Terms of Use

Most humans don't enjoy reading Terms and Conditions, so we'll try to keep them as simple and understandable as possible. Please forgive us when we occasionally slip into Legalese.

These Terms and Conditions are important because they define a legal agreement between you and HistoryLines Inc. ("HistoryLines", "us", "we") that you enter into when you use HistoryLines.com ("Site", "Service"). The HistoryLines Terms & Conditions are made up of what you read below, and our Privacy Policy, which you should also read, and which are collectively referred to as the "Terms". HistoryLines.com is owned and operated by HistoryLines Inc., an Illinois company.

Use of the site
The Terms are designed to keep the entire HistoryLines community safe, legal and to ensure a positive, useful experience for everyone. Use of the HistoryLines site requires that you accept all of these Terms. If you don't accept the Terms, you may not use the Site. By using the Site, you are demonstrating your acceptance of and willingness to be bound by the Terms.

What you can do on the site
HistoryLines.com allows you to create and share personal life sketches for you and your ancestors. You are also able to create or import family trees, to upload and save data, to access your saved data at a later time, and to share information about your ancestors with others. You can use HistoryLines for your own personal research and education purposes. If you publicly publish content from the HistoryLines site (e.g., in social media, blogs, articles, books, etc.), whether or not you intend to financially benefit from the publication, we ask that you credit HistoryLines.com as the source.

Professional genealogists operating as sole proprietors may also use the site under a standard individual account as long as the information used in their reports or work product is properly attributed to HistoryLines.com. All other commercial uses of the site and its information are not allowed without our express written consent. Please contact us at info@historylines.com to discuss institutional subscriptions or any other commercial use of the site.

What you CAN'T do on the site
We reserve the right to remove information you post, and/or to suspend or terminate any user account that violates any of the following rules at our sole discretion. Any account that is suspended or terminated for violation of these Terms is not eligible for a refund of any sort.

  • Don't publish information you don't have a right to share. You only have a right to share it if you are the copyright owner, or you have received permission to post the information from the copyright owner.
  • Don't post material that would be considered willfully inaccurate, obscene, illegal, defamatory or pornographic. It will be investigated and removed.
  • Don't post personal information about living individuals without their permission.
  • Don't create an account if you are under 18 years old.
  • Don't use the site if you're under 13 years old without the permission and oversight of a parent or guardian. Account holders are responsible for any activity on the site through their user login and account.
  • Don't purposely create an account in an attempt to impersonate another individual, with or without the intent to deceive others.
  • Don't distribute your username and password to others.
  • Don't share information about a living person less than 18-years-old that would identify their name, address or other means of identifying or locating them.
  • Don't use information for commercial purposes unless you are an individual professional genealogist operating as a sole proprietor producing private reports for clients. The material sourced from HistoryLines should not be publicly published without our written approval.
  • Except as defined in a commercial usage agreement, don't attempt to access the site in any other way than the regular, public-facing interface and instructions we provide.
  • Don't attempt to interfere with website functionality or operations, or to reverse engineer the site or copy the application's source code.
  • You may not use electronic means, manual or automated, to copy the entire site or large portions of it, whether for your own personal purposes, for non-commercial sharing of the content or for commercial purposes. This would potentially be an egregious violation of our copyright and would be prosecuted.

Content ownership
What we own
It is very costly to build a historical database from the ground up, as we are doing. While HistoryLines owns the copyright for the majority of the content on the site, we provide our users with a non-exclusive, personal, non-transferable limited-use license so that you can use it and share it with relatives, other genealogists and, in the case of an individual professional genealogist, clients. This information is licensed, not sold, for your use. The license doesn't confer title or ownership in the information and shouldn't be construed as a sale of any rights to the information. Many of the images on the site are in the public domain, but some content may be owned by someone other than HistoryLines. When sharing anything that you did not personally create, we ask that you cite HistoryLines.com as the source.

What you own
You own everything you add ("Your Information"), but in order for us to display the data and information you provide, we require that you grant us a nonexclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, sublicensable (through multiple tiers) right to exercise the copyright, publicity, and database rights (but no other rights) you have in Your Information, and in any media now known or not currently known, with respect to Your Information. HistoryLines will only use Your Information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

HistoryLines reserves the right to preserve your content and to disclose it in order to verify violation of terms or if required by law.

Content access
Since you own your content, if we discontinue a service or feature that contains your data, we will give you reasonable advance notice and allow a means to access your information from that service prior to it becoming permanently inaccessible.

Subscription
Only individuals over the age of 18 are allowed to subscribe to the Service. We require that all personal information submitted as part of the subscription process be current and accurate.

Auto-renewal
We offer subscriptions for lifelong access, which means that we auto-renew subscriptions. Unless we notify you otherwise prior to the auto-renewal date, you will be renewed at your current subscription term and price. For example, if you signed up for a 3-month subscription, we will auto-renew your account and automatically charge your credit card for another 3-month subscription. (The only exception to this policy is gift subscriptions.) Subscription charges are processed immediately when you sign up or on the date of your auto-renewal. We'll attempt to alert you via email two weeks prior to the renewal of your subscription. This communication with be sent to the email address you use as your account login.

Opting out of auto-renewal
You can deactivate the auto-renewal of your account by logging into your account settings on HistoryLines.com up to two days prior to your auto-renewal date. After that time, you will need to contact us to cancel your subscription, as described in the next paragraph.

There is a benefit to allowing your account to auto-renew: In the event that we implement a price increase, accounts that auto-renew will be locked in at the former, lower subscription price. A lapse in your subscription will make you subject to the new, higher price.

Customer Satisfaction
We want you to be very happy with our Service. If you're not satisfied with the Service, or if you accidentally miss the auto-renewal deadline and would like to cancel your subscription, just email our customer service team at info@historylines.com to work it out. You can cancel a monthly subscription at any time without a refund. For subscriptions with terms longer than one month, you can cancel within the first 30 days of the term for a full refund. After 30 days, we'll prorate your refund based on the length of your subscription term that has passed, rounded down to the nearest month.

Prices subject to change
Along the way, we might change the price of our Service. As described above, if we raise the price, your renewal will will be subject to the higher price, unless your account is set to auto-renew. On the other hand, if the price goes down, we'll automatically begin charging you the lower price the following period. If your subscription lapses after a price increase, you will lose the opportunity to continue at the lower, former price.

Data coverage
We are still in the process of building our database of historical events and descriptions to cover all regions of the globe and all generations of time. As a result, there are some periods of history and locations that have limited or no coverage of historical events and data. It is your responsibility to review this information prior to subscribing to determine whether a subscription to HistoryLines will provide you with sufficient value.

Our warranties and disclaimers
We go to great lengths to ensure the accuracy of the historical data we provide. Nevertheless, we are not liable for any ill effects resulting from any and all inaccurate data on the HistoryLines Site.

OTHER THAN MENTIONED ABOVE NEITHER HISTORYLINES, NOR ITS PARTNERS, SUPPLIERS OR DISTRIBUTORS MAKE ANY CLAIMS OR PROMISES ABOUT THE SERVICE, INCLUDING ITS ACCURACY, AVAILABILITY, RELIABILITY, PERFORMANCE OR WHETHER IT WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS. THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS". EXCEPT WHERE REQUIRED BY LAW, WE EXCLUDE ALL WARRANTIES SUCH AS IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Liability for our services
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HISTORYLINES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR LOST PROFITS, REVENUES, DATA, OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES. AS PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY CLAIM AGAINST HISTORYLINES AND ITS PARTNERS, SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTORS ACCORDING TO THESE TERMS WILL BE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU FOR THE SERVICES WE PROVIDED WITHIN THE LAST 12-MONTH PERIOD. REGARDLESS OF THE FOREGOING TERMS, HISTORYLINES IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE THAT IS NOT REASONABLY FORSEEABLE.

About these terms
We can change the Terms at any time, so check them occasionally for updates. If you don't agree to the new terms, you must discontinue use of the services. New terms will not take effect for a couple of weeks after posting, unless we are making the change to comply with legal requirements. These terms detail the relationship between you and HistoryLines and do not imply any third party beneficiary rights.

We reserve the right to transfer or assign our rights and obligations under this agreement. If any one of these terms is deemed unenforceable, the rest of the terms still apply and are fully enforceable.

Any dispute arising from the enforcement of these terms will be covered by the laws of the state of Illinois. In that event, you and HistoryLines submit to the jurisdiction of Illinois courts.

To contact us, please email us at info@historylines.com or drop us a note addressed to HistoryLines, 248 Foster Dr, Oswego, IL 60543. We'd love to hear from you!

» Saving and Printing the Story
Subscribers can download and print the story, by clicking on the "Save and Print" link on the story page. This will generate the PDF and open it in a window, where you can save or print.
» Adding Immigration
  1. On the story, click "Add to Story"
  2. Click "Add Immigration/Relocation"
  3. Enter the details, and click "Save"
» Adding a Residence
  1. On the story, click "Add to Story"
  2. Click "Add Residence"
  3. Enter the details, and click "Save"
» Add a Child, Spouse, Sibling
To add a child, spouse, or sibling to a person on the family tree:
  1. Center that person on the tree, by clicking on the (tree) icon.
  2. Click on "Add Spouse", "Add Child", or "Add Sibling"
» Delete a Tree
To delete a family tree:
  1. On the "Stories" page, click on the tree to open the tree
  2. Click on the edit (pencil) icon, and then "Delete this Tree"
» Edit a Person on the Tree
To edit the information of a person on the tree, click on the person's box. This will open the edit form. Make any changes, then click "Save and Close".
» Remove a Story Section
  1. On the story, click "Edit" on the section you wish to remove
  2. Click "Hide this from the story"
» Dots on Children and Spouses
The dots on spouses and children help to indicate the link between the parent and the child. A person may have multiple spouses, and multiple children from each spouse. The color of the dots links the child to the parent.
» Add a Nickname
If your ancestor had a nickname or a given name that is preferred to be used in the story, you can add a nickname to the person:
  1. Click on the person on the family tree
  2. Click on the "Add Nickname" link
  3. Add the nickname, then click "Save and Close"
Viewing the story will now show the preferred nickname in the narrative.
» How Do I Subscribe?
Visit the Subscribe page to learn about pricing, options, and to subscribe.
» Sharing on Facebook
Stories are easy to share on Facebook. On the story page, click on the "Share" button, then the Facebook icon. This will share the story page, and create an picture of the story to be shared. The Facebook link will link to the story page on HistoryLines.
» Sharing on Blogs
There are two ways to share on a blog:
  1. PREVIEW. Post a preview image of the story, linking to the full story on HistoryLines. This is a snapshot view of the story, which will not change.
  2. EMBED. Embed the story in an iframe on your blog. This will be a live version of the story, which will automatically update as you edit it on HistoryLines.
Instructions for both of these options are found on the "Share" link on the story page.
» Finding People on a Tree

Whether you imported a large GEDCOM file, or built a large tree, you can easily search the tree to find ancestors you are interested in. The search field is right below the name of the tree on the "Trees" page.


Matching ancestors will automatically appear as you type. Clicking on a matching name will load the tree with them at the center. To make an individual the permanent starting point for the tree, click on the person, then "Set as Tree Starting Point".

» Importing a tree from Ancestry
First, export your tree from Ancestry as a GEDCOM file. On Ancestry.com, go to your Tree Settings (in the drop-down menu under your tree name) and in the Tree info tab, look over to the right where it says Manage your tree. Click on Export tree. Once you have downloaded the GEDCOM file from Ancestry, you can import it into HistoryLines. On the "Stories" page, click on "Import a GEDCOM File", then select the file, name it, and click "Upload GEDCOM". HistoryLines will then create your family tree from that GEDCOM file.
» Importing a tree from MyHeritage

First, export your tree from MyHeritage as a GEDCOM file. Click here: Instructions


Once you have downloaded the GEDCOM file from MyHeritage, you can import it into HistoryLines. On the "Stories" page, click on "Import a GEDCOM File", then select the file, name it, and click "Upload GEDCOM". HistoryLines will then create your family tree from that GEDCOM file.

» Importing a tree from FamilySearch
HistoryLines can import your tree directly from FamilySearch. On the "Stories" page, click on "Import from FamilySearch". You will be directed to the FamilySearch login page, to sign in, then back to HistoryLines, which will automatically download your family tree into HistoryLines.
Any time you make changes to your tree on FamilySearch, come back to HistoryLines, go to your family tree, click on the person you wish to update, then click on "Update from FamilySearch". The person will be updated with the latest information from FamilySearch.
» Arranging Photos in Story Sections
Each story section can contain up to 10 photos. You can re-arrange, rotate, delete, and add photos on the "Edit" or "Personalize" on any story section. The first photo in the list will display as the large photo in the story. You can also add captions that will appear in the large view, and in the exported PDF.
» Importing a tree from RootsMagic, Family Tree Builder, and other software

First, export your tree from your software problem as a GEDCOM file. (See your software guide for instructions)


Once you have downloaded the GEDCOM file from your software program, you can import it into HistoryLines. On the "Stories" page, click on "Import a GEDCOM File", then select the file, name it, and click "Upload GEDCOM". HistoryLines will then create your family tree from that GEDCOM file.

» How do I stop a subscription?
Email us if you would like to make changes to your subscription
» How do I update my payment information?
Go to your "Account" page, click on "Payment Information", then make any needed changes.
Intro
Tree Basics
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Importing from FamilySearch Importing GEDCOM Creating PDF
Ancestors
Siblings
Spouses
Children
You can leave this page while GEDCOM file is imported.