It was created by Bill Cramer and the team at Wonderful Machine. While still in development, it allows anyone to browse through thousands of photos or create a free account and upload their own.
The name Common History alludes to the fact that history is something that we all share, and that photos of ordinary people and events have value and should be included in the historic record along with famous people and events.
We have just launched, so please be patient as we work through the bugs! Here are a few of the features you can try:
• Browse through the Global Timeline using your scroll wheel or by dragging the date to the left or right. Click on any photo to reveal a caption and links to curated timeline
-> Search the Global Timeline for Subject, Place, or Photographer. The Subject could include the name of a person (like Wilbur Wright) or object (like plane). By changing the dropdown menu to Place, you can search Kitty Hawk. Changing it again to Photographer will allow you to search for Orville Wright.
-> On the left of the search bar, you'll see a dropdown menu that will allow you to find Timelines or Members.
-> You can create an account by clicking the Sign Up button, then create a timeline by uploading your own pictures. Add names, dates and places as best you can so others can find them.
-> Share any photo (and the Timeline it sits on) by clicking the Share button that you'll find under each photo.
-> When you're logged in, our unique GRAB feature allows you to find photos on your friends' timelines and instantly add them to your timeline. (You can then modify the caption, but those changes will only appear on your timeline).
By contributing your photos and captions to Common History, you'll be working to preserve our shared cultural heritage!
At the moment, all of the photos you add to your account will be public, so please don't upload anything you aren't comfortable sharing with the whole world (in the future, we're planning on offering private accounts). But please do upload photos that you'd like to save for posterity, especially if you think other people might enjoy discovering them.
And please send us feedback using our Contact page.
Common History is wholly owned, copyrighted, and trademarked by Wonderful Machine Inc.