, Free People of Color |
| United States of America, Slavery | United States of America, Enslaved African Americans |
| Slave Owner | For historical transparency on individuals who enslaved others |
| Examples | |
| Georgia, Slaves | Slave identified for the state of Georgia |
| Georgia, Slave Owners | Slave owners located in Georgia |
| United States Colored Troops (USCT) | |
| Used for Civil War veterans who served in USCT regiments: | |
| United States Colored Troops, United States Civil War | General category for all USCT veterans |
Special Acknowledgment
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Denise Jarrett for her invaluable collaboration with Black Pearls of Genealogy (BPOG). Her help in identifying key research tools for the WikiTree U.S. Black Heritage Project has greatly enhanced our ability to explore and preserve African American family histories. We deeply appreciate her contribution to this important work.