FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject FamilySearch Historical Records/Guidelines for Articles

'We need your help! Below is a style guide to assist you in editing and authoring desciptions of wiki articles that describe FamilySearch digital collections.'

Some style notes:
'FamilySearch Collections are currently found in the Record Search pilot site which will be added to the new version of FamilySearch.org that is scheduled to be released in the near future. At that time the phrase "Record Search pilot" will not be used.'

''Wiki articles that are created to describe FamilySearch Collections are written to assist wiki users who may or may not be genealogical experts. The articles should be written in a basic languge style, using simple words. Descriptions of each section of a Family Search Collection are listed below. With the exception of the title, the headers represent the format used by the User Guidance Unit to create wiki articles.''

Title
The title of the wiki article reflects the title of the collection(s) in Record Search.

Include in the title:

The name of the locality, beginning with the largest jurisdiction and ending with the smallest jurisdiction. Country names should be listed, with the exception of the United States and Canada. Example: Nicaragua, Managua Department Civil Registration Records.

Dates are added for census records only. Example: Florida State 1885 Census

Record type and name of the denomination or specific religious organization. Example: Illinois Belleville Catholic Church Records.

The phrase (FamilySearch Collections). Example: England, Durham Diocese Marriage Bonds and Allegations (FamilySearch Collection)

Template
Members of the User Guidance Unit will add the required Collection Identification number to the FamilySearch Collection template. The template brands the article as describing a collection from the FamilySearch website and will create links to digital collections. The template format allows for up to 9 collections links.

Foreign Language Title
List the title of the collection in the language of the records.

Collection Time Period
Describe the dates covered by the collection.

Record History
Describe the history of the records, which might include the processes, creation an disposition of the records. Relate information about a set of records, localities, jurisdictions, and religious or ethnic groups. The history of the collection itself can also be described in this section of the article.

Why this Record Was Created
This section should explain the original intent of the creation of a specific collection.

Record Reliability
Describe how reliable a collection is and whether there are known issues with the accuracy or the collection.

Record Description
Describe the physical state of the originals, including:


 * water damage
 * torn pages
 * bleed-through
 * fire damage

Describe the record types included in the collection, the language of the record's text and the format used in the records.

Images
Samples of images from the collection will be added to this section in galleries. Foreign language images may include callouts of major phrases in the document or a translation of the document. Images should be placed above or next to the record content section.

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 bulleted list. Some collections contain several types of records and may need a list for each record type.

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 describing an index, describe how to find the records that were indexed in the collection.

How Has This Article Helped You?
The User Guidance Unit has created this section of the article to encourage wiki users to send feedback. It is designed as a link that will take patrons to the FamilySearch Collection Feedback page. The section consists of the following link that takes wiki users to the FamilySearch Collection Feedback wiki article:

Create the link using this phrase: Send us your story

Related Websites:
List websites outside of the wiki that contain information related to the collection being described. Addresses and other information about an archive or other site could be added to this section of the wiki article as well.

A sentence is input into this section by the User Guidance Unit to encourage wiki users to add helpful wiki sites. If you feel that the correct websites have been added, feel free to delete the sentence, which reads:

'''This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.'''

Related Wiki Articles:
Create internal links to wiki articles that contain information that is related to the collection being described.

Sources of This Collection:
The suggested format has been developed based on genealogical citation standards to cite FamilySearch collections. The first section of this section demonstrates how to cite a specific image or index entry, the second section gives instructions for citing a collection. Because the instructions to cite a specific image or index entry were somewhat complicated for beginners, the examples are present in this wiki page but the instructions are located in another page. The examples and link should be input in the following format:

Source citations to collections published FamilySearch Historical Records in should refer to the collection as published in FamilySearch.org, the original records, and microfilms created by the Genealogical Society of Utah from which digital collections were created.

Items to include in a source description for collections published as part of FamilySearch.org: Title of the Record Search collection in quotations followed by a comma The word database, followed by a comma Name of the database, in this case, FamilySearch. URL for FamilySearch in parenthesis: (http://familysearch.org/) followed by a comma, The phrase: date the database was accessed or downloaded, followed by a semicolon The word from Creator or custodian of the originals followed by a period. Record group or series title (archival title) followed by a period. If the collection was digitized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from FHL microfilms, add this data to the source citation:

Microfilm description for scanned images:

The word citing Title of the collection Foreign language of the title of the collection in parenthesis Location of the originals Phrase FHL microfilm Number of reels Family History Library Salt Lake City, Utah Citations for Collections With Multiple Sources Begin the citation as listed above: "Title of the Record Search collection", database, FamilySearch; (http://familysearch.org), from

The next section should describe all of the sources:

The title of the archives or authors, if available followed by a period. The phrase Digital images of originals housed at various A phrase that describes the locations, including the name of the larger locality followed by a period. Title of the primary record type. FHL microfilm, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. If listing multiple sources, use bullets to separate them.

Example of a multiple source collection citation:

"Arkansas County Marriages, 1838-1957", database, FamilySearch; (http://familysearch.org); from Arkansas Courts of Common Pleas and County Clerks. Digital images of originals housed at various county courthouses in the State of Arkansas. Marriage records. FHL microfilm, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The examples and link to instructions should be followed by the sentence: A full bibliographic record is available in the Family History Library Catalog.

Why should You Cite Your Sources?
It is recommended that you cite the sources of information as you search genealogical records. Citing sources will allow you to avoid duplicate searches later and share your sources with other researchers. A citation with specific details about the source document should allow yourself or others to easily find the source document at a later time. You should cite all sources searched, whether new information is found, to avoid duplicating searches without findings.

Sample Citations:
United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71

Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023

Instructions for citing this source can be found at: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections