FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject FamilySearch Historical Records

About
The FamilySearch Historical Collections Project contains articles which provide descriptions of the historical record collections published on FamilySearch.org.

Scope of the Project
This project is ongoing. As new collections are prepared for publication on FamilySearch.org, articles will have to be written describing them. The Project Manager will be tasked with adding new projects and project tasks as they are needed. Usually, the User Guidance unit will be unable to complete these articles, and would appreciate any content the community may add. If you would like more help with expanding our articles, we provide an online explanation of our Wiki Template Guidelines.

General Meeting Information
This meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each month, circumstances permitting. If you wish to help provide information and content to articles on the research wiki describing collections found online at FamilySearch Historical Records, attend this meeting and help get this project off the ground.

Meeting Agenda
Your input can help us get this project off the ground! To suggest discussion topics for the upcoming meeting, visit our Meeting Agenda page.

Join the Conversation
To find out more about providing information and content to the FamilySearch Historical Records wiki articles, please join in on one of our project meetings:


 * Time: Every 2nd Wednesday 2:00 - 2:30 PM Mountain Standard Time (4:00 - 4:30 PM Eastern Standard Time)
 * Format: Online : Click to Attend Please enter a username and the Meeting ID: 6654


 * If the Meeting Search page does not show the upcoming meeting, please select "Future" from the choice of radio buttons on the top of the page and search again.) Phone : Dial in Number: 801-240-2663 or toll free in the US at: 877-453-7266


 * Tip: To mute or unmute your telephone, press # 5 on your telephone key pad.

Project Box
A project box has been created for those participating in this project. The purpose of this box is to show your participation in the project as well as aggregate the names of all contributors into an easily searchable list. This box can be added to your profile page by using the "Insert/Edit Template" tool, switching to the "Manual" tab and selecting "Template: Userboxhistoricalproject" from the drop-down menu.

Contributors
We are looking for contributors for this project. Project tasks are listed below and any amount of contribution is welcome. We are happy to help with any necessary training. In addition, we invite you to join us in one of our thirty-minute meetings held every second Wednesday of the month.

Project Manager
[mailto:HoranDM@familysearch.org HoranDM]

Project Moderators
Project Moderators are charged with creating stub articles to which content will later be added. The stub gives an idea of the topic but is not considered in-depth (usually a few sentences in length). As Project Moderators have access to the collections published on FamilySearch.org, they will create the stub articles and add the collection to the Project Needing Content.


 * [mailto:TimothyNB@ldschurch.org TimothyNB]
 * [mailto:Jbaucom@familysearch.org JaquelineBaucom]

Project Contributors
Contributors to the Historical Collections Project create articles describing historical record collections published on FamilySearch.org. These articles are written at a basic level for beginning users. The style guide, titled Guidelines for FamilySearch Collections, will explain how to create and edit content for the wiki articles. It is asked that you review the guide before contributing to the project. Any questions concerning the guide can be posted on the FamilySearch Collections Discussion page.

Project Tasks
Adding Content:

These tasks involve adding information to wiki articles describing the relating FamilySearch Collection. There are multiple sub-tasks that involve adding content. These may be done independently of each other.

Record Description:


 * Describe the physical state of the originals, including: water damage, torn pages, bleed-through and fire damage. For an example see Spain Catholic Church Records.
 * Describe the dates covered by the collection. For an example see Sri Lanka Colombo Dutch Reformed Church Records.
 * Describe the history of the collection and the records, which might include the processes, creation and disposition of the records. Relate information about localities, jurisdictions, and religious or ethnic groups. For an example of a Record History see Cook County Illinois Vital Records Record History.
 * Describe the original intent of the creation of a specific collection. For an example seeEngland Cheshire School Records (FamilySearch Historical Records).

Record Content:


 * This section includes sub-headers in bold text for the major record types found within the collection. A phrase similar to "Most (record type) contain the following important genealogical facts," such as: "This phrase should be followed by the significant genealogical data found in the records, usually in the form of a bullet list. Some collections contain several types of records and may need a list for each record type." For an example see Spain, Ciudad Real, Catholic Church Parish Records.

How to Use the Record:


 * Explain to wiki users how the records can be used to help them find out more about their ancestors.
 * Describe research strategies that are helpful when dealing with the collection.
 * Explain what the next step would generally be in order to follow on the information obtained in the collection.
 * If the collection has an index, describe how to find indexed records in the collection. For an example see United States Census Populations Schedules, 1940.

For more information about adding content for these tasks see Guidelines for FamilySearch Collections.

Other TasksHow to Cite FamilySearch Collections


 * Related Article Links: Links from the wiki article to related wiki articles and websites are created and vice versa.


 * Images with Translations, if needed: Sample images are added to the articles. If the collection is not in English, the image will have a translation, in English, of a sample record.


 * Creation and Audits of Links to FamilySearch site: Ensure the "Access the records" link connects from the wiki articles to the corresponding collection on www.familysearch.org/; verify the "Learn More" link in the FamilySearch collection connects with the correct wiki article.

How to Get Started
The following articles will help you get started with various aspects of working on a wiki article. If you have any further questions, please drop by our forums.


 * Getting Started with Historical Records - Information on ways to contribute to FamilySearch wiki.
 * FamilySearch Records Project Training Page - Information on how to edit and complete tasks for the project. Updated often so check back.
 * Welcome to FamilySearch - Introductory article for all new users
 * FamilySearch Records Project: Getting Started - Provides information for those just getting started as well as resources for more in-depth information

Projects Needing Content
Below are links to the lists of projects that need to be completed. They are divided by region. Click on the region that you wish to work on and help out with the projects listed there.


 * Africa
 * Asia
 * British Isles
 * Europe
 * Caribbean, Central and South America
 * North America
 * Oceania

Alternatively, you can work on project pages by topic.

Articles needing:


 * Title translations
 * Image translations
 * Record Content section (Key genealogical facts)
 * Example citations
 * Other content
 * General stubs

The lists of project articles requiring attention are identified using on of the Templates for WikiProject FamilySearch Records

Thank-you for all your help and contributions to this project.