How to Make Connections
Footnote has made special collaboration with the National Archives to digitize millions of important historical references, and make them available for viewing of the millions of people who surf the World Wide Web. Aside from this great opportunity to appreciate history, Footnote also provides their members a means of widening their social networks, as well as fosters an intellectual atmosphere for sharing and communication, whether the topic is on American history or otherwise.
At Footnote, you have the freedom to search millions of images and documents, learn information about them, and even upload some photos of your own. You can even create story pages that highlight a specific person or event in history that has interested you. There are numerous ways by which people in the Footnote community can relay their historical interests, and one method is by making connections.
How significant are connections on Footnote?
Connections are a way for members to inform others that a photo they are uploading is relevant or related to a certain document or photo that they have found on Footnote. In short, connections tell you that this image is connected with this image, and the similarities can be set by you. There is no limit as to the number of connections you can make on Footnote.
You can make connections to images from your own collection or gallery, or make connections from one of your photos to the collection of another member of Footnote. Plus, you make the connection based on relevance that you find, whether it is by date, person, and others. More on that is discussed below.
How to connect images
If you want to connect images from your personal collection, make sure you are logged in on Footnote. If you haven't uploaded any photos yet, read on the tutorial on How to Upload so you can provide more content for your Gallery. As you access your Gallery, you may make connections from one photo to another in a snap.
For example, you want to connect the "Laura_Bush.jpg" photo with "George_Bush.gif" in your gallery. You simply click on the first image, and drag it on top of the second. This automatically prompts the window to help you set the parameters for the connections you are making.
You will then have to quality why you think these photos are connected. You can select them from the drop down menu which connection type is most appropriate for the two images. Here is a short description of the connection types:
- Is from the same document
This is appropriate for newspaper entries, or clippings from the same dated document. It may also be for cropped photos that belong to a larger picture. - Is similar to
If there is any physical resemblance to the two images, or any other that may be noted. - Created or authored
If documents are made by the same historical person. This is applicable to newspapers published by the same company, or articles written by the same writer, et cetera. Also, if photographs were taken by the same individual, you may set this connection. This also works for pictures that you uploaded yourself. - Was part or influenced
You may connect a photo of an individual to a photo of a group or organization, and create a connection as to his membership of influence to the said collective. - Was here
A photo of a person or persons may be connected to a photo of a place, to indicate that it may be the dwelling, site of a battle, political office, et cetera. - Includes same person(s)
For example, a photo of Theodore Roosevelt riding his horse may be connected to a photo of the same person being sworn into office. You can check a search on Abraham Lincoln, and find hundreds of connections that members on Footnote have made. - Includes same family
Connects photos of individuals with photos of their relatives, spouses, et cetera. Take for example the photo of George and Laura Bush as mentioned above. - Includes same thing
For photos containing the same objects, such as cars, artifacts, vehicles, clothing, and others. - Includes same place
Places may be connected to each other by virtue of the same town, city, or state, as determined by the user making the connection. It is not limited to only being the exact place. - Includes same event
This is the ideal connection type for images involving battles, especially for categories on World War. This makes searching for documents in the same niche easier and more convenient. - Other
If the connection you are creating is not specified as above, you may indicate "other" and provide some details on the connection type.
After you have chosen the connection type on the drop down menu, you have the option of adding details on the text box found below. You can put a caption as desired, or simply say something like, "Photos of the Jones Family from 1930 - 1950" as an example.
As mentioned earlier, you can make a connection beyond those of the photos you have in your collection. If you are viewing a certain photo or image on the Footnote Viewer, you can click on the "Connect" button on the toolbar. Once you have done that, you are to select an image in your gallery to make the connection with.
Similar to what you do with images in your gallery, you need to indicate the connection type, and provide details as necessary. After you have done that, click on the button with the label "Save Connection." The connections you have made on Footnote can be viewed by looking at your Profile Page. You have the option of editing or deleting any connections you saved. Again, there is no limit as to how many connections you can make on Footnote, so don't hesitate to do so. Also, you can find out what other people are making connections to by looking at their own Profile Pages. Connections you make indicate your username and photo, which allows other members to contact you as well.