Persons in Context. A Model to Represent Observations and Reconstructions of Historical Persons in Linked Data

Pieter E. Woltjer; Ivo Zandhuis; Bob Coret; Mark Lindeman; Jeroen D. Balkenende; Richard L. Zijdeman; Rick J. Mourits

doi:10.51964/hlcs19312

Author(s)

Pieter E. Woltjer CBG|Center for family history https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4132-1862
Ivo Zandhuis International Institute of Social History https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0165-8341
Bob Coret https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7328-1312
Mark Lindeman https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3670-8587
Jeroen D. Balkenende CBG|Center for family history https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4656-5487
Richard L. Zijdeman International Institute of Social History & University of Stirling https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3902-3720
Rick J. Mourits International Institute of Social History https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2267-1679

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51964/hlcs19312

Keywords:

Linked data, RDF, Family reconstitution, Person reconstruction, Data model, Historical database management, Standardization historical data, FAIR data, Ontology, Person observation

Abstract

Reconstruction of historical persons and family ties is the bread and butter of many researchers and genealogists. With the increasing digital availability of historical person records, the scope and depth of person reconstructions speaks to the imagination of researchers and genealogists. Yet, the lack of standardisation in the description of historical person data has hurt the interoperability and sustainability of both small and large databases. Persons in Context, or PiCo, presents a data model for historical person records within the Resource Description Framework (RDF). RDF or Linked Data is specifically designed for clear, unambiguous information exchange between multiple parties over the internet. We show how reuse of existing ontologies and concentric description are the building blocks of a flexible, straightforward, and stringent data model that emphasises provenance.