Note: Only entries for locations within Chicago will be accepted.
A general explanation of each field follows. For detailed, step-by-step instructions, download http://www.chicagoancestors.org/downloads/CA_add_places.pdf.
Submitting Data:
To submit data, you will need to register as a user. Once you have completed registration, click on “my account” from the menu at the top of the front page of the site. Then select “add places.”
You will be asked to enter data about the place you are adding:
Place Name:
This is the title of the place you are entering, such as “Robert Waller High School” or “Plaza Hotel.” This field is optional, but will help others find your data.
Address (required):
You must enter a current address or intersection. Do not include the city, state or zip code.
Category (required):
You’ll be asked to pick a category from a list, which will determine how your data will be grouped in the results list when users search. See the help section on Categories for further explanation if you're not sure what to select.
Descriptors:
You are given the option of selecting a number of descriptors such as “ethnicity” and “denomination.” If these categories do not apply to your data, you can ignore them. If we're missing an ethnicity or religious denomination, let us know using the "Contact" link. We'll be happy to add relevant options.
Date:
Enter a “start date” and “end date.” If you are plotting a one-day event, you can use the same date. If you are plotting an institution that existed for a span of years (such as a church congregation) you can use the start and end dates to create a time span for the place you are plotting. This is an optional field, so if you do not have a date, you can ignore it.
Description of Place or Event (strongly encouraged):
This is the text that will be displayed when another Chicago Ancestors user views your place or event so be descriptive! Enter information about the place or event you are adding, a story, or a links to other related websites with photos, etc. Look at some of the other user entries for ideas.
Website:
You can automatically create a link to a website by using the “Website title” field to name the link and then entering the address of the site in the “Website URL” field. Add websites for schools, organizations, churches, etc.
Location Plotting:
To plot your data, use the map in the entry form. It works just like any other Google map. Zoom in until you can find the address or intersection of the place or event you are mapping, place your mouse pointer on the location and left click. If you click in the wrong place, just click again.
Submit:
To complete your entry, click the “submit” button. The ChicagoAncestors staff will review your submission before posting it, so it may take awhile before your data appears on the map.