FamilySearch Wiki:Contributors Meeting 12 September 2013

MeetingPlace ID: 7770; Join the meeting; Dial-in number: 877-453-7266 1 p.m. Mountain time on Thursdays


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Updates and follow up

 * New members of Wiki Support Team:
 * Janell will be moving to a different area, FS Indexing.

"Challenge: Find ways to bring in new contributors. Talk to them one-on-one. Take them under your wings, and listen to their feedback." - Janell


 * You can still communicate with people working on Wiki for Sweden.

 From September 5 


 * Handling outdated syllabi contained within the wiki: update articles?  Contact contributor?  Contact original presenter if not the wiki contributor?
 * archive them when obsolete?
 * delete and replace, if similar topic is needed?
 * delete and replace, if similar topic is needed?

Style guide implications - time-specific text. "Currently"

For discussion purposes, see Powerful Tips and Tricks for Searching Historical Documents in FamilySearch.

Gerry McGovern explains why it is so important to have processes in place to review and remove outdated content in "Why review and remove are such critical web skills." It's worth a quick read.

Lise 18:43, 29 August 2013 (UTC)

- We do not want to infringe on people contributing, but how do we point to it rather than put it in. (Syllabi archive?) Create a template for syllabi, and to identify it when it is superceded. Use tag "historical pages" or "superceded pages." This protects the integrity of the contribution. Provide ability to direct to most current content. Steve volunteered to create the template: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Template:Superseded

- Will use category called "archive." He would like your feedback. Example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Superseded

- Links in documents need to be changed to lastest articles so users can the find most recent.

Questions: 


 * What is the plan to implement this? How do we make templates more visible to contributors? (Ideas:  add to help wanted: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Help_Wanted, discuss on Support Team.)  Proposal: Edit the Help Wanted page so the Editing the Wiki section does not distract from the help portion (Graphic too large).  Help Wanted page has been edited by Lee:  https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/FamilySearch_Wiki:Help_wanted_on_the_Wiki

Put further explanation on template page and on a help page for superceded syllabi, Style guide (links to specific types of articles)? Put a page linked to policies and guidelines: Content and Style.


 * 1) This would fall under a guideline (not policy)
 * 2) Should this template cover all obsolete content or just syllabi? Use outdated template for other types of content.
 * 3) Refer to Community Council for direction on creating a syllabi page and updating Policy and Guidelines https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/FamilySearch_Wiki:Policies - Steve. We will get a report next Thursday.


 * Is there a way to assign all the conference articles into a master category that contains all Syllabi content? ( a hierarchy within categories).
 * References like currently would preferrably be better if phrased "as of." This should be added to style guide.

Thought: Contributors need to have the power to remove/archive articles. We will discuss next week more completely.

We will discuss further next week.

Getting Past the Boundary Changes (from August 8th Meeting)

Steps contributors can take to help users in their localities find resources for extinct and redistricted areas (We will then move to Colonial Era and Antebellum resources).

We need to assist in identifying records from 1900 back to pre-colonial times. For African Americans, we need to identify records between 1865-1870 (For example in SC: 1869 State Census, agricultural census, 1868 Voter's Registration, tax records) which can help link them back to resources generated prior to 1865. Researching dissertations at the Charleston County Libary revealed the fact that several post colonial era records (including church records - baptisms) exist for South Carolina that even identify persons of color.

The challenge that we must overcome:


 * many records having genealogical value remain untouched in courthouses and exist nowhere else
 * Record types are named differently in different localities
 * after researchers tap out using onine resources they need to be able to understand the research changes going back in time. Many useful records going back in time are not readily discussed and are not accessible online.
 * We must research respository holdings or query those who have this knowledge

Resources that help users identify historical records generated for example, in US colonial period and before county formations are greatly needed (also any extinct counties, districts, townships). What steps can contributors take to make sure users can find resources in these areas?

1. Look at the localities that you have knowledge about. What are some areas this group has knowledge about or interest in?



Review the area on the Wiki for resources available. Review to make sure it is easy for users to tell where to look for resources during time periods when resources were generated for this area. Add resources that you have knowledge about.

2. Pick an area. Learn about boundary changes. Use the following resources to learn about boundaries:


 * See Newberry Library Atlas of Historical Boundaries
 * See also Colonial Times
 * Red Book
 * AniMap
 * State boundaries, The Census Book
 * The Township Atlas
 * Resources at the local archives

3. Learn where records are held during different time periods for a particular state/province/county/parish, etc. What are some examples of respositories? Do not forget to check church records. They may be the only way to determine BMD before civil records existed.

4. Identify record types and what these records contain. Look for resources through


 * genealogical societies - query experts, attend presentations, and review publications
 * local library - find out who the local history manager is and what they know, resources they have.
 * university libraries - check online and offline catalogs, and query manager of local history
 * historical societies -
 * museums - check resources, online catalogs, vertical files

Where can you go to learn about records that exist? Add information to the Wiki. Help users understand how to use these records.

5. Check online sites such as Internet Archives and Google Books for publications that can help users learn more about local histories. Some may also mention early settlers or allied family.

6.

7. Attend a local genealogical workshop conference to meet other experts and learn of resources.

8.

9.